An opening evening to introduce the SLA (Social Language Acquisition) technique to promote communication and language skills among children/youngsters with Autisim, PDD, Aspergers, ADHD,SPD, Hyperlexia and similar conditions was coordinated by Ezer Mizion's Advocacy Unit.

Over 300 parents and educators attended this introductory lecture that was delivered by Ms. Molly Kessler who innovated the SLA therapy method for children with communication challenges.

The method relates to the act of social communication as if it were a language in and of itself. It views those that are challenged in the use their social skills as if they were new immigrants in the "land" of social behavior.

Ms. Kessler cracked the code of "social language" and consequently developed a method for teaching the language, now known as the SLA School, to those unfamiliar with this tongue in the form of a language school, similar to the American ESL (English as a Second Language) programs.

In the ESL program, participants learn the language's grammar, diction and rules while undergoing the emotional experience of using a new language properly. The pupil acquires the social language as living and dynamic, depending on the circumstances in which it is used.  They are motivated to learn the language as it becomes an effective tool for them in achieving their goals and aspirations.

Most people acquire their social skills naturally, without effort, as they learn their mother tongue.  All who are challenged by social skills: people with learning disabilities, ADHD, difficulties in executive skills - especially regulatory skills, the range of Autism and Asperger's syndrome, SPD, Hyperlexy, and people socially burdened for emotional reasons, can all learn the social language as a second language, in three stages:

I) Participation in a language school for social skills - a place that enables the participants to formally learn, step by step, the rules and uses of the social language.  Commonly, participants' close relatives, e.g. parents, spouses, caretakers, etc. participate in this stage.

II) In the second stage, participants practice using the new language in groups comprising of similar-aged learners, supervised by a qualified SLA social language trainer.  The group exercises what they have learned under the guidance of the trainer. Their social skills are sharpened as they acquire new tools and build their self-confidence in the use of the social language they have learned.

III) The third step is less structured but far more influential.  By naturally using the new social language in the "real world", participants gradually undergo positive emotional experiences and reinforcements.  By successfully using the social skills (language) acquired, the participants achieve their goals and aspirations more easily and effectively.  This satisfaction confirms and justifies the efforts they invested in learning the language, while encouraging further development and the sharpening of those skills.

Hundreds of socially challenged people have successfully been helped with the SLA Molly Kessler Method! By cracking the code, the social language can now be taught - enabling more people to learn to speak and experience improved social integration and function. Further information on the technique can be found at http://www.mollykessler.co.il/content.php?id=9

Following this event, parents in the audience were invited to sign up for a SLA training course. This course will equip them with the knowledge and tools to employ the SLA technique and promote their children's communication skills.