 Consulting to Schools
Therapeutic Options offers schools and school districts a range of services that focus on Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Social Skills training. The following programs can be tailored towards both school professionals and parents.
Social Skills Group Training
We are qualified to teach school personnel how to plan and implement a social skills group program within their school or district. This includes meeting with the professionals that will be directly involved in the program, i.e.: staff Speech-Language Pathologists, Social Workers or Psychologists, for a series of workshops that incorporate:
- Background information and current research on the intended population
- Information about the most current intervention methods in the area of social skills training
- How to form groups that provide the most effective environment for learning
- Understanding how to design an appropriate intervention plan for the intended population
- Teaching about activities and materials that will support the goals of the group
- How to communicate with the parents of the children in the social skills group program
We are also available for:
- Co-leading groups with school personnel as the program comes to fruition
- Periodic consultations with group leaders for supervision purposes
- Phone consultation as needed
If your school or district does not have the staff available to begin a social skills training program, we are able to provide you with members of our own staff to come to your school to assess children, form groups, and provide the intervention.
In-services for school personnel
We offer different types of in-service on a variety of topics relevant to the social skills needs of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. These can be small group workshops or larger group presentations. Depending on the needs of the professionals, we can facilitate staff development for a group of educators or specialists within a particular school, or for a whole district. The content for the in-service can be based on the current knowledge base of the professionals and what their needs are. Suggested topics include:
- Typical vs. Atypical Social Skills Development
- Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Social Skills
- Developing a Social Skills Group Program
In-Services/Workshops for Parents
Depending upon the needs of the parents involved, we offer programs on a variety of topics. Suggested topics include:
- Social Skills Difficulties in Children
- How to Work on Social Skills at Home
- Encouraging Carryover of Learned Skills
- Life Transitions - Moving on to College
Consultations regarding a particular child
We are available for direct consultations regarding a specific child who is in need of support in the area of socialization. This would include:
- Observations of the child (or children) across contexts
- Meetings with the team involved with the child to discuss these observations
- Written summary of goals and how to target these goals effectively - the Social Skills Intervention Plan
- Initial implementation of the action plan, when our staff temporarily facilitates the social skills group or works in the classroom to model appropriate techniques and strategies for the educator(s) reponsible for implementation of the action plan
- Follow-up observation and meetings in order to monitor progress and assist with the formulation of new goals and plans
- Phone consultation as necessary
Training of Specific School Personnel
We can train the professionals who work with children who are integrated into a school's mainstream setting. This service would be different than the above described consultation, as it would be directed more toward "teaching the teachers" than implementing a social skills program. This training would include:
- Working with aides and para-professionals that are assigned to work with certain children
- Working with support staff teachers (art, music gym) that may need further training in working with children with special needs
- Providing support for lunch-room aides or playground/recess aides
Sensitivity Training
Presentations for groups of children can be organized in cooperation with a school or district's counselor, psychologist or otherprofessional, focus on:
- Bullying/Teasing
- Friendship Skills
- Teaching social understanding and acceptance of differences
These presentations are directed toward "typically" developing children, and would help to enhance a school's "anti-bully" program.
Peer Mentoring
We offer assistance in beginning or maintaining a peer mentoring program, either during the school day or within after school activities. This would include meeting with school professionals to determine what their interests and needs are, training peer mentors and assistance in getting the program started.
After School Enrichment
Many schools have after-school enrichment classes or sports programs. There may be times where special needs children are easily integrated into these programs; however, this may not always be the case. We are available on a consultation basis to provide support for these situations.
For More Information about our School Consulting Program
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