Biola's Social Skills Camp

Do you know a child between the ages of 6 and 10 who would like to attend a fun week at Biola?

What does the camp look like? Social Skills Camp includes both children with autism (ages 6-10 years) and typically developing age-matched peers (ages 6-10 years). Speech-Language Pathology graduate students are paired 1:1 with a camper with autism as well as 1:1 with an age-matched peer, and through structured engaging activities, they work to address individual communication goals. 

What is the purpose of the camp? As we are blessed to host this camp for children of our community, we are also grateful to provide valuable training to our graduate clinicians in the area of Social Communication and working with those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is a practicum for the students, which means the graduate clinicians earn clinical hours toward their required hours for graduation and certification with the American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA) as Speech Language Pathologists under the supervision of licensed Speech-Language Pathologists.

What are age-matched peer models? The purpose of peer model interaction with children with autism is to provide them with meaningful social experiences and opportunities for positive peer interactions in an inclusive communication environment. Peer modeling involves pairing a child with autism with typically developing peers who can serve as role models for social skills and behavior. The goal of peer model interaction is to promote social integration, foster friendships, improve social communication skills, and enhance social competence in children with autism. By engaging in activities with their typically developing peers, children with autism can learn essential social skills such as turn-taking, sharing, initiating and maintaining conversations, conversational turn-taking, and understanding non-verbal cues.

Dates: 
Speech and Language (Autism) Assessments: week of July 8th, 2024 (for campers with autism)

Camp Dates: July 22nd - 26th 

AM Camp: 9-11:30 A.M.

PM Camp: 1-3:30 P.M.

For information, email biolaspeechclinic@biola.edu