Middle School SDI: Perspectives Lab

Susan Brennan, CCC-SLP
Lead Developer, Social Development Intervention (SDI
February 10, 2015

Wondering why social development is an essential part of your child’s success in school? In this workshop you will learn the specifics of Perspectives Lab, the Nest’s Middle School SDI therapeutic session, including:

• How this speech and language session supports social communication with a strong focus on generalization to the rest of the school day
• Our three goal areas: Problem Solving, Social Engagement/Social Cognition, and Pragmatic Language
• How we support executive functioning through building structures that allow for flexibility
• How social communication concepts are built and “flexed” through this exploratory lab time
• The importance of social cognition to integrated classroom learning, as well as directly in academics
• How we continually work to build a dynamic system that leads to self-advocacy
• What social supports look like in the classroom, and how the Nest team collaborates on social functioning to best support students 

Susan Ehlerman Brennan is a speech-language pathologist, writer, presenter and mother. She works with individuals with social cognitive differences, their families, and professionals to foster dynamic communication and encourage interest and strength-based supports. For the ASD Nest program: primary developer of Social Development Intervention (SDI), SLP & staff trainer, in-school consultant. For The Social Underground in NYC & MA: director, designs and runs social groups, consultant to museums and schools. Susan was a guest lecturer at Hunter College for six years and presents around the country.