Early Childhood

Inclusive Facilitated Playgroups: ASC's play programs are for younger children from 2–6. We provide "inclusive play groups" at the Center or in peoples' homes. We prefer to recruit typical peers from the neighborhoods, schools and families where our children already live and play. We encourage children to play inside or outside with toys to support pretend play, board games to develop cooperation, costumes for dramatic play or balls for developing gross motor skills. ASC helps to recruit friends and train typical peers, including siblings, (as well as children with autism) to interact appropriately. Our play programs provide a naturalistic, parent-friendly model, that we help parents to learn and facilitate. The goal is for children to learn social skills and to make friends that involve real connections with other kids. We help parents teach their children to develop friendships outside the Center.

We can also work with a child's day care program or preschool to help facilitate better play interactions for a specific child.

School Age

Inclusive Facilitated Playgroups: ASC's play programs are for younger children from 5–10. We provide "inclusive play groups" at the Center or in peoples' homes. We prefer to recruit typical peers from the neighborhoods, schools and families where our children already live and play. We encourage children to play inside or outside with toys to support pretend play, board games to develop cooperation, costumes for dramatic play or balls for developing gross motor skills. ASC helps to recruit friends and train typical peers, including siblings, (as well as children with autism) to interact appropriately. Our play programs provide a naturalistic, parent-friendly model, that we help parents to learn and facilitate. The goal is for children to learn social skills and to make friends that involve real connections with other kids. We help parents teach their children to develop friendships outside the Center.

We can also work with a child's after school program if the parent's are interested in having us (or the after school personnel) help facilitate better play interactions for their child.

Inclusive Film Groups: Film groups are offered to youth with and without autism to foster social, creative and technical skills through a media that transcends barriers in ability, language and cultural background. Participants learn computer, video and film-making techniques that include brainstorming, scripting, interviewing, directing, camera work, sound and animation. They also learn cineliteracy (the understanding and appreciation of film). When young people are filming, they are framing their own world, allowing them to be self-defined rather than defined by other people. Through the film making process, we can motivate, empower and increase a person's confidence. The filmmaking process is a great leveler where individuals with special needs are able to achieve an equal footing with their typical peers.

Inclusive Drama Groups: Integrated Drama Groups use socio-dramatic theater techniques to support children with autism in developing critical social, emotional, and symbolic capacities while collaborating with typical peers. With its reliance on narrative, action and character, drama creates opportunities for children to take on and try out new social roles and explore the world from another person's point of view. The program allows children to write scripts, act, and develop their own plays. Through a series of guided experiences, the children learn, practice and refine skills that foster social-communication, imagination, flexible behavior, perspective-taking and a theory of mind. The groups are tailored to children's abilities and interests. Each term culminates with a theatrical performance developed and put on by the children. The plays are often video taped so children can take home memories of their work.

Inclusive Groups for Teens: In these dynamic groups for middle and high school kids, the group members decide collabortively how they want to structure and run their sessions. Together the groups make decisions about the various activities, such as traveling to local malls, theaters, and fast food resturants, or staying at the Center and making jewelry or taking photographs to give to their friends and families. The facilitator is there to support and encourage interaction, communication and socialization among friends. The facilitator also provides support for the various projects and excursions.

Kids' Night Out for kids young and old.

Once a month on Friday nights, staff from Autism Social Connection and volunteers provide children with the opportunity to have fun away from their parents, play, watch movies, eat popcorn and socialize with their friends. Call or e-mail about our kids nights out events.

Inclusive Social Groups for Adults (18 and above)

Autism Social Connection has recently started integrated adult groups. Adults learn useful and interesting skills such as film production, while also exploring the world of autism with friends both with and without autism. Both groups learn new ways of thinking and knowing.