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Social Skill Builders offers a series of peer group programs
for early childhood through adolescent aged children, who
demonstrate difficulties with social skill awareness, social
interactions and social behaviors.
They may have an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Asperger's
Syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder with or without
Hyperactivity, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, or learning
difficulties.
Our goal is to work towards improving social skills useful in
their everyday life such as:
Listening
Conversing
Reading and using appropriate body language
Social interactions and peer relationships
Self-esteem and self-control
How to make friends and get along with others
How to handle teasing
and more...
Learning these skills can enhance the child's chances for
success with their peers in the classroom and can help
establish social competence in other areas of their lives as
well.
There are several program levels that are offered from
beginning to advanced skills. Children are matched with peers
of similar ages, grades, social skills and language abilities.
There are generally 4 to 6 members per group. Classes are held
at Barnes Early Childhood Development Center in Grosse Pointe
Woods, which is located near the I-94 / Vernier exit. Each
program runs for 8 weekly, 1 hour sessions, and is generally
held after school hours.
If you would like further information, please contact Lisa
Decker at 313.884.2462
or email her at
lisamdecker@comcast.net.
About the Facilitator of the Social Skill Builders Program:
Lisa Decker, BSN, RN is a registered nurse with 25+ years of
nursing, management, and facilitator experience. She has
devoted the past three years to developing and facilitating
Social Skill Builders, a program that teaches social skill
techniques to children ages 5 to 15. She is married and a
mother of two.
Lisa is immediate past co-chair and current board member of
CHADD of Eastern Wayne and Macomb County, is Leader for Girl
Scout Cadette Troop 3737, is immediate past vice-president and
current member for the Grosse Pointe School SEPAC/PTO, and
holds memberships in several organizations including the
Autism Society of America, the Asperger Syndrome Coalition of
the U.S., CHADD, and ARC. She also keeps active advocating for
her and other children in the schools, the community, and with
governmental issues affecting them.
Lisa knew that structured peer group social skill instructions
were one of the top recommendations for her son and children
like him with Asperger's Syndrome. However, there were no
programs offered in the eastside area, and few to be found in
Southeast Michigan at all. The knowledge of that was her
driving force in developing and facilitating the Social Skill
Builders Program, that took over 2 years to research and
develop. She offers 12 different 8-week social skill programs
for the different age and skill level groups.
About the Support/Consultant to the Social Skill Builders
Program:
Marquita Bedway, Ph.D. is a licensed pediatric psychologist
with over 15 years experience. She specializes is ADHD,
learning disorders, anxiety and mood disorders in children,
adolescents and adults.
Dr. Bedway is Co-Director of the ADHD Clinic at Children's
Hospital of Detroit, and at the Department of Psychiatry and
Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University. Dr. Bedway
is also in private practice in Grosse Pointe.
Dr. Bedway has been a support and consultant to the
development and running of the Social Skill Builders Program,
providing valuable input and feedback along the way.
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