Social Skills Groups

Register for Groups

Registration Packet (pdf)

Registration Packet   (MSWord template)

Returning Applicants Page One Only (pdf)

Returning Applicants Page One Only (MSWord template)

Social Skills Groups Descriptions

Social Thinking Program Description

Please note: A registration form must be submitted with a $15.00 registration fee for program consideration. Placement notifications will be made 1 week prior to the start date.

Fall Brochure

FALL 2010 Schedule

         September 20th - December 18th         

12 week session. Excludes 11/23-11/27

Groups occur between the hours of 4:00-8:00 p.m. Monday-Friday & from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. All participants will be grouped according to interests, age, and abilities. Children may start a group at any time during a session if space permits. 

MONDAYS

Social Thinking Program (Ages 5-18) Location: Johnston

TUESDAYS

Creative Expressions  (Ages 8-18) Location: E. Greenwich

Social Thinking Program (Ages 5-18) Location: Johnston

WEDNESDAYS

Take a Bite! (Ages 4 & up) Location: Johnston

Leaps and Bounds  (Ages 4-10) Location: Johnston

Adult Community Group (ages 20+) Location: varies

THURSDAYS

Club Jr. & Club Jr. Life Strategies  (Ages 10-14) Location: Johnston + field trips

FRIDAYS

Game On! (Ages 5-18) Location: Warwick

 The Club  (Ages 14-19) Location: Johnston + field trips

SATURDAYS

Move and Groove  (Ages 4-18) Location: Johnston

Game On! (Ages 5-18) Location: Johnston

Girls Night Out  (Ages 9-12  & 13-17) Location: varies

MIDDLETOWN GROUPS

Groups may also be offered in Middletown pending sufficient interest to establish a group.  Please call Sue Connole (number below) to indicate your interest in attending a Middletown group.

Social Skills Group Costs

Programs covered by RI Medicaid/Katie Beckett:

• Take a Bite!  
• Move & Groove   
• Leaps & Bounds  
• The Club  
• Club Jr. & Club Jr. Life Strategies  
• Game On!
• Creative Expressions  
• Social Thinking Program

Programs covered by Hasbro Charitable Trust, Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation and the Billy Andrade - Brad Faxon Charities for Children:

• Girls Night Out
• Adult Community Group

Social Skills Group Descriptions

Take a Bite!

Move and Groove

Leaps and Bounds

Club Jr.

Club Jr. Life Strategies

The Club

Game On

Creative Expressions

Girls Night Out

Adult Community Group

En Español

Social Thinking Program

Adapted from Michelle G. Winner and Stephanie Madrigal’s work at the Center for Social Thinking in San Jose, California. This program is for individuals with social cognitive deficits including Asperger Syndrome, ADD/ADHD, Tourette Syndrome, and Non-verbal Learning Disorder.

What is social thinking?

Thinking socially comes naturally to most of us. However, for those with social cognitive deficits, we must teach them to relate and think of others so they can become competent in social relatedness. The social communication concepts taught are based on the literature and lectures from Michelle Garcia Winner, www.socialthinking.com

Students will learn concepts in a highly structured setting taught byprofessionals trained in the area of Michelle Garcia Winner’s social thinking curriculum. They will have opportunities for generalizing what they have learned in community outings. Families are encouraged to participate using the concepts at home and completing “fun work” as necessary.

What do the classes look like?

Class size will be 4-5 participants. Classes will be suited to the individual’s ability to think of others, problem solve and work in a group. Participants will engage in community outings to generalize skills

Who can participate?

This class is intended for individuals with deficits in social cognitive abilities and average to above average cognitive abilities.

Superhero Academy
Ages 5-12

Social Detective Agency
Ages 10-15

Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking

Ages 16 and up

What Skills will be taught?

Students will begin to learn how to be a part of a group, monitor and adapt their own behaviors in social situations, learn to read social cues, begin to comprehend the perspectives of others, think of others, listen with their whole body, understand humor and do what’s expected in social situations by following those unwritten rules.

What is the cost?

RI Medicaid/Katie Beckett covered program. The self-pay cost is $1,050.00 for a 14 week session.  Scholarships are available and reviewed on an individual basis.You may also apply for a grant through United Healthcare at uhccf.org/apply_applicant.html

Where do classes take place?

Classes take place at the Autism Project and in Middletown.

Optional Reports

Full Social Thinking Assessments are available for children 8 years of age and older.  Please call 785-2666 for details.

Brief Written Intake Report $150.00

Full Social Thinking Assessment $900.00

(Includes: IEP Meeting 1 hr., 1:1 Participant Interview
2 hrs., 2 hr. School or Community Observation, Parent Interview 1hr., & Full Written report 4 hr.)

Attendance is crucial to group dynamics and skill progression.

Social Skills Group Policies

Registration

Parents/Caregivers must sign their child up for each

group session. Registration for a previous group session

does not guarantee a placement in the next group session. Since our groups run 12 weeks, we will accept registrations after the start date and work to include additional students where appropriate.

Grouping

Groups are formed based on the applicants’ ages and

ability levels. Placements in classes take into consideration

children’s age, ability, and specific environment

where the child will have the most success. Confirmation

of placement will be via e-mail, mail or telephone calls. Class days and times are subject to change and participants may be assigned a different group based group dynamics following the start of groups.

Cancellations

Our programs rely heavily on planning for your child’s participation. Attendance is crucial to sustain program existence. Cancellations must be made within 24 hours prior to a scheduled group. To report an absence, please call the office at 785-2666 with the date, child’s name, and the group your child attends. After two absences, program participation will be reviewed and may result in loss of placement for that session. Children on the waiting list will be eligible for openings.

Payment Policy

All group participants need to show payment prior to

the start of classes. Payment can be made by proof of approval for RI Medicaid funding (Katie Beckett), cash, check or credit card. Participants in the process of Katie Beckett approval can secure their participation with a credit card.

Due to limited space we regret that all children may not be able to attend a particular session. The Autism Project will establish wait lists for groups exceeding capacity.

Social Skills Group Descriptions

Take a Bite!

A language based sensory group that encourages trying new foods, exposure to different textures, and attempting new experiences using special interests to motivate participants. Literacy and music activities will engage youngsters to take a bite out of the unknown! This group is designed for children ages 4-7.

 Move and Groove

A social group designed to teach children the

fundamental skills of play and leisure activities.

Reciprocal play activities will be utilized to help

promote positive peer relations. Visual supports,

environmental structure, and a creative curriculum will enhance children’s level of understanding and participation.

 Leaps and Bounds

A play group instructed by trained professionals to teach group dynamics, social rules/expectations, how to engage in shared experiences, and how to foster positive peer relations. Visual supports including social stories, schedules, cue cards, physical boundaries and scripts will be utilized to enhance meaning and promote generalization of skills. This group is designed for children ages 4-10.

Game On!

Game On! is a group for children and teens looking to improve their functional skills in different sporting activities. Participants will work on coordination, core strength, balance, endurance, social skills and communication. Sporting activities may include basketball, Karate and other age appropriate sports.

Club Jr.

This pre-teen group is designed for children who can effectively communicate basic wants/needs, call attention to others, protest appropriately, and initiate simple conversations. Participants will learn effective problem solving, social rules of being a part of a group, and how to think of others. Schedules and various visual supports will enhance the children’s abilities to share thoughts and respond to others’ conversations. Community outings will be planned. This group is designed for children ages 10-14.

Club Jr. Life Strategies

Participants will learn life skills in a highly structured setting.

Independent skills will be the focus using hands-on activities. Participants will practice being part of a group (listening to others, expressing independent thoughts, and following instruction). They will gain exposure to varied leisure activities including arts & crafts, cooking, and games. Participants will also learn how to be an intregral member of a community group. This group is designed for children ages 10-14.

The Club

The Club is a safe and engaging place for teens to become integral members of a group as they discuss and participate in community trips. Participants learn social communication skills required to foster friendships, and they learn appropriate social rules for effective interactions (interrupting, compromising, negotiating and listening). For one group it may be restaurant manners, for others it may be dating. Conversations and leisure interests are enhanced and promoted by facilitators. This group is designed for teens ages 14-19.

Creative Expressions

A social communication group where participants learn group dynamics, social rules, effective peer interactions and functional skills for group participation and conversation. Students will work together on creating specific art projects.

Girls Night Out

Girls time to gab! Participants will engage in social interactions while participating in beauty salon activities, movie nights, dinner clubs and other community adventures. Individuals will learn to be effective communicators and to think about others. This monthly outing is for girls ages 9-12 and 13-17.  Sessions will be two hours in length. Location and times will be pre-determined by AP staff. Families will be notified of activities, locations and times once established.

Adult Community Group

Designed for young adults to interact with each other once a month at designated community locations. Participants are responsible for the cost of the activity. 

En Español

Move and Groove

Leaps and Bounds

The Club, Jr.

The Club

Leaps and Bounds Foundations

Un grupo de juego que ha sido diseñado para enseñar a los niños las destrezas fundamentales de jugar como por ejemplo: como jugar, la función de los juguetes,como hacer una transición,seguir una programación o itinerario, esperar e interaccionar socialmente en forma recíproca. Este grupo está diseñado para niños que requieren una estructura intensiva, grupos pequeños y  atención de 1a1 para promover la participación. Los niños aprenden a participar mas efectivamente en grupos o en parejas antes de comenzar a participar mas integramente en Leaps and Bounds. Los niños son de 5 a 15 años y son agrupados de acuerdo a  edades y habilidades.

Leaps and Bounds

Un grupo de juegos, instruído por profesionales debidamente adiestrados a enseñar dinámicas de grupos, reglas sociales, como participar en compartir experiencias y a como fomentar relaciones positivas con sus compañeros. El grupo estará visualmente apoyado usando historias sociales, itinerarios o programas, tarjetas con señales, límites físicos y más. Las rutinas de juegos y las interacciones sociales serán facilitadas y promovidas por adultos. Este grupo esta diseñado para niños de 5 a 10 años de edad.

The Club Jr.

Este es un grupo pre-adolescente que está diseñado para niños que comunican efectivamente sus necesidades básicas, llaman la atención de otros, se manifiestan apropiadamente e inician conversaciones simples. Los niños aprenderán a expandir sus intereses en los ratos libres y por consiguiente aumentarán sus temas de interés mientras  conversan. Programas o itinerarios  y varios apoyos visuales aumentarán la habilidad de los niños a compartir pensamientos y realzar sus habilidades. Este grupo es para niños de 10 a 13 años. Los niños serán agrupados de acuerdo a sus edades y habilidades.

The Club

The Club es un lugar seguro y atractivo para que los adolecentes frecuenten. Ellos se hacen miembros integros de un grupo mientras platican y participan en viajes comunitarios. Los participantes aprenden hacer amistades y aprenden reglas sociales apropiadas para una mejor interración (interrumpir, comprometerse, negociar y escuchar). Los participantes guían su enfoque en grupos. Para un grupo puede ser la manera de comportamiento en un restaurante y para otros como relacionarse. Los facilitadores  del programa promoverán las conversaciones y el tiempo libre.  Los participantes serán agrupados de acuerdo a sus edades y habilidades.