Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my child would benefit from the programs that Inside Out Learners offers?
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you ponder this question. Does my child:
- struggle to keep up with others in reading or math?
- bring home reports from school indicating concerns for his/her lack of academic progress?
- have difficulty making eye contact and/or lack joint attention skills?
- struggle with making friends and maintaining friendships?
- stand too close or too far away from those he or she is interacting with?
- seem oblivious to nonverbal social cues and body language of others?
- neglect to greet and/or respond to greetings of others?
- have difficulty initiating, maintaining, taking turns to speak, and/or ending a conversation?
- have trouble identifying his or her feelings as well as, the feelings of others?
- struggle with acknowledging that others have thoughts and interests different from his or her own?
- experience difficulty with understanding the humor of age-appropriate jokes?
- get manipulated or bullied by other kids?
- lack problem-solving skills in social situations (e.g., conflict resolution, sharing)?
- make inappropriate/embarrassing comments?
- exhibit fear or anxiety regarding social interactions, environmental changes, and/or transitions?
- engage in solitary activities in the presence of age-appropriate peers, even when invited to join the rest of the group for a fun activity?
- react with intense emotions to minor provocations?
- speak in an appropriate tone of voice (e.g. robotic, "singsongy") and/or volume during interactions?
- get overly concerned or anxious when making mistakes (perfectionism) which at times, lead to meltdowns?
If you answered yes to several of these questions, then your child may need more direct instruction in reading, math, and/or social skills. Many individuals are able to make meaningful connections with others as part of the natural process of language and social development, however there is a growing number of kids who benefit from learning about their social world in a more literal, direct manner. At Inside Out Learners, we have educators with extensive experience in developing structured (yet fun) programs that help children of all ages strengthen social skills, which will make them better friends, students, employees, business leaders, engineers, and spouses.
How do you know what my child needs to work on?
Parents will be provided with an opportunity to identify skills that need remediation. Individualized Education Plans (IEP), Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP), and/or any other useful documents from your child's school or agency can be considered in determining individual goals to work on in our programs. The information provided during the intake assessment process will determine what skills will be prioritized.
Parents will be provided with an opportunity to identify skills that need remediation. Individualized Education Plans (IEP), Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP), and/or any other useful documents from your child's school or agency can be considered in determining individual goals to work on in our programs. The information provided during the intake assessment process will determine what skills will be prioritized.
How is my child's progress measured?
Data collection is an essential part of recognizing a child's advancement in any tutoring and/or social skills program. We collect data throughout each program to measure progress on goals, which are revised on an as needed basis. Parents will periodically receive a written progress report.
Data collection is an essential part of recognizing a child's advancement in any tutoring and/or social skills program. We collect data throughout each program to measure progress on goals, which are revised on an as needed basis. Parents will periodically receive a written progress report.
Does my child need to be on the autism spectrum in order to benefit from Inside Out Learners social skills programs?
Absolutely not! Social skills instruction is beneficial to children and adolescents with Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, PDD-NOS, Nonverbal Learning Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, and Social Communication Disorder as well as for individuals without a formal diagnosis of special needs. Some children have developmental delays or are recovering from emotional trauma or a long-term illness that limited the individual's opportunities to foster adequate social skills during crucial times of development. Others struggle with friendships, social conversation, play skills, academic skills (especially, reading comprehension) and self-confidence. These children and adolescents often need small group instruction to focus on specific social skills that will ultimately improve the individual's quality of life. Our various programs address these issues through a wide variety of fun, engaging activities (e.g., cooperative games, art, social cognitive techniques, and much more!)
Absolutely not! Social skills instruction is beneficial to children and adolescents with Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, PDD-NOS, Nonverbal Learning Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, and Social Communication Disorder as well as for individuals without a formal diagnosis of special needs. Some children have developmental delays or are recovering from emotional trauma or a long-term illness that limited the individual's opportunities to foster adequate social skills during crucial times of development. Others struggle with friendships, social conversation, play skills, academic skills (especially, reading comprehension) and self-confidence. These children and adolescents often need small group instruction to focus on specific social skills that will ultimately improve the individual's quality of life. Our various programs address these issues through a wide variety of fun, engaging activities (e.g., cooperative games, art, social cognitive techniques, and much more!)
Are there any prerequisites required to enroll in an Inside Out Learners program?
We currently offer programs for an age range of 5 to 30. The safety and well-being of your child/teen and their peers is of the utmost importance to us. Separation anxiety is expected with some of our younger population however, if a student of any age becomes physically aggressive, intentionally destroys property, or attempts to leave the classroom on a consistent basis, he/she may not be ready to derive the maximum benefit from our programs. While the structure we provide helps our participants work through occasional meltdowns, an individual who engages in such behaviors during the majority of a session may benefit from a more intensive one-to-one program to develop basic coping skills. We approach the individual needs of each student with a positive attitude using sensory supports, reward systems, and highly engaging activities. We believe that this enables our participants to feel safe, comfortable, and open to learn concepts that do not come intrinsically for them. Everyone has days when they are not their usual self, so our intention is to develop a special connection with your child to foster growth in areas considered to be some of the most challenging concepts, in their world. If you have any questions, we would be more than happy to discuss this further with specifics about your child or teen at (757) 436-2722.
We currently offer programs for an age range of 5 to 30. The safety and well-being of your child/teen and their peers is of the utmost importance to us. Separation anxiety is expected with some of our younger population however, if a student of any age becomes physically aggressive, intentionally destroys property, or attempts to leave the classroom on a consistent basis, he/she may not be ready to derive the maximum benefit from our programs. While the structure we provide helps our participants work through occasional meltdowns, an individual who engages in such behaviors during the majority of a session may benefit from a more intensive one-to-one program to develop basic coping skills. We approach the individual needs of each student with a positive attitude using sensory supports, reward systems, and highly engaging activities. We believe that this enables our participants to feel safe, comfortable, and open to learn concepts that do not come intrinsically for them. Everyone has days when they are not their usual self, so our intention is to develop a special connection with your child to foster growth in areas considered to be some of the most challenging concepts, in their world. If you have any questions, we would be more than happy to discuss this further with specifics about your child or teen at (757) 436-2722.
What is the staff to student ratio in group programs?
Every program is staffed with an experienced, certified teacher and a qualified assistant for a group of 6 students, to ensure optimal instruction. Tutoring sessions are currently offered with a 1:1 ratio. All employees of Inside Out Learners, Inc. are held to the same high standards of professionals who hold equivalent positions in public schools in accordance with the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior experience with children on the autism spectrum and related disorders is a requirement in order to be considered for employment at Inside Out Learners, Inc.
Every program is staffed with an experienced, certified teacher and a qualified assistant for a group of 6 students, to ensure optimal instruction. Tutoring sessions are currently offered with a 1:1 ratio. All employees of Inside Out Learners, Inc. are held to the same high standards of professionals who hold equivalent positions in public schools in accordance with the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior experience with children on the autism spectrum and related disorders is a requirement in order to be considered for employment at Inside Out Learners, Inc.
Do you accept insurance?
It is our pleasure to offer very reasonable rates for our services, since we do not take insurance at this time. Clients may pay per weekly session however, a discount is applied for clients who prepay for multiple sessions, depending upon the program of interest. For current payment options, click on the specific program of interest on our Programs page here.
It is our pleasure to offer very reasonable rates for our services, since we do not take insurance at this time. Clients may pay per weekly session however, a discount is applied for clients who prepay for multiple sessions, depending upon the program of interest. For current payment options, click on the specific program of interest on our Programs page here.
I have questions or comments that were not answered on this FAQ page. How do I contact you?
We would love to hear from you! Please call us at (757) 436-2722, fax us at (757) 436-2121, email us or fill out the contact form on our Contact Us page. We can also be found on Facebook. Other social media sites can be located by clicking on the icon available at the bottom of every page of our website. We would be happy to answer your questions, discuss your child's needs, and set up an appointment.
We would love to hear from you! Please call us at (757) 436-2722, fax us at (757) 436-2121, email us or fill out the contact form on our Contact Us page. We can also be found on Facebook. Other social media sites can be located by clicking on the icon available at the bottom of every page of our website. We would be happy to answer your questions, discuss your child's needs, and set up an appointment.
