miamirn
Posts 40
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Hi, findhervoice and others,
My grandson attended a social skills group funded by CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities) (and also deaf/blind). I found it by responding to an e-mail CARD sent me about a Social Skills Group research study that was being conducted by NOVA Southeastern University. Jiovanni had to meet certain autism criteria to be accepted. We had a telephone interview and then an individual interview where I answered an Autism spectrum questionaire. There was one parent training session where we were briefed on the specifics of the program, how it worked, etc. It met 2 times a week for 9 weeks. Each session was 1 hour. There were 6 children in the group. It was called a playgroup. I don't know if CARD has these Social Skills groups studies regularly or not, but tomorrow, I am meeting with the psychologist that heads and ran the group for a post-conference, so I can ask. My grandson loved and looked forward to it. I was pleased and surprised that he learned a little from every single social skill, that was taught, in such a short period of time. It was all about games and having fun to the children. They had a reward system of little paper token turtles that they had to earn, and at the end of the session they picked a little toy from the treasure chest. They all were motivated to get their little turtles. The goal was for the children to learn certain rules of social skills. As follows: Turn taking (Social comprehension) , Initiating (Social Initiations), Commenting (Social Responsiveness) and Being a Good Sport (Social Comprehension). They had a snack time at the beginning at a little round table where they brought in show and tell stuff, then they sat on little mats and learned all about the rules with visual and Video support. They sang a hello song, taking turns to say hello to each other in cool style kids rap, then they had game time, broke off into 2 groups. They played hungry hippo's and domino's, bowling,(familiar games) all the while being rewarded for target behaviors that they were introduced to at the beginning of the session. It ended with each child sitting on their own mat cashing in their turtles for a toy reward from the treasure chest, singing a goodbye song and saying goodbye to each other. Seems like a typical pre-school day, but when you saw the target behaviors, they were learning, it was far from simple. It was very complex. To give you an example, one of the focus skills for the rule Turn Taking was Showing Interest In Your Friends Turn; another rule, Initiating: Asking a friend To Play, etc. There were several focus skills for each Social rule.s There was a lot for the children to learn. That wasn't all there was, though. We, the parents (or grandparents) had to learn to model after the therapists (there were two therapists) and learn how to identify and reward the children, ourselves, take it home and continue using it with our little ones. We had closed circuit TV's and a one way mirror. The last 2 sessions were for us to participate with the children without the therapists being there.The very last session was a little party where we all brought in food and drinks and played with the kids and talked to each other. I learned a lot, which I have been passing on to Mom and family. Oh yes, and we had to do a follow up Autism questionaire. Jiovanni and I continue to learn to understand "other perspective" by him paying attention to what I have to say when we take turns talking in a conversation. His is becoming more aware that I have a different mind and a different perspective from him and by us sharing ideas he can experience the intimacy he needs and wants for us to share with eachother.
If you have any questions I'll be happy to explain more.
Thanks,
miamirn/Elona
edited by miamirn on 6/18/2009
edited by miamirn on 6/18/2009
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