Making Friends: Small Section for Teens With High Needs, Neurodivergent Focus
In this social class, we support learners with communication challenges to learn how to start conversations, practice social skills and create connections in a very small and safe class. Autism, ADHD, Neurodivergent/ND friendly hangouts.
ARI Learning by Carly Filewich Inclusive & Social!
Average rating:
4.7
Number of reviews:(583)
Popular
What's included
1 live meeting
30 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
Designed specifically for neurodivergent students with autism, ADHD, and communication challenges, this supportive class provides a safe, small-group environment to: Develop essential conversation skills Practice real-world social interactions Build meaningful peer connections Boost communication confidence in a judgment-free space Our inclusive, neurodiversity-affirming approach helps learners gain social communication strategies tailored to their unique strengths and learning styles. Perfect for students seeking a compassionate, understanding social skills development experience. Ideal for: Neurodivergent teens and young adults looking to enhance social communication in a welcoming, specialized learning environment. As this is a social group that is learner led with no curriculum, videos will not be shared with families to protect learner privacy. ***Please keep in mind we will cancel any classes with less than 2 learners as this is a social focus class. If you would like to meet in our 1:1 25 minute sessions please reach out for a link to the session to book. We are ESL Friendly, CEFR Level B and C. This group is trauma informed. That means we don't play around with potentially traumatic topics including murder and violence. All topics are welcome for discussion but trauma will not be our party theme. This includes murder mystery games. Thanks for understanding this effort to provide a safe space (in a short time) for all. We are a Neuroaffirming Organization! We support learners with different needs and meet them where they are at. In our social groups, we can read out the chat, we can scribe and we keep the class together and don't use breakout rooms. We support developing language by: *Modeling language without requiring immediate repetition *Narrating, commenting, and using declarative language *Allowing for silence, which often results in spontaneous language *Accepting multi-modal communication (gestures, AAC, body language, scripting) *Following the child’s lead in interactions
Learning Goals
Students will practice conversation in a supportive environment.Learners are assisted in conversation.
Other Details
Learning Needs
This class is intentionally created to support the social needs of learners who are needing extra support with communication. We keep this group very small to make sure everyone has a chance to share. We are a neuroaffirming organization!
Parental Guidance
This is a facilitated, not an instructional class. There is no content on "How to" make friends. This is a social space where learners are encouraged to share things that are important or interesting to them. Practice is the best learning.
Learners are invited to co-create our meetings. Bring your ideas and passions to class. This group is trauma informed. That means we don't play around with potentially traumatic topics including murder and violence. All topics are welcome for discussion but trauma will not be our party theme. This includes murder mystery games. Thanks for understanding this effort to provide a safe space (in a short time) for all.
Occasionally we use external websites to play games.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined October, 2017
4.7
583reviews
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
1 teacher has a Graduate degree
Master's Degree from University of Portsmouth
2 teachers have a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from University of Victoria
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from McGill University, Canada
Hello! My name is Carly, and I am the founder of ARI Learning.
I’m a proud graduate of the University of Victoria’s School of Child and Youth Care. I have always been passionate about working with children and youth, and this degree program provided me with knowledge of the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of young people. When teaching, I use a multidisciplinary approach, focused on relationship building, to support holistic development alongside academic achievement.
In addition to my formal education, I’ve also gained valuable experience through my seven years of online teaching. I’ve had the privilege of working with a diverse range of students and families, who have taught me the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment. It was through building relationships with my learners and their parents that I realized my own ADHD, the unknown reason why improving education is so important to me.
As an educator, I am dedicated to providing an inclusive learning environment that meets the needs of all learners. I believe that every student has the right to access quality education that is tailored to their unique abilities and learning styles.
This means creating classrooms that are welcoming, safe, and respectful of all students, in ways that enhance their abilities & neuro-specializations.
***
Hello! I'm Yvonne and I'm an instructor for ARI Learning.
I have a Bachelor of Music from McGill University and am now working on my microMaster's in Distance Education from the University of Maryland. I love learning and see it as something I will do for the rest of my life. I'm really interested in making and keeping places for students of all abilities because I think neuroaffirming settings are important for every student's mental health. My years of online teaching have provided me with the experience to tailor our offerings to any learner.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$18
weekly1x per week
30 min
Completed by 11 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-17
2-4 learners per class
