Authentic Connections
An inclusive and affirming group where your child can be themselves, gain skills, and
build friendships.
Looking for an inclusive space for your child to build the exact skills they need?
You are looking for a group program that both welcomes and accepts your child AND that can help your child to enhance their abilities to connect with others. You’ve found other “Social Skills” programs out there, but these programs target skills that may not seem appropriate or comfortable for your child (e.g., forced eye contact, sitting still to “listen,” not talking about special interests) or that use methods that you don’t agree with (e.g., rewards for good behaviour, consequences for being dysregulated or “bad behaviour”). You're looking for a place for your child to be social while also being their own unique self, while building their skills at the same time.
You want your child to be successful in groups and to connect with others positively, while staying true to who they are. If this sounds like you as a parent, you are looking for the Authentic Connections Group at Pathways. Authentic Connections is a weekly hangout, have fun, and build skills program designed for kids to have a place they can belong, build friendships, and learn at the same time!
THIS PAGE CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARTICIPATION CRITERIA AND REGISTRATION PROCESS; PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR READ ALL DETAILS THOROUGHLY.
PATHWAYS IS NOT LIABLE IF A PARENT DOES NOT READ THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE REGARDING OUR PARTICIPATION CRITERIA, REGISTRATION PROCESS, OR GROUP PROGRAM POLICIES.
What this program will build in your child:
Authentic Connections is a 6-week group program led by our Registered Speech-Language Pathologists and Registered Occupational Therapists, and is designed to offer kids a safe and inclusive space to be themselves while also building core social and friendship skills that will help them to participate in groups in successful and meaningful ways. Children can register in as many subsequent sessions as they want; they stand to gain new skills and new connections/friendships with each new group. Core skills targeted over the 6-week program are:
Following a group plan
Taking others’ perspectives
Navigating winning and losing
Self-advocacy skills
This group is led by a neurodiversity-affirming therapist using philosophies and methods that support, understand, and accept neurodivergent children within a safe and inclusive space.
Who Should Attend Pathways’ Authentic Connections?
We want every child to be safe and successful.
Please review the registration criteria below before signing up.
Your child is an ideal fit if they meet all of the following:
Age: Is 8–11 years old. (If your child is outside this range, please contact us about alternative options).
Social Interest & Hesitation: May be anxious or hesitant in new social settings or with new people, but ultimately wants to participate in group activities.
Social Challenges: Struggles with peer environments (e.g., recess, sports, organized groups), has difficulty sharing, playing games, or handling winning/losing fairly.
Perspective Taking: Struggles to see other perspectives and may tend to dominate or control play.
Communication: Can effectively communicate (verbally or via AAC/augmentative modalities) to follow along, engage, and express their needs.
Group Safety: Can thrive safely in a group with a 1:4 adult-to-child ratio. The child must not become aggressive, highly dysregulated, or disruptive, as 1:1 support is not available.
Important Note: To ensure the safety and success of all participants, we reserve the right to remove any child from the program who does not meet these participation or safety requirements. Removals are non-refundable.
If you are unsure if your child meets this criteria, unsure if your child is ready for a group program, unsure about your child’s support needs, it is impossible for our Intake Team to decide this for you without knowing your child. If your child is currently a client at Pathways, please discuss group programs with your child’s clinician(s). If you are NEW to our clinic, it may be best to book an Initial Consultation with a SLP, OT, or Parent Coach to gain a clearer understanding of your child’s readiness.
Important Details + Registration:
Cost: $480 (eligible for insurance reimbursement if you have coverage for private speech therapy or occupational therapy or if your child utilizes Autism Funding). Registration is made for all six sessions; the fee is reflective of 6 sessions at $80 each. This program is not eligible for drop-ins and missed sessions are not eligible for refunds. The fee is paid for the program, in full, at the time of registration to secure your spot in the group.
Dates:
Mondays, 5:45-6:45pm, May 4th - June 15th (no group May 18th) | ALL GENDERS
Mondays, 5:45-6:45pm, July 6th - August 17th (no group August 3rd) | ALL GENDERS
Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30pm, May 6th - June 10th | ALL GENDERS
Location: Pathways Learning Centre(4420 Albert St., Regina, SK)
Format: Small group for comfort and connection
Please note: The session fee is refundable, less a $75 cancellation charge, until three weeks before the session date. Cancellations made within three weeks of the scheduled session WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.