Social Skills Training: Practical Solutions

ACCESS Therapy Pragmatics Groups are specifically designed for students who are struggling with peer relationships and/or conversational skills and/or experience frustration communicating. Social environments require social skills and etiquette that are difficult for some students. This group provides training on boundaries and the appropriate use of language, nonverbal communication and social skills, incorporating recreational activities in real-life settings.

Topics May Include:

•    Public Speaking and Making Presentations
•    Problem-Solving, Games and Turn-Taking
•    Dealing With Peer Pressure and Humor
•    Social Etiquette
•    Understanding Others’ Feelings
•    Interpreting Body Language
•    Using Social Skills in the Community
•    Developing and Maintaining Relationships

Program Details: Depending on the level of interest, multiple groups may be started with different age ranges. Tentative group age ranges are kindergarteners (5- and 6-year-olds), 7- and 8-year-olds, 9- to 11-year-olds and teenagers (12-15). Spring 2012 classes run 13 to 14 weeks, beginning in February and ending in April, with classes from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. on a scheduled weekday to be determined. Classes will meet at the ACCESS Stella Boyle Smith Campus, 10618 Breckenridge Dr., Little Rock, and are open to youths from the community at large, pending they meet necessary criteria. (Basic screening questions parents can expect include: Is your child relatively compliant? If there are outbursts, are they easily managed and controlled, or does your child struggle with regaining composure? Is your child a typical learner, or are there academic concerns or struggles ACCESS needs to be aware of?) Lindy Vint, M.S., CCC-SLP; Susan Burkhead, M.S., CCC-SLP; Alicia Patillo, M.S., CCC-SLP; Rachel Jones, M.S., CFY-SLP and Tasha Cozens, M.S., CCC-SLP, manage these groups.

Deadline: Interested parents may contact Beth Rice, admissions coordinator, at 501-217-8600 to complete an application. The deadline for Spring 2012 classes is Tuesday, Jan. 2. Space is very limited. There may be a waiting list for your child’s age group. Depending on interest, we may be able to add classes in the fall, but we must know you’re interested first! Please contact Beth Rice at 501-217-8600 for more information.

Fee: $45 per week for 13 to 14 weeks. Payments of $157.50 are due each month, for four months, beginning in February, regardless of attendance, and are handled by bank draft for convenience. The fee does not include community outings, which will not exceed $40 per semester. A calendar of events will be provided each month; event fees will be due at the first session. Fees for the youngest pragmatics group are to be determined but will not exceed the price above.