Speech and Language Services

SOCIAL
GROUPS

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SOCIAL COMMUNICATION GROUPS
Held in Richmond, BC
Serving Children from Preschool to High School
To develop social language around play/recreation,
problem solving and small group routines

Spring Language Booster Group
Please check with Dianne Milsom for dates and times
10:30 – Noon
March 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 2010

2010 Spring Social Communication Group
For Autistic children
10:30 – 12:00 PM
Time subject to change due to group availability
April 10, 17, 24, May 01, 08, 15, 29, June 05, 12, 19, 2010
Note: No session April 4th - Easter, May 24th - Victoria Day
$800.00 includes 10 sessions
Unit #210 - 3671 Chatham Street
Richmond, BC
Additional services, i.e. screening, follow up, reporting, etc. will be charged
at the rate of $115.00 an hour

2010 Spring Saturday Teen Group
For Autistic children Grade 6 through High School
Please check times with Dianne Milsom
April 10, 17, 24, May 01, 08, 15, 29, June 05, 12, 19, 2010
Note: No session April 4th - Easter, May 24th - Victoria Day
$800.00 includes 10 sessions
Unit #210 - 3671 Chatham Street
Richmond, BC
Additional services, i.e. screening, follow up, reporting, etc. will be charged
at the rate of $115.00 an hour

2010 Spring Friday Night Fun Group
For Autistic children Grade 3 through Grade 7
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM
April 09, 16, 23, 30, May 07, 14, 28, June 04, 11, 18, 2010
Note: No session April 4th - Easter, May 24th - Victoria Day
$800.00 includes 10 sessions
Unit #210 - 3671 Chatham Street
Richmond, BC
Additional services, i.e. screening, follow up, reporting, etc. will be charged
at the rate of $115.00 an hour

All groups not scheduled on Statutory Holidays

Group Composition
The ratio of students to staff is 2:1

Placement/Registration
Students are grouped according to age and compatibility with other members of the group. The grade levels
indicated above serve as a guideline for group arrangement. Registration forms are available on the
Social Group Registration page and need to be completed for each 10 week session.

Program
The program and activities have been designed mainly for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder but may also be
appropriate for children who are diagnosed as having Non Verbal Learning Disabilities, Language Learning Delays,
Asperger’s and children who may not have a specific diagnoses but have social/emotional areas of need.
A variety of opportunities and activities are planned to maximise social interaction between and among group participants.
Activities in the community are planned for the older students. Behaviour support is provided through
the use of Visual Schedules, Visual Routines, Social Stories, Social Scripts and Carry-over Activities may be supplied for
home practice.

Individual programs may be designed for older students to work with the younger students as volunteers with the purpose of
learning basic work skills and responsibilities.

The Staff
Dianne Milsom, M.S., S-LP(C) is the Program Director.

Our Social Communication Group lead facilitator is Sarah Hudson, in her 7th year of teaching in the Richmond School
District. She currently enrols a grade 6/7 class at Walter Lee Elementary. Sarah's teaching experience ranges from grades
K - 7, including teaching ESL and band. In addition to tutoring school age children with a spectrum of needs, Sarah has been
working with the Saturday Social groups for approximately 4 years. Marguerite Ly-Tong who attended UBC completed her
Bachelor of Science in May 2008 began assisting in the Social Communication Group while completing her Practicum and
has stayed with us as a member of the group.

Our Friday Night Fun Group facilitators are Doug Protz, David Denyer and Mark Badenhorst who also works in the Social
Communication Group. For ten years Doug has been working with Autistic children on a one to basis for the Ministry of
Children and Families. During the same time Doug has supported special needs children in out of school care settings. Mark
has worked in childcare-based programs for the past eight years. Mark holds a variety of certificates in child management
ranging from inclusion to non-violent crisis intervention. He is currently working towards his BA in ED. David has a Bachelor
of Arts in Economics, he also attended a Vancouver Art Therapy program and The Gateway Society Training for Persons
with Autism. David currently works as a behavioural, education consultant for a consulting company.

Our Saturday Teen Group facilitators are Yolandi McCarthy who completed the SETA program in 2002 has been working as
an Educational Assistant with Richmond School Board for 5 years. Natasha Cowin will be filling in for Katherine Lunggren
while she is taking a leave of absence. Natasha looks forward to filling in for Katherine and working with the Saturday Teen
Group.

Our Language Booster group facilitators are Lynette Lumbuan, and Megan Blackford. Lynette worked as a Speech
Language Pathologist in the Philippines. She has extensive background in working with children and adults with
communication problems. She has recently immigrated here and is working in the North Vancouver School District as a
Special Education Aide and at Surrey Memorial Hospital as a Hearing Screener. She is also currently working on her
certification as a Speech Language Pathologist in Canada. Megan has attended UBC specializing in English literature.

Each group is staffed by Interventionists who have backgrounds such as Classroom Teachers, Educational Assistants,
Behaviour Interventionists and University of BC Students. We also welcome volunteers.

Funding
For funding information please see Resource page.

Consultation, screening, follow up, reporting, etc., will be charged at the rate of $115.00 an hour.

Speech and Language Services and its instructors do not assume any liability for any injuries incurred as a result of activities.

2009 Groups - Directions to Chatham Clinic: