PEERS

Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) is a 14-week evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated teens who are interested in learning ways to help them make and keep friends. During each group session teens are taught important social skills and given the opportunity to practice with their peers. Parents are simultaneously taught how to coach and advocate for their teen in the community.

The curriculum developed by University of California — Los Angeles (UCLA) covers the following topics:

Conversational Skills
Choosing Appropriate Friends
Appropriate Use of Humor
Entering a Conversation
Exiting a Conversation
Hosting Get-Togethers
Demonstrating Good Sportsmanship
Responding to Teasing and Embarassing Feedback
Responding to Bullying and Bad Reputations
Handling Disagreements
Responding to Rumors and Gossip
Electronic Communication

Bright Stars Transition Group

Bright Stars is a group transition program designed to help children 8–13 years old adjust from individualized 1:1 therapy to small group instruction. This group was designed to teach our clients the needed skills to be able to participate in a self-contained type of classroom. It is our goal to teach the necessary skills for the children to be able to transition from therapy and learn in the least restrictive environment within their home school district.

Our Bright Star Transition Group Focuses On:

General Classroom Instruction & Movement
Following Group Instruction
Increasing Independent & Self-Led Time
Completing Multi-Step Tasks
Tolerance to Peer Interactions
Developing Leisure Time Skills
Beginning Job Training Skills
Solidifying Hygiene Routines
Meal Prep & Feeding

Summer Social Skills

Creating Brighter Futures offers multiple different small group summer social skills program for children with autism and other developmental disabilities ages 6–13. Children are grouped based on age and skill level. This program runs 3 full days (8:30–4:00) per week for 10 weeks each summer (mid June to mid August). These groups are designed for children who participate in some component of their general education program during the school year and are in need of consistent routine over the summer.

Skills Targeted in the Summer Social Skills Group:

Completing Independent Work
Group Projects
Friendship Skills
Good Sportsmanship
Conversation Skills
Beginning Hygiene Skills
Beginning Meal Prep Skills
Emotion Regulation