Social Skills and Pragmatic Groups for Fall 2010

Pragmatic speech therapy is desperately needed by many higher-functioning children with autism. Also called social skills classes, these therapy groups help children learn correct social behavior. However, arranging these speech groups can be difficult, since children need to practice with other children their own age.  Several pragmatics groups can be found in the Central Arkansas area.  Please let me know if you hear of other such groups.

The speech program at UALR has pragmatics groups for children 7-12 years old, and the occasional teen group. The cost is $250 for a semester of once a week classes. The parents can observe the class through a one-way mirror. The group's supervised by a speech-language pathologist with undergraduates doing the bulk of the therapy. The entire fee must be paid up front, and UALR will not bill your insurance company or Medicaid. Dr. Betholyn Gentry manages the lengthy wait list for the program; she can be reached at either 501-569-8913 or gentrybetholynf@uams.edu to see if this program would be suitable for your child.

The ACH Child Study Center also runs a social skills group on a school calendar. The group ranges in age from 5 to 14, with Ph.D. Psychologists Jason Lagory and/or Rachel Bowman supervising the master's level therapists and therapist-trainees. The ACH group varies slighly each semester, with classes sometimes available for normal siblings, teenagers, and other groups.

This ACH social skills group can be billed as a group therapy session to insurance or Medicaid, with UAMS handling the actual billing. The "rack rate" per group session is $100, although most insurance and medicaid provides a significant discount. The waiting list for the Dr. Bowman group is extensive but varies depending on the type of medical insurance.

ACCESS has afternoon classes the fall of 2010 for social skills classes. Once a week the classes meet in small age groups and go out into the community on field trips. A speech language pathologist supervises the group.The cost is $630 for the 14 week program, payable by monthly bank draft. The class time is 3:15 to 4:45. Please check with your insurance but Access will not be filing for payment. Most insurance plans require a psychologist, not SLP, for reimbursement. Groups start September 13th and end December 13th, so please call Beth Rice of Access, 217-8600, if you're interested.

The UCA Speech-Language Hearing Center offers extensive therapy services at $25 per session.  UCA is not filing with insurance so all expenses must be covered by the parent.  SLP students provide therapy services under the direction of UCA faculty.  UCA also offers $35 speech evaluations, as I've previously described.

 **NEW** Arkansas Department of Education Behavioral Consultant Jennifer Hennessey Ed.D. and BCBA and Psychologist Sheila Smith are together offering social skills groups in Conway. The classes are based on ABA principles and start this fall on Thursday evenings. The ages are from 4 to 12, divided into two groups of up to 8 participants each.**UPDATE** Program is on hold for the fall.

All participants need to have a $100 registration, assessment and goal development, then pay $800 for the entire series of ten classes. FORM HERE

 If you're new to the exasperating wait lists for autism services, try to be persistent yet polite.  Sometimes these therapy groups lose applications, or have massive cancellations, so keep calling and checking.

Update on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 by Eye Contact Arkansas

In January 2011 Pediatrics Plus of Conway will begin offering social skills classes.  Please contact them directly for more information.

Also, the Department of Education has started a free, 4-week training program for parents of preschoolers who have been recently diagnosed with autism.  This Tuesday/Thursday morning series is based on the ABA principles of autism therapy.

I wanted to let you know about a new project we have started through ARLearn and the Arkansas Department of Education-Special Education Unit called Quick Start. Quick Start is a 4-week free program for parents that have children ages 2-5 newly diagnosed with autism/Asperger’s or thought to be on the spectrum.  The program includes a model classroom, parent education, and guided observation of PRT/DTT.  We are in the final week of our first group and are seeing amazing results.  I have attached information, but would love to sit down with you at some point and tell you more.  We are getting a great response from the Conway area and wanted to make sure parents in the Little Rock area know about the program.

Thanks for all you do,

Jennifer Hennessey, Ed. D., NCSP, BCBA
Behavior Intervention Consultant
Arkansas Department of Education-Special Education Unit
Office- (501) 329-7400   Cell- (501) 514-4752

Update on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 by Eye Contact Arkansas

Memphis area also has social skills classes for ASD children and adults. LINK HERE

Update on Sunday, February 6, 2011 by Eye Contact Arkansas

Dr. Adam Benton and Ms. Jerilyn Swalve-Wasson, LPE, are starting a once a week social skills group for teens ages 13-17 with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr. Adam Benton is based on North Little Rock.  This service will also be billable to Medicaid or private insurance.

Please contact email Jerilyn at Jerilyn.Swalve.Wasson@gmail.com for more information.

Comments

[Shannon Simmons]

Thanks for this information. As my son is transitioning into kindegarten this year, I am anxious about how he will behave and if he will make new friends. I appreciate all of your hard work in getting all of this information in one spot for us parents. Love ya!