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After School Social Thinking Groups
Witnessing a void within the community, Anova expanded services to provide a number of social cognition classes for children and teens on the autism spectrum. These groups are overseen by licensed Speech-Language Pathologists, facilitated by trained Social Cognition Specialists, and include The Anova Buddy Club (ABC) and Social Thinking at ACE: a Club for Kids (STACKs).
ABC
The Anova Buddy Club is designed for 5- and 6-year-olds with high-functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome. ABC places significant focus on play skills as they relate to social thinking. Parents are a very important component of this program and are encouraged to participate as part of the weekly sessions. ABC is a 12-week program, meeting each week for one hour.
STACKs
Social Thinking at ACE: a Club for Kids (STACKs) is for children ages 7-18 and centers around therapeutic activities to build perspective-taking skills and enhance overall social thinking. Children in the program learn the "whys" of being a social thinker, not just the "what to do." The focus of each session is on teaching participants to think about others (perspective-taking) and how their actions impact others' thoughts. Each session of the 12-week program consists of a group of 3 to 5 students with new lessons presented every week. Staff assists participants in increasing their self-awareness in social situations and their ability to adapt and modify their behavior accordingly. Video-feedback, social stories, cartoon illustrations, 5-point scales, peer feedback, teachable moments, and many other visual and verbal strategies are employed. Similar to ABC, parents are critical to the success of STACKs, and are asked to attend the last half of sessions in order to learn the social vocabulary and strategies utilized in each group. Additionally, staff supports families in organizing and leading get-togethers outside of the therapeutic sessions. Each STACKs group is created based on age, functioning, personalities, and other core characteristics.
In addition to ABC and STACKs, Anova offers treatment targeting Anger Control Skills and Anxiety Management. These 12-week courses are specially designed using cognitive behavioral strategies and are for students ages 8-13 on the autism spectrum or with related disorders. Groups meet once a week for one hour.
For more information, please call (707) 527-7032.
"Our son comes home each day with a smile on his face and stories to tell. He has friends, a teacher and staff who know what he needs and provide it to him. Anova has given my son a chance to be a student, a friend, and most importantly, a sense of belonging to something 'normal'."
-Marcella, parent of an 8th grader
ABC
The Anova Buddy Club is designed for 5- and 6-year-olds with high-functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome. ABC places significant focus on play skills as they relate to social thinking. Parents are a very important component of this program and are encouraged to participate as part of the weekly sessions. ABC is a 12-week program, meeting each week for one hour.
STACKs
Social Thinking at ACE: a Club for Kids (STACKs) is for children ages 7-18 and centers around therapeutic activities to build perspective-taking skills and enhance overall social thinking. Children in the program learn the "whys" of being a social thinker, not just the "what to do." The focus of each session is on teaching participants to think about others (perspective-taking) and how their actions impact others' thoughts. Each session of the 12-week program consists of a group of 3 to 5 students with new lessons presented every week. Staff assists participants in increasing their self-awareness in social situations and their ability to adapt and modify their behavior accordingly. Video-feedback, social stories, cartoon illustrations, 5-point scales, peer feedback, teachable moments, and many other visual and verbal strategies are employed. Similar to ABC, parents are critical to the success of STACKs, and are asked to attend the last half of sessions in order to learn the social vocabulary and strategies utilized in each group. Additionally, staff supports families in organizing and leading get-togethers outside of the therapeutic sessions. Each STACKs group is created based on age, functioning, personalities, and other core characteristics.
In addition to ABC and STACKs, Anova offers treatment targeting Anger Control Skills and Anxiety Management. These 12-week courses are specially designed using cognitive behavioral strategies and are for students ages 8-13 on the autism spectrum or with related disorders. Groups meet once a week for one hour.
For more information, please call (707) 527-7032.
"Our son comes home each day with a smile on his face and stories to tell. He has friends, a teacher and staff who know what he needs and provide it to him. Anova has given my son a chance to be a student, a friend, and most importantly, a sense of belonging to something 'normal'."
-Marcella, parent of an 8th grader