FAQs
What do you teach?
We teach UCLA’s Program for Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®), an empirically valid curriculum from UCLA started in 2004. This curriculum is taught in 150 countries and has been translated into 12 languages. PEERS is also recognized in the University of North Carolina 2020 National Clearinghouse for Autistic Evidence and Practices report as the ONLY evidence-based, parent-mediated social skills program
We start each class with 15-20 minutes of neuroscience-backed nervous system education to teach and practice the skills of co-regulation and self-regulation before breaking out into individual coaching rooms for parents/social coaches and students.
Our Adults 30+ class is a little different: It run for 12 weeks, does not utilize a social coach or caregiver, and focuses on strengthening communication skills, applying these skills to dating and intimate relationships, and workplace relationships with coworkers and employers.
Do you teach in person or online?
Our classes are virtual, with meetings taking place via Zoom. Research indicates that teaching our curricula via Zoom demonstrates the exact same results compared to previously published results from the in-person delivery of the same intervention. Online group coaching allows us to serve people across the country; we are constantly adding more classes to accommodate different time zones. Online classes are accessible to those in rural areas as well as those who have sensory and physical limitations.
What will we learn?
Every class starts with neuroscience-backed nervous system education to set the stage for improved learning and interpersonal group interactions.
The specific lessons taught vary, depending on the age of the learner. Our adult classes focus on dating and workplace dynamics whereas our teens and young adult classes focus more on organizing social activities and handling different forms of bullying.
Some of the basics include:
Conversation skills
Choosing appropriate friends based on shared interests
Effective use of electronic communication & humor
Starting, entering and exiting conversations
Good sportsmanship
Organizing successful get-togethers
Handling disagreements
Dating etiquette
Self-advocacy
And more
The teens, young adults and adults classes age 21-29 are parent-mediated. This means a parent or other caregiver attends a weekly class at the same time as their child, to learn to become stronger social supports at home. Parents of teens can expect to learn or improve skills to help their child make and keep friends, set healthy boundaries, and self-advocate for their unique needs, among others.
Who do you teach?
Families with learners age 11 and up who struggle to communicate or to connect socially. Although our core curriculum was designed for the autistic individual in mind, these skills are basic life skills applicable to everyone, whether identified as neurodivergent or not. Parents (aka social coaches) are also taught the same skills that their loved one is learning to help with carryover, In Real Life.
Do you teach adults?
Yes! We have a class for adults, age 21-29 and a class for age 30+. The essential core teaching is similar to our other programs, but focuses on adult scenarios such as employment and dating/intimate relationships. The 21+ group follows the 16-week coaching program, while the 30+ group follows a 12-week program.
Who are the instructors?
All courses are taught by a neurodiverse team of licensed speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, mental health providers, direct support workers, and learning specialists — most of whom are actually autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent. Our team is also racially diverse and LGBTQ+ representative, further demonstrating our commitment inclusion and diversity in all its forms.
When are the next classes?
Our accelerated 8-week Summer School classes start the week of July 8th. Our next 16-week courses start early August 2024. If you’d like more information than you can find on this FAQ page or on our website, please book an enrollment consult call to speak with our program director or one of our coaches.
COMING SOON! Social Skills Classes for bilingual/Spanish families. Students attend class in English, while parents’ classes are conducted in Spanish to help students continue learning and integrating lessons at home in a bilingual household.
How much does the program cost?
TEENS & YOUNG ADULT CLASSES
Our family classes for teens and young adults breaks down to 3.5 hours total of coaching per week, by licensed and insured professionals (1 hour and 45 minutes for the learners, 1 hour and 45 minutes for the parents/social coaches). Included in the cost are all of the program materials, including the PEERS handouts, video replays of every class, and the supplementary materials on trauma-informed nervous system education, mindfulness, and interoception skills.
The cost for the complete program is $3,999. At the time of enrollment, we will take a $500 deposit to hold your place in class. We adhere to a tiered Equitable Pricing Model. Clients may pay with credit cards. Families may also submit for reimbursement from their health insurance or other third-party payers. We are vendors with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).
ADULT CLASSES (AGE 30+)
The cost for the complete 12-week program is $2,500. At the time of enrollment, we will take a $500 deposit to hold your place in class. Clients may pay with credit cards. Adults enrolling in these classes may be able to receive insurance reimbursement, if they have a confirmed diagnosis of autism, ADHD, or other form of neurodivergence.
Do you take insurance?
We are credentialed with some insurance companies and are in the credentialing process with others. We provide a superbill for you to submit insurance for full or partial reimbursement, given an out-of-network exemption/single case agreement. Families have been getting reimbursed 50-100% of the cost. We can help you navigate the pre-authorizations, just reach out to us.
What is the Attendance Policy?
Regular attendance and on-time participation is imperative for getting the full benefit of the program. Class starts promptly. If you already know you will be missing more than 3 classes or will be absent for the first two sessions, we suggest you wait until the next course starts.
The same parent/caregiver must attend every session. Teens and young adults and their parents have weekly practice (e.g., having video chats with other group members, setting up a phone call/video chat with a friend to practice conversational skills, having get-togethers). Other parents/caregivers are always welcome to attend, but we strongly discourage switching off each week, as each class builds on previously learned skills.
Got questions that weren’t answered here?
Get in touch with us. We’d love to help you discover how IRL Social Skills can help you or your family.