ASD Social Pragmatics Group & Creative Writing

  • This is a 12 week course offered in the fall and spring, in person or Zoom. Small groups are formed with similar age students. Classes are 90 minutes. Social lessons, focus on the following social pragmatic lessons:

    1. Defining Friendships and Levels

    2. Maintaining Conversations

    3. Electronic Communication

    4. Finding a Source of Friends

    5. Humor

    6. Entering a Conversation

    7. Exiting a Conversation

    8. Get togethers

    9. Good sportsmanship

    10. Disagreements

    11. Changing Reputations/ Making Positive Impressions

    12. Rumors, Gossip, Bullying & Teasing

    This is also a creative writing course based around the concept that shared interests are the foundation of forming lasting friendships. This course will start the student on their way to writing their own novel!

    Students are screened for readiness before being accepted into this course as participation is so vital to the success of these groups.

  • This is a 12 week program. Students are grouped together by age. 5th-8th grade and 9-12th grade levels. Attendance and participation are drivers in its success. Commitment is key. Classes are 90 minutes, 45 minutes for the social lessons and then 45 for the creative writing lessons. In-person classes are limited to 4 students. Online classes are limited to 6 students. Prepayment is required. $150 per session. If cost is an obstacle, please reach out anyway. Please inquire with NBRC about Self-Determination Program (SDP) funds.

ADHD Social Pragmatics Group & Comedy Writing

  • This is a 12 week course geared for students with ADHD. It is offered in the fall and spring, in person or on-line. Groups are formed with similar age students. Social lessons revolve around typical strengths and challenges of ADHD. It is a 90 minute class, focusing on the following social pragmatic lessons:

    1. Situational Awareness & Understanding Friendship Levels

    2. Active Listening

    3.Showing Interest & Social Fake

    4. Handling Different Points of View, “Let’s agree to disagree!”

    5. Problem Solving

    6. Initiating Conversations

    7. Maintaining & Exiting Conversations

    8. Humor: What’s funny to you might not be to someone else.

    9. How is your filter? Have you ever just wished you didn’t say that? Let’s talk strategies.

    10. Conversation & Attention Strategies

    11. Get togethers

    12. Rumors, Gossip, Bullying & Teasing

    It is also a creative writing course focusing on various humor devices in literature with lessons inspired by comic writers and comedians. In addition to friendship skill building, this course is also centered around the concept that shared interests are the foundation of forming lasting friendships. The first 45 minutes are social skills lessons and the latter 45 are comedy writing exercises. Note: Novel writing is also an option for this group.

    Students are screened for readiness before being accepted into this course as participation is so vital to the success of these groups.

  • This is a 12 week program. Students are grouped together by age. 5th-8th grade and 9-12th grade levels. Attendance and participation are drivers in its success. Commitment is key. Classes are 1.5 hours, 45 minutes for the social lessons and then 45 for the comedy writing lessons. In-person classes are limited to 4 students. $150 per session. Online classes are limited to 8 students. Prepayment is required. $100 per session. Prepayment is required. Please inquire with NBRC about Self-Determination Program (SDP) funds.

Relationships, Safe Dating & Wellness

  • After participating in a Social Pragmatic Friendships group, the relationships and dating course is recommended. It is a 12 week course that blends social-emotional lessons with dating and relationship lessons. Understanding oneself is a core foundation of relationship skills. We often hear the advice, “Just be yourself,” but that is not always so easy. Personality profiles are one way we can deepen our understanding of ourselves and we can use that information to understand how our personality profiles may affect our interactions with others.

    Strong communication skills are at the core of relationships. In this course, we discuss (and role play) the importance of sharing thoughts, feelings, experiences and stories. Another key aspect of communication involves empathic listening. It is not just important to hear the words, but also the underlying meaning. We delve into acting out the language of conflict resolution as well as making and respecting boundaries. Communication skills pertaining to break ups are also discussed. Dating can feel a bit like going on a job hunt. You can feel like you did a great interview and still not get the job. This is an important aspect of dating that is included in this course as there are inevitably many ups and downs in the dating world and it is necessary to be aware of this in order to know if you are truly ready to start dating. Let’s not forget about safety in real life and in person. Please go to the Events section to see a flyer for this class. I am always adding content, so the lessons are very group-specific and pertain to the needs and levels of the group. I am always happy to take requests from students and families on subjects they would like to discuss. I am also happy to have special guests present who may deepen our understanding of specific subject matter. I have seen students unintentionally become entangled with law enforcement because they did not understand what stalking is, etc. Conversely, I have had seen students become targets and abused as well. I can not underscore how important this information is for teens and young adults.

  • These classes are geared for high school students (age 17+) and young adults. Classes are formed based on age levels. Classes are small with a maximum of 4 students per class.

    90 minute- in-person sessions $150 per class; Prepayment required. If cost is an obstacle, please reach out anyway. Please inquire with NBRC about Self-Determination Program (SDP) funds.

Hi, I’m Beth Gonzalez-Karcs, MS-CCC, SLP.

My name is Beth Gonzalez-Karcs, M.S. CCC-SLP. I am PEERS certified. I have worked as an SLP for over 24 years. I am passionate about helping students of all ages with communication, articulation and social skills. Social connections are connected to health, wellness, employability and longevity. I have extensive experience teaching social skills to neurodiverse students in a way that empowers and affirms without diminishing students’ self esteem and special, unique qualities. In my free time, I enjoy creative writing, walking my dogs and Zumba!