The Autism Society of North Carolina’s Clinical Department is now offering Social Connection groups in Wilmington for children and teens aged 9-12 years old and 13-16 years old. Using evidence-based and individualized teaching strategies, our program aims to empower learners by helping them to express their preferences, needs, and boundaries; promoting social understanding; and helping participants build relationships based on shared respect and common interests. Groups meet for 10 weeks.
Who are these groups designed for?
Social Connections groups are designed for children and teens who desire to make social connections but struggle with some of the steps involved. These social challenges may be due to internal issues (such as social anxiety) or external concerns (such as bullying) that contribute to issues in confidence or performance. Challenges may also be related to difficulty understanding social rules, reading social cues, engaging in reciprocal exchanges, turn-taking, or other areas. Our goal is to help participants develop social and self-advocacy skills in a caring environment.
Who leads the groups?
Groups are led by licensed Clinical professionals. Our ASNC Clinical professionals celebrate neurodiversity and believe that the teacher should serve as an ally – one that aims to first understand the learner and then helps to coach and cultivate skills over time. The Clinical professional will help create an atmosphere of understanding and respect within the group as a first step to effective communication.
What should a group member expect?
Social connection groups will follow a general format during each meeting:
- Introduction/warm-up: In this phase, everyone settles into the group. Staff and participants will introduce themselves and answer “warm up” questions on basic information and interests.
- Topic Focus: The group leader will introduce the day’s topic and provide context, including what the skill or exercise is, reasons/areas in which it may be helpful and examples in which it would not be needed, and a modeling of the skill or exercise, using multiple examples and contexts.
- Time to practice the new skill or exercise, with lots of opportunities catered to the comfort of the participant: Practice can be with staff or peers, with additional role-play, coaching, and modeling opportunities given as needed. Based on the comfort and preference of the participant and their family, video recording and self-reflective feedback may also be used.
- Independence check: Each skill or exercise is practiced in different contexts to ensure that the essence has been captured, and to encourage participants to incorporate their personal style into it. Depending on the skills being taught, the group may go into a different setting on premises (e.g., to visit the social recreation groups), while receiving coaching and support from staff.
- Free time: Because the goal of this group is to create opportunities for participants to make connections with one another, free time will be a part of each meeting so that participants can access the fun leisure activities that the Wilmington clinic has to offer, including music, art, science, video games, sensory play, and movement.
How do I sign up?
If your loved one is interested in participating in Social Connections, please fill out this form.
Fees for this Clinical service apply and are covered by many private health insurance plans and Medicaid; private pay also available.
More in Wilmington:
Clinic-Based ABA Programming for Early Learners in Wilmington
Tags: ASNC, autism, autism communication, autism social skills, autism society north carolina, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Clinical, social connection, Wilmington Go back