For Learners
Social Thinking®
Building the Skills and Confidence to Thrive Personally and Academically
We offer social learning support and sessions for children, teens, and adults at our Williston, Vermont location and online. Our expert instructors are trained to coach clients with a wide-range of social profiles and challenges. Social learning coaching sessions are a safe place for practice in navigating the unwritten “rules” of communication and social interaction. Getting better at small talk, playing games that improve understanding of others’ viewpoints, and engaging in activities that promote turn-taking and patience are a few examples. Bringing these skills back into home, school, work, and friendship situations is the common goal of this purposeful, supported learning time.
What is Social Thinking® and How Can it Help?
Our social learning experts use Social Thinking, which teaches people how to understand the thinking behind words and actions and helps them build the essential social skills they need for all other learning. Students participating in Social Thinking and social-emotional learning programs experience better academic outcomes and decreased anxiety. It helps them build relationships and feel more included.
Social Learning Activities
Instructors use games, interactive activities, and lots of practice to promote social learning, targeting specific areas where students need extra help and support. Younger students will meet for a 50-minute instructional session followed by a 10-minute meeting with parents to help carry over new social learning throughout the week. Older clients might venture out into the community to address their needs in different environments.
Social Thinking® Groups
We also offer Social Thinking groups that meet once per week for an hour. Most groups meet after school between 3–6 PM, Monday through Friday. However, groups can be scheduled flexibly as long as minimum enrollment is met. In all groups, we adapt materials and strategies to meet the specific needs of students. During the summer we also offer social learning programs, including two specialized summer sessions, one for children and one for teens.
The Stern Center Difference
Highly Trained Teachers
Our dedicated and caring teachers are skilled specialists with advanced credentials and years of extensive training.
Proven
Approaches
We use evidence-based, multisensory approaches that give students that, “Wow, I get this!” feeling in every lesson.
Powerful
Outcomes
Since 1983, the Stern Center has been helping people reach their goals through life-changing learning.
Tailored to Your Needs
We customize our services to the person we’re supporting and provide effective teaching, coaching, and practice.
What Learners Have to Say
Supporting Learners
Financial Assistance
Our need-based scholarships make Stern Center services more accessible to learners and families. Assistance is based on income and the number of people in your family.
Meet Our Team
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up a payment plan?
We’ll provide you with a contract and invoice which can be paid in full by our deadline or managed through a payment plan that spreads the cost of services over several months.
Are there other sources of financial assistance?
There are other sources that may assist with the financing of Stern Center Services. These include your school or school district, employer, Hireability Vermont, VSAC, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, health insurance provider, and others. Please note, we are not an insurance provider and do not bill insurance.
Do you accept insurance?
While we are not an insurance provider and do not bill insurance, we encourage you to contact your insurance provider to see if your plan covers specific services, such as psychoeducational evaluations, speech and language assessments, and speech therapy provided by a non-network, non-insurance billing provider. Please note that learning services like instruction aren’t typically covered by insurance. If you learn from your insurer that coverage is an option, we will provide you with appropriate documentation for you to submit to your insurance carrier.
How do I apply for financial assistance?
Contact us to register for services and let us know you are interested in applying for financial assistance. We’ll ask you to complete a short application, which our team will review to determine the amount of financial assistance we can offer. After reviewing your application, we’ll notify you of our decision within a few days and apply your award directly as a scholarship discount.
What methods and approaches are used by your clinicians?
Our clinicians design individual programs for each client and may incorporate customized options from the following:
- The Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program for Reading, Spelling, and Speech®
- The Talkies Program®
- Social Thinking®
- The Zones of Regulation ®
- The Incredible Five-Point Scale
- Activities, Games, and Lessons for Social Learning: A Practical Guide
- Motor Learning Guided Treatment
- The ALERT® Program
- Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)
- Lidcombe Program for Fluency Shaping
- Enhanced Milieu Teaching
Do you offer services during the summer?
Yes, we offer social-emotional learning opportunities for children and teens, including social learning summer sessions, Camp Compass for ages 6–12, and the Teambuilding Institute for Teens. Please visit our Social Learning Summer Programs section for more information.
Does the instructor collaborate with school or college personnel?
The success of our students is essential to us, and to better understand your needs, collaborating with other professionals is often helpful. The instruction team will collaborate with a student’s school teacher(s) with a parent’s/guardian’s permission.
How do I register for Social Learning and Communication Services?
Please contact our Social Learning and Communication department by emailing social@sterncenter.org, calling 802-276-8563, or by completing the contact form. It is important for us to learn more about you and what your needs are before we begin.
When can I begin Social Learning services?
Social Thinking® Groups and Speech and Language Therapy services are offered year-round, and you can begin anytime. In addition, during the summer months, we offer unique opportunities for children and teens and invite you to visit our Summer Learning Opportunities section for more information.
Do you offer individualized speech therapy and Social Thinking® groups off-site?
Yes, we can tailor our services to meet clients’ needs.
What is the frequency and length of your social-learning sessions?
For most students in grades K-12, we offer after-school sessions to accommodate their school schedules. However, students and adults can meet during the day and evening hours. Most students meet once per week for an hour.
Does the Stern Center offer financial assistance?
Yes. Through the generosity of individuals, organizations, and foundations, we can award need-based scholarships and provide additional assistance. Awards are based on income and the number of people in your family. Depending on family eligibility, costs may be reduced by 20–70%. Please review our Financial Assistance page and let us know if you want to apply for financial assistance when you register for services.
What does the cost of Social Learning and Communication services include?
- 50 minutes of intervention
- 10 minutes of communication with client or families to generalize the session and provide strategies when appropriate
- Progress reporting
- A year-end report that provides progress summary and recommendations
Do I (or my child) need an evaluation to start social learning services?
You don’t need an evaluation to start social learning services. Our team will examine your strengths and challenges and tailor treatment to meet your needs. To learn more about evaluations and testing at the Stern Center, visit our Evaluations page, email evaluation@sterncenter.org, or call 802-276-8681.
Additional Support
Evaluations
We help people understand how they learn so they can overcome challenges and move forward academically, professionally, and socially.
Social-Emotional Learning
Through direct teaching, coaching, and practice, our social learning experts help individuals learn the fundamental building blocks of social success.
Reading Readiness Check-Up
For parents curious about their child’s early reading skills, we offer a helpful check-up and expert advice for raising strong readers.
Keep Learning
Academic Calendar
View the Stern Center’s academic calendar. See openings and closings at a glance, including holidays and make-up days.
Summer Learning
Supercharge your child’s learning this summer with our social-emotional learning summer programs.
News and Resources
Keep learning and stay in the know with news and resources from our Stern Center experts.
Get in Touch!
For questions about social learning, Social Thinking® groups, speech therapy, and summer social learning programs, including Camp Compass and the Team Building Institute, email social@sterncenter.org, call 802-276-8681, or fill out the form below. You can also register for services here.
