Somaslp

10/14/2025

Students in a kindergarten to Second grade social skills group worked in pairs to create play doh monster faces.

10/09/2025

Great article explaining the scientific reasons children with ADHD learn better when they're moving.


https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/adhd-brain-1.4344754?fbclid=Iwb21leANUie5jbGNrA1SJVmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEehRw3mKq5ZHPgUQPOq0c03UVKwZnz2so6G4VsataBDsbZ9Oq6QEdHOWNoSpY_aem_hGWPz2Dr7pTyE5jF3m3D2w

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may fidget, tap and swivel around in a chair much more than normally developing children because it helps them to learn complex material, psychologists have found.

10/07/2025

To the parents, and especially the mothers of my autistic students: you did not cause your child(ren)'s autism. Mothers have been blamed for autism since the diagnosis' first inception.



https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-baby-scientist/202510/a-history-of-mom-blaming-for-autism

10/05/2025

Local SOMASLP families, I am a member of the Comunity Coalition on Race's Schools Committee, that is hosting the following event tomorrow evening:

Reminder that the Coalition on Race BOE Forum is this coming Monday, October 6th. We are the only forum dedicated to issues of integration and racial equity. Please RSVP if you're planning on coming so that we have an idea of numbers.

https://www.communitycoalitiononrace.org/boe_candidates_forum_2025

10/03/2025

10/01/2025

Does your child have difficulty taking turns or being a fair player in games? Do they have difficulty making and keeping friends or reading social cues? Does your older child have difficulty joining a group conversation or self-advocating with peers or teachers?

I'm a Maplewood-based speech-language therapist, and I'm currently enrolling for a 6-week late fall session of neurodivergent-affirming social skills groups, set to begin the week of 11/10/2025. There is currently room left in all groups.

Groups consist of 3-6 children matched by age/ grade level and are appropriate for students ages 3-25.

Groups focus on developmentally appropriate social skills, such as turn-taking, being a gracious winner or loser during games, initiating and maintaining a conversation both 1:1 and in a group, working collaboratively, self-advocacy, and much more.
Groups will meet in person at my Maplewood home office. There will be the following groups:

Preschool/ kindergarten Group - Mondays 4:15-5:00 pm (ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT)
1st Grade - 3rd Grade Group - Mondays 5:15-6:00 pm (ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT)
3rd - 5th Grade Group - Wednesdays 4:45-5:30
Upper Elementary/ Middle School Group - Thursdays 5:15-6:00
High School/ Young Adult Group - Wednesdays 5:45-6:30

Photo description: Students in a preschool social skills group built a collaborative Bristle Block creation. Students took turns spinning the spinner and then selected the matching color Bristle Block to create a collaborative project, targeting turn-taking, collaboration, compromise, and problem-solving!

Fill out a social skills group interest form for more information:
https://forms.gle/Ly9nMMjNw6eBxiRXA

09/30/2025

Students in a Kindergarten to Second grade social skills group engaged in a conversation garden activity, collecting different colored flowers for making follow-up comments or asking follow-up questions to a peer.

09/22/2025

L'shana Tova. May the sound of the shofar awaken your spirit to fight the injustices of the world and may you be inscribed in the book of life for a sweet new year filled with good health, love, and laughter, joy and gratitude.

09/10/2025

This is what being neurodivergent-affirming looks like.

08/30/2025

Yesterday, I had the privilege of presenting to Pillar School staff on neurodivergent-affirming practices. It was wonderful seeing so many of my former colleagues as I previously worked there as an SLP for 9 years!

08/18/2025

SOMASLP will be closed for summer vacation from Friday, 8/15/25 through Monday, 9/1/25. I will return to the office on Tuesday, 9/2/25. Enjoy these last dog days of summer!

08/14/2025

The word cloud my high school/ young adult students created during social skills group, discussing self-advocacy and dating. This group of teens and young adults had a fruitfull discussion on red flags and green flags in relationships, setting and maintaining boundaries, turning down a date invitation, on-line dating safety, and even the dangers of sexting. One student shared that this discussion was the group in which she learned the most.