Friendship Builders

 Friendship Builders is designed to teach specific social skills to children by using structured learning opportunities that include social stories, cognitive picture rehearsal, modeling, role playing and video vignettes.
Key target areas include:
• Conversational Skills (Personal space, listening during a conversation, staying on topic, using “Excuse me,” giving a compliment)
• Cooperative Play Skills (Asking someone to play, joining a group, sharing, dealing with losing/winning, turn taking)
• Self-Regulation (Recognizing feelings and dealing with a mistake)
• Empathy (Showing understanding for other feelings)
• Conflict Management (Accepting no for an answer, asserting yourself)

Friendship builders is for children age 7 years to 11 years diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder who require additional support and instruction to develop key social skills required in initiating and maintaining peer friendships. Child must be able to engage in verbal communication as a primary means to socially interact with peers.

Led by Registered Psychologist, Billie-Jo Arsenault, M. Ed.

When: Date to be announced
ocation: Centre for Autism Services
                  4752-99 St.
Contact: Gail Stanford, Groups Consultant
780-488-6600 ext. 216
gstanford@centreforautism.ab.ca

PEERS Program for Youth Grade 7 - 12

This innovative evidence-based program (PEERS - Program for the Evaluation and Enrichment of Relational Skills) is designed for teenagers who are having difficulty making or keeping friends. Previous research has resulted in very positive outcomes for PEERS. A research project led by Dr. Veronica Smith aims to replicate previous findings. The 12-week PEERS program targets key areas to assist teens with ASD and requires parent involvement to ensure that the skills are being successfully adapted through “homework.” The program features separate parent and teen sessions. Skill development includes entering and exiting conversations, choosing appropriate friends, handling teasing, dealing with bullying and how to use electronic communication appropriately.
NOTE: The program is designed for higher functioning teens. An initial screening assessment will be conducted to ensure appropriateness of application.

HANEN MORE THAN WORDS
 

This therapeutic program is designed for parents of children aged five and younger who have been diagnosed with autism. More Than Words is a 12-week evidence-based program that teaches the fundamentals of language development and teaches parents how to apply the lessons to increase their child’s understanding and usage of language. This program also provides parents with tools and strategies to help a child reach his or her communication potential.

All sessions are from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Session 1
January 11 – orientation
January 16-27 – pre-program video consultation
February 1 – session 1
February 8 – session 2
February 13 – 17 – in-home video feedback session
February 22 – session 3
February 29 – session 4
March 5 – 9 – in-home video feedback session
March 14 – session 5
March 21 – session 6
March 28 – session 7
April 2- 13 - in-home video feedback session
April 18 – session 8

Session 2
May 2 – orientation
May 7-18 pre-program video consultation
May 23 – session 1
May 30 – session 2
June 4-8 - in-home video feedback session
June 13 – session 3
June 20 – session 4
end of first module of 2-module program. To resume in September 2012

CONTACT: For more information or to register for either program, please contact Gail Stanford, groups consultant at 780-488-6600, ext 216 or email: gstanford@centreforautism.ab.ca