Social Skills Programs & Sibling Supports

Social Skills Programs/Opportunities

 
Along Dusty Trails

Providing traditional and alternative speech-language programming, offering both 1-1 and social-language group based supports, that are engaging and tailored to each individual’s abilities. Connect to chat in more detail about your goals!

     
    Autism Aspergers Friendship Society

    Social opportunities through outings and recreational activities, for kids 8 to 17 years old, in Calgary and some surrounding communities.

       
      Ascend Pediatrics

      Ascend Pediatrics Offers in-home Private Therapy Support Services in Cochrane, Canmore, Chestermere, Banff, Airdrie, and Calgary, AB. Their service providers are approved to work within FSCD contracts. Assessments they offer are ASD Diagnostic, Psyco-educational assessments, Giftedness, Fluency, Language and speech sounds, language and literacy, sensory processing, fine motor and visual motor integration, Gross motor and Developmental coordination.
      They have a social thinking program and offer small interactive Respite Groups where kids can explore activities and play with friends. They have summer camps and more.
          Professionals Available: Aides, Behavioral Specialists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Physical Therapists, Psychologists, Respite, Social Activities, Speech & Language Pathologists
          Therapy Approach: Play Therapy
          Billing: Sliding Scale rates available

           
          CanLearn Society

          FREE Social Skills Groups and 1:1 Classes for Kids and Teens. The CanLearn Friends program is designed to help children and teens learn skills to be successful and apply them in everyday life. Confidence-building, calming techniques and mindfulness are key areas of focus in the program. Through a combination of meaningful discussions, role-playing, games and activities, children learn strategies and skills in a fun and interactive way. For Parents, provides many ideas and suggestions on how to generalize and practice the skills outside of the sessions.

             
            Cassidy Brown

            Clinical behaviour specialist, offers a variety of social skills programs follows Low Arousal Approach. FSCD funding under Developmental/behavioural support contract available.

               
              Connect Behaviour, Journey into the Unknown

              An interactive role playing experience where kids work together to complete missions, gain confidence, and learn valuable skills along the way. JITU camp will provide the opportunity to not only play this exciting game, but also take part in all the behind the scenes aspects of game design, painting 3D minis, building terrain, designing their own custom items and tools, creating a fantasy world, and even acting as the game master.

                 
                Eckert Center

                Kimberly Eckert, Registered Psychologist and founder of Eckert Psychology & Education Centre, has developed the Cognitive Coaching Method TM to provide individuals who have disabilities with the tools they need to find fulfillment in the social (home, school and community) and employment world. The aim of their Cognitive Coaching Method TM is to equip parents in skillfully dealing with challenging behaviour, foster decision-making skills and build independence in their child, while remaining a trusted mentor through their child’s life.

                   
                  Elevated Abilities

                  Their Sibshops program offers peer support in a lively, recreational context. Through a mix of play, discussion, and creative activities, participants gain a deeper understanding of their siblings’ condition. The workshops are not intended as therapy but instead a space to build resilience and develop friendships.

                     
                    Koru Psychology

                    The Amazing Kids social skills training includes a number of recreational and educational activities designed to build your child’s social development. Topics include self-esteem, resiliency, making and keeping friends, managing emotions, and much more, depending on your child’s needs.

                       
                      Moroz Psychology

                      Their social skills groups are small in size with only 4 to 6 children with similar age, personality and areas in need of support.

                         
                        Skills to Learn

                        Offers 12 weeks social skills programs for children with ASD aged 6-13, with a parent education compnemt to help generalize skills outside of the class room. The program is approved for Behavioural/Developmental Aide Support funding from FSCD.

                           
                          Trico Centre

                          Dive into the excitement at Trico Centre’s summer day camps! It’s not just a camp – it’s a vibrant and inclusive experience packed with quality activities, new friendships, and thrilling adventures. With their awesome team of trained leaders, campers are in for a summer full of laughs and memories lasting long after the summer ends.

                             
                            WERKLUND SCHOOL OF EDUCATION ASERT

                            The PEERS Social Interventions programs are evidence-based social skills program for youth 13 to 18 years old. PEERS and PEERS-YA are evidence-based and empirically-supported interventions designed to help motivated teens/adults learn how to make and keep friends. Teens/adults are taught and shown important social skills, and are given the opportunity to practice these skills during socialization activities. While teens/adults are in their own session, parents/caregivers have their own facilitated sessions where they learn how to assist their teen/adults by expanding their social network and providing feedback through coaching during weekly socialization homework assignments. PEERS For Preschoolers (P4P) is designed for children between the ages of 4 to 6 with a diagnosis of autism and who speak in at least 5 word phrases who are interested and motivated in learning how to make and keep friends. Children will learn skills such as listening and following directions, meeting and greeting friends, sharing and giving turns, keeping cool, being a good sport, and much more! Lessons include direct teaching, role plays, behavioural rehearsals, and weekly socialization assignments and homework that must be completed. Parents are simultaneously taught how to support their child’s social development.

                               

                               

                              Sibling Supports

                               
                              Autism Society Alberta Toolkit

                              A collection of resources for the siblings of children on the spectrum.

                                 
                                AXB Psychological Services

                                Their mission is to provide top-quality assessments, including psychoeducational, ADHD assessments, AISH/PDD, and Autism diagnostic assessments. They also offer counselling and consultation services, and psychological and coordination Services through FSCD. They pride themselves on being accessible and making psychological services more affordable for families. Their foundation is built on the core values of empathy, non-judgment, and acceptance, and they ensure that every experience with them is warm, authentic, and valuable. They currently serve families in Calgary, Airdrie, and Okotoks (FSCD Services only).

                                   
                                  Inclusion Foothills Sibshops (High River)

                                  Provides a safe, confidential, non-judgmental, and fun environment where brothers and sisters of special needs siblings meet other siblings, enabling them to develop supportive relationships and coaching skills.

                                     
                                    Milestones Sibshops (McMan)

                                    Provide younger sibblings with peer support & information their sibling’s disability in a safe setting. Siblings will meet other siblings to have fun, laugh, & talk about the having a sibling with a disability.

                                       
                                      The Sibling Support Project

                                      The first national program dedicated to the life-long and ever-changing concerns of millions of brothers and sisters of people with special health, developmental, and mental health concerns.