What are Social Skills?
Social skills are a very complex set of skills that we are expected to use to interact with others in society. Different domains of social skills include communication, language, behavioral regulation, perspective taking, and emotional intelligence. The interconnection of concepts within social skills build a framework for social functioning as a whole.
Who Struggles with Social Skills?
Everyone at some point in time has had an awkward or unsuccessful social interaction. Therefore, anyone can struggle with social skills. This program was developed through Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville, so a large demographic we will have in social skills group will have the autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. However, there are many other diagnoses/backgrounds that could lead to impairments in social functioning. Common struggles experienced by those with these diagnosis/backgrounds include relationship management, emotional regulation, verbal & non-verbal communication, perspective-taking, and social confidence.
What are Social Skills Groups?
A social skills group is a structured and supportive environment where individuals gather to develop and improve their social skills.
- Groups are design for individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder that need very minimal to no supports.
- Groups are for ages 14 and up
- Participants must sign up and go through an assessment before attending the groups.
- No diagnosis is required to join. This program is open to anyone interested in developing their social skills!
Assessment
Each Potential Participant will go through an intensive assessment evaluating communication styles, as well as behavioral, emotional and Social Domains. Assessments will take approximately an hour and a half. The cost of the assessment is $80.
Goals for Social Skills group
Autism Breakthrough takes a person-centered approach to life for the people we support. The goal for this social skills group is to give individuals with ASD the knowledge of multiple social skills topics and provide resources as a “personal toolkit” for individuals to use outside of the group sessions. While it sounds counter-intuitive, the goal is to promote independent use of these skills, observed through generalization, so that little to no further intervention is needed. Generalization is demonstrated when an individual can display a skill in multiple environments, with a variety of people, and without any outside intervention.
How do I pay for sessions?
Social Skills Groups is a private pay program. Sessions are typically sold as an 8-block. Assistance may be available to qualifying families.
General Information
The Social Skills program will start January 2025. For the weeks of December 2-6, 9-12, and 16-20, Social Skills Learn and Share meetings will be in place to get input from those interested in learning more about the program. Special event/outings will take place throughout the year that will allow for group members to work on skills learned with little supervision from the facilitator. Special event rate will vary.
- Week 1: dedicated to group introductions, expectations, and icebreaker activities
- Week 6: Send home a Progress Report
- Week 12: Get feedback, conclusion class, review of concepts
- Week 13: NO CLASS – WILL BE USED AS OFFICE HOURS FOR FACILITATOR
Facilitator will: review feedback/concern from group, update information for each participant, review and revise curriculum/lesson plans, prepare for next set of sessions
Participants can: set up one-on-ones with facilitator, drop into Outreach Center to come see the facilitator or meet with other group members who are in different groups
Location
Autism Breakthrough
1700 Liberty St. Knoxville, TN
Within the Autism & Community Outreach Center
For more information, you can contact Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville at 865-247-0065 or find our Autism & Community Outreach Center at:
1700 Liberty Street
Knoxville, TN 37921