​Confidence Connection

                      Center for Children with Autism 

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                Greetings
                Initiating conversation
                Topic maintenance
                Turn-taking
                Following directions
                Structured play
                Pretend play
                Accepting “no” and waiting
                Transitioning to activities



                ​Labeling emotions based upon facial

                expressions, tone of voice and body
                posture
                Responding appropriately to "Why?"
                questions in regard to feelings they
                are experiencing
                


                Recognizing signs of stress/anxiety
​                in others
                Learning 5 coping skills to use in 
                times of stress
                Learning to better regulate their
                sensory systems

                Increasing knowledge of problem-

                solving skills


                



                Initiating, monitoring, engaging
                and disengaging from conversations 
                Joining conversations or games
​                already in progress
                Spontaneous greetings to adults
​                and peers

                Using a combination of questions                      and comments when interacting                        with peers and adults
                Cooperation, compromise and 

                negotiation with peers and adults
                Describing events and story-telling
                maintaining a peer's attention
                


                
                Identifying non-verbal cues based on
                tone of voice, facial expressions,                      body language and posture
                Recognizing emotions of both peers                  and adults
                Maintaining eye contact for an                          appropriate length of time
                Using and recognizing body language

Confidence Connection uses basic principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to targets social skills by making social interactions with peers FUN and reinforcing positive social behavior. When being around other peers is exciting children begins to learns that social interaction is valuable.

At Confidence Connection children not only learn beginning social skills, but those ready to also learn how to analyze why someone is saying hello in the first place, multiple responses they could use, and how to choose the most appropriate response based upon the person's non-verbal cues and inference of the message. In this sense, our children learn to communicate more naturally and with more inherent understanding. 

GENERAL SOCIALIZATION
& COMMUNICATION

Prerequisites

Times
During the school year, groups meet after school 4:00-5:45pm. Each group meets once per week. 


Groups
Groups are designed so that each children can engage with each other and make connections.

Children are grouped based on age, but most importantly, based on their social/emotional needs. Each group contains 3-6 kids and 2-3 RBTs or SLPs/SLPAs.



​
To participate in our social group program, the child must be able to:

  • Mand for (request) at least 100 items and at least 25 actions from familiar and novel adults 

    Follow 1-2 step novel directions from familiar and novel adults

    (Example: "Throw it away and come sit down." "Clean up and wash your hands.")

    Exhibit 3-4 play schemes with at least 5 activities

    Learn novel social/pragmatic skills in a 2:1 ratio
  • Participate in a group activity without a break for up to 30 minutes. ​

Children who do not meet these prerequisites can still access social skills instruction in either a 1:1 or dyad setting. Please contact our offices for more information.

COPING SKILLS

CONFIDENCE,
Conversational SKILLS
​& NEW FRIENDS.

NON-VERBAL CUES

IDENTIFICATION OF ​FEELINGS

SOCIAL GROUPS

BEGINNER SKILLS: ​