Social Skills Groups

This service offers an opportunity for young children with autism spectrum disorders to learn skills in a more natural setting and to generalize their skills with a maximum amount of adult support. Social skill group sessions meet for one hour each week and last 10 weeks. Groups typically consist of 3-4 children, with two clinicians leading the group.

The focus of the groups is to address critical social skills that children with ASD often lack. Each child has social skill goals and objectives that he or she works on during the 10 week period. The children get the opportunity to practice their skills with their peers along with adult support. Social skills are taught through a variety of ABA-based interventions through the use of modeling, role playing, visual support and incidental teaching. The clinicians use play and reinforcement to maintain the interest and motivation of the children throughout the session.