Common Ground Social Skills training

ASD does not have to be a diagnosis of loneliness

There is a common misconception that people with Autism (ASD) desire to avoid people and social situations.

Many parents of children with Autism, especially those who are level 1 or high functioning (HFA), will tell you how wrong this is. Those with ASD, desperately want to interact with others, they simply do not have the skillset to do so easily.

We know from our CommonGround Social Skills program that social skills can be learned. Research supports that these skills can be built upon and, with practice improvements can last long term.

During my 16 years in education I have seen the difficulties that students with HFA face and heard parents’ frustration with the lack of support provided.

As a very small fish in a very large pond there was little I could do. I realised I needed to build my own pond. So, after quite a bit of research on various programs, I found one that ticked all the box and I could stake my reputation on – PEERS social skills training.

Evidence Based & Proven

PEERS®, or the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills was originally developed to support those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is now successfully used for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, and other socio-emotional problems. Developed at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) by PEERS® Clinic director, Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson. It is evidence based, and has an impressive track record being used in over 80 countries and has been translated into more than a dozen languages.

Are PEERS programs right for my teen or young adult?

CommonGround is based on the Central Coast. We specifically run PEERS programs for teens (13-17) and young adults (18-25) who are diagnosed with high functioning ASD. We run programs from our rooms in Woy Woy, but also provide programs based on need throughout the Central Coast. In 2022, we will are looking to expand our offerings to include social anxiety disorders and ADHD.

Programs

School should be a time when a young person develops their communication skills, creates networks, and makes friendships. Navigating the politics of the playground can be quite difficult for students with HFA. This inability to ‘fit in’ can be a source of isolation, distress, sadness, frustration and anxiety. We all know the schoolyard can be a brutal place for those who do not fit in.

The internet can be a virtual minefield for young people with ASD. Social media offers a great many ways of being misunderstood. For example, the obsessive compulsiveness that is characteristic of ASD can cause them to behave in ways that results in them be labelled a ‘stalker’. Computer scammers prey on the vulnerable and sorting out fact from fiction on the internet can be very difficult.

Schools today are not the same as the ones many of us attended as kids. At lunchtime there can be a line of students waiting to get their afternoon medication. Anxiety is rife and the amount of information that needs to be taught is intensive. Sadly, it is quite easy for a student with HFA to slip between the cracks of an overworked underfunded education system. This can be maddeningly frustrating for parents who know their child with HFA could achieve so much more if they are given better skills to thrive in a complex world.

Register your interest today!

PEERS 12 week program

Teens (13 to 17 years) and/or young adults (18 to 24 years) attend 2 hours per week over 12 weeks. We enrol a maximum of six individuals in each program. For a larger group of up to eight I can arrange for additional facilitators.

Before starting, a quick interview is conducted to ensure the program is the right fit for your child. We conduct a pre and post assessment so progress is tracked throughout the program. Learning is very hands on with lessons based around realistic role play scenarios. The training provides students with real world strategies.

There are 16 different skills each building upon the previous lesson.

How to use appropriate conversational skills
How to choose appropriate friends
How to appropriately use electronic forms of communication
How to appropriately use humour and assess humor feedback
How to start, enter and exit conversations between peers
How to organize successful get-togethers with friends
How to be a good sport when playing games/sports with friends
How to handle arguments and disagreements with friends and in relationships
How to change a bad reputation

2 day Intensive Bootcamps

These short courses offer some of the modules from the PEERS 12 week course. We provide these over two days (9-3pm Sat/Sun) and during school holidays. Please contact us using the form below to register your interest in upcoming Boot Camps.

Programs for Schools

As an accredited teacher I am approved to work in schools. I can modify the program to work with your time table and school term. Delivery costs for school programs are determined individually depending on the needs. I am also accredited to deliver Rock and Water so if interested we can discuss a package deal. I will also insure that outcomes align with the Personal and Social Capability learning continuum.

About your trainer...

Chris Halliday

Based on the Central Coast, Common Ground is the result of my frustrations…..and now my hopes after working in the field of education for over 15 years.

I came to teaching late in life. It took me over 12 years of working in the world of corporate sales to realise money was not buying me satisfaction. After a bit of soul searching and a long walk in the Himalayas, I left the corporate world to retrain as a teacher.

Upon earning my Master of Education from the University of Sydney I spent the next 9 years teaching in public and independent schools; as well as Juvenile Justice and Correctional facilities. I spent the following 7 years working as an Education Consultant helping to improve education outcomes for children in “Out of Homecare’. I’ve also worked with a local non-government organisation to deliver workshops in schools to help students understand and cope with anxiety.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Literature and Communication from Pace University in New York where I graduated Cum Laude. I am an accredited teacher with the National Education Standards Authority (NESA). I’m extensively trained in the impact of early childhood trauma, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Autism on learning. I am also an accredited facilitator of the Rock and Water program to help build self-esteem. I am accredited to deliver the PEERS social education program.

Register your interest in a program today!

If you have questions or require more information, please call for a free consultation on 0422 242 902 to discuss the suitability of your teen or young adult for the program.

Or submit the form below and we will be in contact with you:

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