SZOKOM – School Adjustment Support Group (ages 7–10)

Detailed professional description

A social and communication skills development group for lower-primary-school children with autism spectrum disorder.
The sessions aim to support the building and maintenance of social relationships and to help children integrate into the community, in a personal, safe and supportive developmental setting.

Age group: school children aged 7–10

Focus: underdeveloped social and communication skills, anxiety, adjustment
difficulties, relationship problems and ASD-specific challenges.

Methodology:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy elements (e.g. rewards, reinforcement)
• Autism-specific tools (e.g. visual supports, social stories)
• Social learning, modelling
• Role play, situational exercises
• Creative, art-making activities
• Cooperative games

Skills to be developed:

• Recognising and expressing emotions
• Learning and understanding social rules
• Maintaining relationships, cooperation and problem-solving
• Self-esteem, self-protection and assertiveness
• Using verbal and non-verbal communication tools
• Anxiety management
• Developing mentalisation skills

Format:

• Slow-paced, closed group
• 45-minute weekly sessions
• Prior parent consultation required
• Individual assessment if needed
• 3–4 individual introductory sessions with the group leader
• Regular parent consultations are held as part of the process to follow the child's development

Group leader: Kamilla Kelemen – special education teacher and speech and language therapist