DECEMBER 2013
THE BRIDGEWATER-SOMERVILLE CONNECTION
PAGE 71
Mon. – Fri. 8am to 5:30pm • Sat. Appointments Available
APalma7358@optonline.net
ECONOMY AUTO SERVICES
Complete Car Care & Repair Center
Foreign and Domestic
18-
C Raritan Ave., Raritan, NJ
908-526-8590
ASE Certified
Technicians
Computerized
Auto Center
Owner on
Premises
•
A/C, Heating Services
•
Fuel Injection Cleaning
•
Window Repair
•
Trans Flush
•
Radiator Flush
•
Tune-Up
•
Mileage Maintenance Service
•
Electronics & Wiring
•
Mufflers & Exhaust Systems
•
Name Brand Tires
•
Brakes, Struts, Suspension
Reasonable Rates
Prompt Friendly Service
Providing Support for Life’s Challenges
SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS
Helping adolescents and young adults with
Autism Spectrum or other Social Skills disorders.
A weekly
Social Skills Group
for adolescents ages 11-16
Held Sundays in Bridgewater
~
A monthly
Social Club
for young adults
Held on a Tuesday evening in Bridgewater
For more information about fees, dates and other JFS
Programs and Services for individuals with disabilities
and their families please contact us at:
908-725-7799
Admin@JewishFamilySvc.org • www.JewishFamilySvc.org
908-722-8990
Giovanni Todaro
HAIR
CUTTING
&
COLOR
SPECIALIST
MASCULINE
&
FEMININE
HAIRSTYLES
Mon. 10am-7pm, Closed Tue., Wed., Thu., Fri. 9am-8pm, Sat. 8am-4pm
Eve
ryone needs a friend. But friends
can be hard to come by especially
when you’ve gone through life
never having one and often being
bullied and teased. For some it’s
just a natural thing to start up a
conversation and shoot the breeze.
For those who are challenged by
social interactions and have not had
a positive peer relationship, this can
be a nightmare. Being social and
relating to other people is a skill like
any other and it can be hard to
learn. Relationships can have subtle
cues, which may be difficult to read
when you don’t have the tools to
decipher them. Relating to others
comes naturally to some but not to
others and some people need a little
help to get it right. Recognizing the
need some young people in our
community have to become more
socially comfortable and develop
friendships, Jewish Family Service
of Somerset, Hunterdon and War-
ren Counties initiated a monthly
social club. This club is designed
especially for those who find social
relationships challenging due to an
Asperger’s diagnosis. However, it is
open to anyone who struggles with
social situations for other reasons.
The members of the club consist of
those in their early 20s and 30s.
Time is spent on group activities
that are designed to be socially
engaging. Activities have included
playing sports, apple picking,
miniature golf, bowling, and cook-
ing. During these activities there is
also time to talk and get to know
one another. The JFS social worker
who facilitates the club encourages
everyone to participate and have
their opinion heard. Now after
about a year of monthly meetings
the social worker has noticed a spe-
cial quality develop within this
group; members’ support one
another and look out for each other.
When one member knows a lot
about an activity or is more
advanced in a particular skill, he or
she is eager to help and encourage
another group member in that
activity. For some in the group, this
is the first time they have had a pos-
itive group experience and they
look forward to each month’s pro-
gram knowing they will be among
friends.
The group meets from 4-6p.m. on
the third Tuesday of every month. If
you or someone you know would
like to register or have more infor-
mation, please call Alexia Arntz at
JFS, 908-725-7799 x 125.
This program is funded in part by
the Nancy L. and Arthur E. Lee
Family Fund for Special Needs and
PNC Wealth Management.
Friends Make the Difference
JFS’ Young Adult Social Club
By: Alexia Arntz, LSW, Social Worker at JFS
www.theconnectionsnj.com
link