Assessment Symposium Series: Assessing Social Cognition

by Erin McKenney, Stern Center Evaluation Team

The Cynthia K. Hoehl Institute for Excellence at the Stern Center, along with support from the Vermont Agency of Education, is offering a three-part Assessment Symposium Series for school psychologists and other education professionals. The first workshop, Assessing Social Cognition, was held at the end of January 2015.

Presented by Julie Erdelyi, this workshop was designed to help support educators, school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, guidance counselors and anyone working with children who may be struggling with social cognition skills.

Social cognition refers to how people process social information, especially its application to situations requiring a level of social interaction. When considering social deficits what often comes to mind is Autism Spectrum Disorder. However, these deficits can apply to children with wide ranges of issues, such as attention-deficit disorder, complex trauma, attachment disorders, speech and language disorders, and learning disabilities. It is important for providers to be able to evaluate a child’s level of social cognition in order to implement effective interventions.

Knowledge is Power- Evaluations at the Stern Center

by A Stern Center Parent

Doubt creeps in at an early age… perhaps it starts in kindergarten, when some children are able to read with ease while for others it feels like running in sand. Maybe it is in second grade, when a child can spell a word one day, but that word is a stranger the next. Whatever the situation may be, self-doubt fosters a lack of confidence. That lack of confidence creates an unsteady platform, riddled with numerous questions for both child and parent. Fortunately, there are answers.

The Stern Center provides a wealth of knowledge for parents, and a warm welcoming smile for children away from the anxiety and pressure that the school environment may bring. It is a place where parents can get answers about why their children are struggling at school.

Say goodbye to the overwhelming feeling of not knowing where to begin. There is a team of educators at Stern ready to help unravel the web of questions about navigating the school system and all the various services that may be available to your child. At the Stern Center, a family does not feel alone.