| Social Smart Kids Consulting Service |
It all started with a chat….
…with first and second graders at my daughter’s school. When she was in second grade, some of her classmates started to really wonder why she seemed different from them. I decided to come in and speak with the class about Down syndrome to provide an explanation as to why she looked a little different, talked a little different, and needed extra help in class and so on. In preparation, I wrote down my thoughts and decided to explain the genetics of Down syndrome and the impact the extra chromosome had on my daughter. The talk explains chromosomes, low muscle tone, and general information regarding developmental disability at an elementary school level. Given that my daughter learns best with a multi-sensory approach, I developed the talk to include visual, tactile, and auditory components. Parents and educators were invited to attend the chat. Additionally, a written version of the chat and a letter to the parents of the classmates was sent home so the parents would know how Down syndrome had been explained to their child.
The outcome was surprising to me. Several parents and educators attended the first two chats and approached me afterwards with tears in their eyes and gave me hugs while thanking me. I heard comments in person and via e-mail thanking me for the “beautiful talk” and comments like “I can explain my brother’s developmental disability to my daughter now that you’ve given me the tool” and “I’ve shared the written version of your talk with family and friends”. Most importantly, the children understood and loved that I had come in to talk with them about their friend and classmate. While the chat explained various aspects of developmental disability to the children, the underlying message of the talk was to empower the children to help my daughter be a better friend by helping her with her social skills.
Since the initial chat, I have given the talk several more times and have consulted with families and school systems to customize it for each child’s individual need. The talk was the beginning of my new venture, Social Smart Kids (www.socialsmartkids.com). Social Smart Kids consulting service offers a similar chat for your child’s situation. Each chat is customized given your child’s personality, disability, and school environment. The consulting service includes a consult with parent(s), child if appropriate, educators, and anyone else who has knowledge of the social dynamics at school and can speak to the specific social challenges the child is experiencing. The final step in the process is a presentation to the class followed by a question and answer session (if located in or near Massachusetts). For more information or to schedule a chat for your child, contact Nadine Briggs at nbriggs@socialsmartkids.com.
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