Social Skill Need Assessment
Behavior Problem Assessment
Diagnostic Evaluations

Social Skill Need Assessment
Each student is evaluated through observation, interviews and rating scales to develop an individualized social skill plan. The evaluation yields three critical pieces of information to design an effective intervention:

1. What social skills to teach and in what order. Some students will need certain prerequisite skills before they can learn other skills. For example, attending to others verbal or non-verbal communications is a critical first step before one can teach other social skills. A list of common skills we target are listed on the social skill menu which also appears in the Social Skills Training Manual.
2. Strategies to teach skills. We will determine the best approach for each student based on his or her language ability and learning style. Some students will learn better from visual strategies that utilize pictures and direct modeling more than verbal explanation (e.g., see Social Skill Picture Book). Other students will benefit from skill lessons that include verbal or written explanations (e.g., see Social Skills Training Manual).
3. Individual or group training. Some students will initially benefit from individual training to build group-readiness skills, such as attending to others, and coordinating their actions with others. Many students will enter groups of two or more students who are matched by cognitive and language ability, motivation to socialize, and age.

Behavior Problem Assessment
We can provide an assessment of problem behaviors to help understand why the behavior occurs. This is also known as a "Functional Assessment." The assessment may involve observation, interview, review of behavior diaries, and filling out questionnaires. Based on the information we will help put together a behavior plan which may involve: Modifications to the demands placed on the student, skills training to provide alternatives to inappropriate behaviors, and incentive systems.

Diagnostic Evaluations
We can provide an assessment geared towards making a diagnosis of a particular psychiatric condition. This may involve interviews, questionnaires, and direct observation. If needed, we can provide a written summary of our diagnostic impression.