Opening the Door to Better Communication

It’s a new school year, with new classrooms, new teachers and new friends to be made. But for some children, all this transition can be very difficult and overwhelming. School anxiety is fairly common, but can become a hindrance, especially for a child who has other issues that exasperate anxiety, such as learning differences, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Aspergers or Autism. This fall, is targeting this complex issue by offering a Social Skills Group for kids from pre-school to high school age. Certified and licensed speech-language pathologists Dorian Cundari and Marni Gross will be facilitating these groups.

Both residents of Brookfield, Cundari and Gross said they are elated to be offering a social skills group in the area.

"There's nothing like this around here," said Gross, who has been facilitating a social skills group since 2003 called WC Kids' Club, at World Cup Nursery in Chappaqua, New York. Recognizing a need in this area, and desiring to work closer to home, Gross contacted Cundari and suggested the idea of a social skills group at Cundari’s practice.

Cundari opened Brookfield Speech and Language in 2003. Previously, she worked via contract with the Brookfield High School (BHS) as a speech pathologist.

“With the rise in these diagnosed cases and increased awareness of children on the autistic spectrum with social deficits, the need and desire for these groups has increased significantly,” Cundari explained.

The ability to communicate effectively is a passion for Cundari and Gross.

“We have such empathy for the kids who have difficulty in this area,” Cundari said. However, how does a parent know if their child is socially anxietal, or simply just shy? Cundari explained that the anxiety plays a factor if the child’s shyness interferes with their daily living activities, such as being able to pay attention in school and follow along conversations without getting lost. Both Cundari and Gross work with individuals with developmental disabilities such as Down Syndrome, Autism and Aspergers. A high percentage of the children they work with have an existing Individualized Education Program (IEP) at their school and all children are observed extensively before being accepted and placed in a group.

It’s evident both Cundari and Gross are enthusiastic about their profession and the array of issues that speech pathologists are specifically trained to help with. While discussing their work, their conversation quickly turns into a brain-storming session with both professionals discussing therapies, and what types worked for what person and why. Speech pathology is about more than just correcting speech impediments.

“As speech pathologists, we understand communication in the form of gesture, facial expression, language comprehension and expression," Cundari said. "We’re uniquely equipped to work with children who have difficulties using language for communication in a social context."

Cundari and Gross have extensive experience working in and out of the school system. Both agree that social skill groups offered in school can be limiting because of the high number of students placed in the group with an array of differing social abilities.

“We’re committed to matching the children up appropriately,” explained Gross. “If we find only four kids who we believe will work well together and help one another, then the group will be limited to those four children.”

Gross specializes with children from pre-school to elementary school age, while Cundari specializes in adolescents. Most recently, Cundari has also been working with adults and college students, helping them to acclimate to their new social environment with new roommates.

“I have one student who I will be skyping with this fall, to help him with social issues as they arise,” Cundari said enthustiastically about this new development in her career.

Cundari’s passion for what she does is evident in her personal learning and growing process within her specialty.

“I’m looking into having high school students who are interested in sociology and psychology to be peer influences to the children we work with, and they could earn community service hours in the process,” she said.

Gross talks affectionately of one family that she worked with who wrote her a beautiful poem as a thank you.

“We give life changing experiences to children,” said Gross sincerely, “And it means everything to their family.”

Each social skills group is a 12-week session costing $1,200, which some clients may be able to submit to their insurance company depending on their child’s diagnosis.

“We ask for a 12-week commitment because we put a lot of effort into placing the right children together,” Cundari explained. “The group doesn’t work if one child were to drop out suddenly.”

All children are observed before being accepted and placed in a group, which uses “a variety of strategies, including stories, role play, crafts and other techniques.” 

Space is still available for a Social Skills Group beginning September 26. Call 203-740-0932 or email doricslp@charter.net for more information or check out their website.