Social Communication Program

Does your child have difficulty...

  • Using eye contact?
  • Listening or engaging with others?
  • Interpreting facial expressions, body language, or other nonverbal social cues?
  • Starting and maintaining a conversation?
  • Taking turns during conversation or play?
  • Compromising or cooperating with others?
  • Coping with transitions or changes in routine?

Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center's Social Communication Program may be able to help!

The program is available to students age 5 through high school who have social communication deficits. We believe the following areas are critical for students to develop successful social communication skills:

  • Conversational Skills: Using language to take part in reciprocal and meaningful exchanges (e.g. engagement, topic maintenance, topic initiation, turn-taking, listening, etc.)
  • Self-Regulation Skills: Managing one's own feelings and/or sensory, motor planning, and visual-spatial issues
  • Cooperation Skills: Problem-solving, compromising, and understanding others' perspectives to establish and maintain relationships
  • Generalization Skills: To communicate effectively across social situations and to adjust social behaviors to meet the listener's needs and environmental conditions

In order to improve these skills we have taken a unique approach that combines both structured explicit teaching and student-centered activities, while incorporating gross motor and sensory experiences. Student-centered activities provide natural opportunities for students to apply taught skills in a meaningful way with their peers. During this time therapists recognize "teachable moments" and tailor teaching methods to accommodate each student's unique developmental and individual differences in line with the DIR/Floortime model (Greenspan). For more information contact 716-885-8318.

Class Schedule  

Summer Session - 7/10/12 through 8/22/12

Fall Session - 10/19/12 through 12/18/12

Class Structure

  • Each class is 90 minutes in length
  • There are 6-8 students in each class grouped appropriately by age.
  • Two speech-language pathologists and one classroom aide instructs each class.
  • The student's parent/guardian is required to meet weekly, during a pre-scheduled time, with the speech-language pathologist.
  • Classes are held in the summer, fall and winter. Space is limited and is offered on a first come first serve basis. Most major insurances are accepted.
  • Classes are offered at both our Amherst and Buffalo locations!

 

For a scholarship application please click here  

Location:
Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center is located at 50 E. North Street Buffalo, NY on the Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus.

Our Amherst office is located at 5225 Sheridan Drive (Georgetown Plaza), Williamsville, NY.