Social Skills Programs, Community Programs, and Camps… Oh, my!!

This list started off as only one resource, and then it grew out of control… How fun!!

For those living in the Seattle area, I recently read about this program:

PEERS - Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills; A teen friendship-making program.

This program offers social skills intervention for motivated teens in the 7th-12th grade who are interested in learning ways to help them make and keep friends. During each group session teens are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills in session during real play activities (e.g. playing sports, board games, etc.). Parents are taught how to assist their teens in making and keeping friends by providing feedback through coaching during weekly socialization homework assignments. Regular attendance is imperative and parent participation is required.

More about the success of the program here.

For those in Massachusetts: A friend gave me the heads up for this program. Massachusetts General Hospital is offering workshops and social skills groups for your child with autism. There is a summer social skills program, offered in Wellesley, and will run for 2 weeks, three different sessions, 9:30-12:30. There’s also an after school program being offered. Check out the program and rates here. http://www2.massgeneral.org/youthcare/social_club.html#location

I would love to have Nick attend this social skills class (it sounds great) but Wellesley would be a difficult commute for us this early in the morning.

Also in Massachusetts: Community Autism Resources is a wonderful program dedicated to helping and teaching children with autism through community programs. I have participated in several programs offered through CAR in the past years, and plan to again, for family time at Wellsprings Farms, while Meghan is home for spring break….Check out the calendar for spring here…. CAR also offers other links to programs such as, social skills groups, IEP help and Circle of Friends …

Summer camps: For those living in southeastern Massachusetts, Hanikids have great programs for all ages and special needs.

I asked Nick what he wanted to do this summer: handikids camp or sailing at the Duxbury Maritime, and he chose sailing. If anyone is in the Duxbury area this summer, here is the link.

Check out camps for kids—day/overnight for all kids—in your area.

For Everyone: Model Me Kids social skills training DVDs.

HELP: If you know of other social skills programs in your area that seem interesting, please let us know in the comments, or email me and I will let the word out…

Suggestion: my local Arc (Plymouth, MA) also offers social skills groups on an ongoing basis. Check out your local area Arc for groups and let us know at Fearless Females.

Note: all of these resources are also provided in the Resources links of this website...