Program Description	The Spotlight Program fosters the development of social-emotional competence and confidence. Our program is designed to serve youth, ages 6-22, who struggle to navigate the social world. This includes youth with Asperger's Syndrome, PDD-NOS, High Functioning Autism, ADD/ADHD, Anxiety, Mood Disorders and other related diagnoses. Spotlight utilizes a unique, three-part model to facilitate social growth: Developing trust and alliance between participants and staff to create safe, positive and fun relationships. Using drama, theater and improv activities to provide a context for experiential social pragmatic learning. Creating strong, intrinsic motivation by incorporating participants' special interests into group activities. The Spotlight Program is dedicated to the empowerment of youth and their families by responding to their evolving needs with specialized and enriched social programming. Current programming includes: Social Scenes Social Scenes are therapeutic, drama-based social pragmatics groups for youth ages 9-22 with social-emotional challenges. On Cue On Cue groups encourage children ages 6-9 to learn and practice social skills in an activities-based setting, facilitating interaction and play amongst peers and counselors. Next Stage Groups Next Stage groups, for teens and young adults ages 14-22 transitioning into adulthood, address skills such as independence, self awareness and identity, community living, understanding dating and relationships, education and employment and more. Teen and Parent Support Groups Teen Support Groups, facilitated by Spotlight staff, offer a supportive group environment in which teens and young adults ages 14-22 can discuss the myriad issues facing them today, including school, friendship and relationships. Boys and girls groups are held separately. Parent Support Group allows parents to receive guidance and support from one another, as well as from Spotlight staff, around issues relating to parenting a child with social-emotional challenges. In School Groups Working with the school system, Spotlight is able to design and implement school-based social pragmatics programming on a daily or weekly basis. Auxiliary Programming We offer a variety of auxiliary programming to supplement our social skills and support groups. This includes, but is not limited to: · Pragmatic Players: drama-based groups which address acting skills such as eye contact, body movement and group interaction, culminating in a final performance for families and friends. · Improvisation Station: group designed to teach improvisation skills including timing, perspective and flexibility and concluding with a final performance for families and friends. · Student and Staff Showcase (SASS): talent show and fundraiser designed to showcase the many creative abilities of our participants and staff members, including improvisational and scripted performances, musical numbers and artwork.
Eligibility	Spotlight participants range in age from 6-22 years old. Though the program was originally designed for adolescents with Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, and Non-verbal Learning Disorder, great success has been attained with students with a much wider range of diagnoses, including ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Social Anxiety, Pervasive Anxiety Disorder, Williams’ Syndrome, PDD-NOS, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Autism. However, no diagnosis is necessary to participate in Spotlight, only an interest in developing greater social-emotional and non-verbal interaction skills.
Areas Served	Everywhere
Fees Charged	Yes .
Program Schedule	Open year around for after school, Saturday, vacation and summer programming
Days/Hours	varied
Languages	English
What to Bring	Please call or email for an application and to set up an interview
Online Registration	No.
Appointment Necessary	Not Applicable.
Handicapped Accessible	Yes.
Child Care Provided	No.
Wait List	No.
Other Information
Volunteer Opportunities	Yes.
Resource Library	Yes. Contact the Northeast Arc for information about the ASC resource library
Meeting Space	No.
News Letter	No.
Public Internet Access	No.
Sponsoring Agency	Learn more about Northeast Arc and its other programs (if any).

(Information Last Updated: 05-01-2013)