Apraxia-Kids Parent Conference
Break Out Session

Social Skills & Friendship

Kristen Burke, OTR/L
Al Condeluci, Ph. D. (from United Cerebal Palsy)




This was a very dynamic session. The speaker from UCP was very motivational. Below are the steps presented to help make a successful entry into an organization that may provide a way for your child to gain lasting friendships.

  • Identify your child's interest, skills, talents, and barriers
  • Identify a place to meet others with same interests
  • Understand the culture before joining, prepare your child with the knowledge to be successful in the group (lingo, skills)
  • Find the gatekeeper and enlist their help, find the peer gatekeeper if at all possible
  • One idea: Hire a special ed student who needs volunteer time to join the group as an assistant to act as a gatekeeper for your child. Have that person help create a peer gatekeeper to welcome your child into the group. This person is NOT an aide for your child, but rather a covert facilitator.
  • Gatekeepers are persons in the group who are "popular" and have the means to make someone new to the group accepted or rejected. Negative gatekeepers are more prevalent than positive ones... find the positive ones.