APPLICATIONS

2023 Summer Application Now Live!

ABOUT

At Growing Social, we teach social learning in a highly motivating outdoor environment, to those with social learning differences (including social communication disorder, high functioning autism, ADD/ADHD, social anxiety, and those without a formal diagnosis but who struggle to navigate the social world). We offer services to students ages five – adult, with both individual and group (small and carefully matched) options available. Teletherapy is also available, offering students, families and teachers near and far the opportunity to receive specialized social learning support.

Growing Social Students receive direct support with:

Social awareness/attention and interaction skills
Problem solving
Body/brain awareness
Executive functioning
Emotional Regulation
Independence/self-advocacy
Strengths, grit and empowerment lessons

Teen and Adult Skills Targeted:

Social Interaction awareness and skills
Making impressions
Social vocational competencies
Executive functioning
Advocating and problem solving
Social goal setting and generalization

Many sessions take place on a small farmstead, where we practice implementing concepts while engaging in gardening and cooking projects, enjoying the farm animals, or other motivating and meaningful activities based on students interests.

AMY MILLER

Amy Miller, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a Speech and Language Pathologist specializing in working with students with social learning differences. Her preferred teaching modality is one that focuses on the whole child and encompases helping foster a love of the natural world. Amy and Stephanie Madrigal founded Growing Social in 2013, in order to teach social learning to students in an enriching, garden based environment.

Amy worked for many years as a clinician for Michelle Winner’s Center for Social Thinking, and then as clinic director for the nonprofit Teach Social. Amy also completed an apprenticeship in Agroecology through the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at the University of Santa Cruz.

STEPHANIE MADRIGAL

Stephanie Madrigal, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in working with students with social learning challenges. She worked alongside Michelle Winner of “Social Thinking”™(www.socialthinkig.com), in San Jose for 15 years, created the internationally recognized children’s learning concept “Superflex©,” taught students ages K-adult, trained teachers, parents and professionals across the country and beyond. She is praised for her creative and engaging lessons, dynamic training style for teachers and professionals, and deep knowledge of “Social Thinking” ™ and related concepts and various cognitive behavioral treatment models.

TESTIMONIALS

I’ve worked closely with Amy Miller and Stephanie Madrigal for almost two decades. Using their farm as a backdrop for teaching the growth of social emotional learning, both Amy and Stephanie bring a wealth of knowledge, creativity and ability to individualize treatment based on the needs of the student in all they do. They are genuine in their approach and passion for helping every person grow socially.

I continue to enjoy learning from and with them.

- Michelle Garcia Winner, Founder of Social Thinking®

Through social groups and therapies and books, my son was fluent in the vocabulary of social awareness but he did not put that learning to use in his daily life. Using the concepts of social thinking while tending to farm animals, harvesting vegetables, cooking and eating foods he would never try at home and working on shared projects helped him connect the dots between what he knows and how (and why) to use it. Stephanie’s and Amy’s high expectations and their ability to find solutions that really work for each individual client have had a dramatic and lasting impact on my son. We couldn’t speak more highly of Growing Social.

- Parent

Growing Social made a profound difference in my son’s life. Stephanie created a safe environment where he and his group members could practice their social skills as well as talk about the challenges they face. Through the support he received he was able to integrate into his classes and also maintain friendships outside of school. I also found a community with the other moms. Our boys spent five years together in Growing Social but the moms continue to meet every three weeks on our own. It’s so nice to have people who understand what it’s like to have family members on the spectrum.

- Parent

This program is so amazing and I am more and more impressed as time goes by with the impact and support it offers. There is no quick fix or magic button involved in parenting children who are more unique than the average kiddo. But some families need more support than the typical family might need. Stephanie and Amy at Growing Social offer what many children need in the way of some extra support…

- Parent