1. How is Social Skills Group conducted virtually?
Groups are conducted live via a video conferencing platform such as Zoom by a qualified Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Children will join the group with peers online. The BCBA will plan session activities related to specific social skills goals. The activities are developed to allow the participants to practice the skills taught in the session and have fun as well. The sessions look very similar in person groups with the same ABA principles and techniques such as reinforcement, redirection, prompting, verbal behavior training, planned to ignore.
2. What to expect from Virtual Social Skills Groups?
Virtual social skills groups provide an opportunity for clients to make friends, and work on important social skills via a secured video conferencing platform. Each child is placed in the appropriate group based on their age and needs. Each session will target specific skills and feature a variety of engaging activities, interactions, and will include take away assignments so that your child can practice these skills in between sessions. This allows your child to continue to build social relationships even when social distancing is in effect.
3. How many children we be in each grouping?
Groups can range in size depending on number of students signed up. Typically, a group will be no smaller than 3 and no larger than 8 students.
4. How will you determine which group my child will be assigned to?
After you submit the application, the BCBA running the social skills group will review the application and contact you for a 30-minute phone assessment to discuss your child’s communicative and behavioral needs. After the phone assessment, the BCBA will make the determination whether your child will be appropriate for the virtual social skills setting and which group to join.
5. What if my child engages in problem behavior during their social skills group?
The behavior analyst will work with you to create strategies to address behavioral concerns. She or he can also work with you through parent training on strategies to decrease these behavior and increase responding.
6. Will I need to be present for the entire duration of the session?
This depends on your child’s ability to participate independently during the session. We will work towards increased independence across sessions but ask that caregivers are readily accessible should they be needed.
7. What should I expect from group Parent/Caregiver Training?
Group parent trainings delivered virtually will focus on targeted topics such as setting up opportunities to increase and reinforce social interaction, strategies that parents can use to support their children’s social emotional development.
8. What equipment is needed for telehealth sessions?
Internet connection, and a computer or tablet with camera are needed for the sessions.
9. What happens if the internet connectivity is not good?
All our staff are provided with training in the area of tech troubleshooting and most issues can be resolved quickly. If we are unable to resolve connectivity issues within 15 minutes, we will likely discontinue the session and reschedule for another time
