About Us
What is socialskilled?socialskilled provides inclusive recreational and educational programs, as well as therapeutic services, for children and teens.
Each of our programs embeds the fundamentals of socialskilled, which are: learning and working with others, making friends, and keeping friends.
Why Choose Us
Proven success of social skills learned in context
Accredited literacy & math programs taught by experienced educators
Small groups providing individual attention catered to the needs of each child
Designed to meet the varied needs of children with exceptionalities
Our Mission & Vision
Inclusive Opportunities, Social SuccessMission
Our mission is to provide inclusive recreational and educational programs that embed social skills and develop a child’s ability to be successful at school, at home, and in the community. We offer a safe space for children to meet friends, have fun, and feel accepted for who they are. We are focused on building a community for families and connecting parents to share, grow and thrive together.
Created & Taught by Education Professionals
Designed to be Inclusive of Exceptional Children
Focused on Having Fun & Making Friends
Family Support & Community Building
Vision
For every child to:
- be embraced and accepted for who they are
- make friends and have access to enjoyable recreational programs
- get fun real-life opportunities to practice social skills and self-regulation strategies
- have access to an education professional who understands neurodiversities
For every parent to:
- have access to practical and simple resources to help them support their child at home, school and in the community
- have access to a community of like-minded people who share similar parenting experiences
- have a break while knowing that their child is happy, safe, and supported
- learn how to advocate for their child with the support of educated allies
Our Story
How We Came to BeAs special education teachers with over twenty years of experience, we have had the privilege of working with incredible children and families. However, we have also witnessed a consistent theme in their stories – exceptional children deserve access to the same activities as their neurotypical peers, but often don’t often receive it.
We understand each child’s unique needs and the importance of finding the right strategies, supports, or systems to foster their sense of belonging and social success. More importantly, we appreciate the power of friendship in a child’s life and the negative impact of exclusion.
That’s why we created socialskilled – to make a difference. Our mission is to provide inclusive recreational and educational programming that caters to the diverse needs of children. Join us in our goal to make socialskilled the top choice for families who recognize the value of inclusive programming.
Meet the Team
FOUNDING PARTNERS
Michelle & Ashley
CO-FOUNDERS & PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Two Special Education teachers who are dedicated to kids with exceptional needs.
More than 40 years of combined teaching experience has made them experts in program design and Special Education strategies.
And best of all, they love what they do: helping children with special needs to better cope, grow and thrive in their surrounding worlds.
Ashley and Michelle serendipitously met in 2016 while they were both teaching at the same school within the Special Education department. Their respect and admiration for each other’s strengths as teachers and their common passion for helping kids with exceptional needs set them on a journey as perfect collaborators and architects for creating socialskilled.
Ashley and Michelle both live in Aurora, Ontario with their families and teach together at the same elementary school.
Recreation, Education & Therapy Team
Stephanie Rhys MSW, RSW
SOCIAL WORK
Stephanie Rhys is a dedicated Clinical Social Worker and certified Play Therapist, specializing in attachment, Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), and complex special needs, all viewed through a trauma-focused lens. She completed her Master’s in Clinical Social Work from the University of Toronto in 2014, within the “Children and Families” stream. In 2014, Stephanie achieved certification in Play Therapy from the Canadian Association for Play Therapy, further enriching her therapeutic toolbox with creative and effective methods to connect with children and youth.
With a profound passion for mental health, Stephanie employs evidence-based practices, including trauma-focused interventions, to provide comprehensive support to children, youth, and families. Her approach creates a secure space for therapeutic exploration, utilizing play-based interventions to nurture growth and healing. Stephanie places a strong emphasis on collaborating with caregivers to harness their strengths and collectively achieve therapeutic goals. As an advocate within healthcare and education systems, she ensures that families receive integrated care tailored to their unique needs.
Billie Schulman RSW
SOCIAL WORK
Billie Schulman is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University, where she earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree. Currently, she is working on the next phase of her educational journey as she completes a Master of Social Work at Yeshiva University, all while maintaining her registration as a social worker with the OCSWSSW.
Billie’s commitment to nurturing children’s growth and development is complimented by her specialized expertise in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – Level 2 certification. This training equips her with a strong understanding of psychological principles and evidence-based techniques. Armed with this knowledge, Billie works to foster a supportive and empathetic environment where children can comfortably explore their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours.
CBT – Level 2 certification empowers Billie to effectively address and wide range of challenges that children may encounter, from anxiety and depression to self-regulation and trauma. By utilizing proven CBT strategies, she aims to help her young clients develop essential coping skills, challenge negative thought patterns, and build resilience, with her passionate guidance and evidence-based interventions.
Anastasia (Stacie) Koudrova-Wilkinson SLP Reg. CASLPO
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
Anastasia is a dedicated and versatile Speech Language Pathologist with a broad range of clinical experiences. Her expertise includes working with people who have acquired brain injuries, childhood apraxia of speech, sound production errors, motor speech difficulties, fluency disorders such as stuttering, developmental language disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and who are part of the deaf/hard-of-hearing community. She has gained invaluable experience across a variety of settings, including private practices, hospitals, and specialized preschool speech and language programs such as ErinoakKids and Early Words. Anastasia has also served as a Speech Language Assistant at Lear Communications, managing a diverse caseload while balancing full-time academic commitments.
Passionate about evidence-informed treatment and functional interventions, Anastasia values family-centred care, neurodivergent-affirming care, assessing with a purpose, and collaborative goal setting. She has a special interest in cognitive-communication disorders and working with young children to help build their language. Anastasia is committed to continuous professional development, having completed the Dynamic Tactile and Temporal Cueing (DTTC) course and preparing to undertake the It Takes Two to Talk © Hanen training in August 2024.
In addition to her clinical practice, Anastasia is an active volunteer at the Aphasia Institute. She has been recognized for her leadership, receiving the Graduate Student Leadership Award in 2024 and was selected as McMaster’s Speech Language Pathology student council Vice-President for 2023-2024.
Anastasia is multilingual, speaking conversational Russian and French. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. She has recently moved back to the neighbourhood after completing her education in Hamilton and is excited to be close to her family again
Kerri Goulden OCT
HEAD OF EDUCATION & DIRECT INSTRUCTION
Kerri is a mom to two awesome kids and two dogs. She grew up in Aurora, went to the University of Guelph where she got a BA, and continued her studies at Ottawa University where she got her Bachelor of Education.
Kerri began teaching in the early 2000s and her first position was at a school for kids with many different learning abilities. The school used Direct Instruction programs for their academic subjects so she had the opportunity hands-on training and professional development. It was amazing to see her students progress so quickly using these programs.
Fast forward to the present day. She has two amazing children with their own learning differences. During lockdowns, she was able to see where they needed support and was able to implement many of the Direct Instruction principles to support them with their online learning. Supporting her kids and seeing their success gave her the confidence to open up my services to support other students with reading and spelling. She loves seeing her students gain confidence, tackle challenging concepts with perseverance, and to learn how to turn mistakes into learning experiences.
Kerri is also an experienced Family Mentor and has supported parents through Children’s Treatment Network’s Family Mentor program. She looks forward to helping support children and families at socialskilled.
Emily Skalkos MEd & Alicia Cunningham CYW
RECREATION LEADS
Emily and Alicia were the first to join the socialskilled team. They began working together to deliver programs along with Ashley and Michelle in the Fall of 2022, facilitating programs like Fun with Friends, Social Club, Skilled for Play, Art with Friends, and Science with Friends. They believe that the magic of these programs influenced their own close friendship, and are so thankful to have met each other.
When not at socialskilled, Alicia works as a CYW for the TCDSB. Emily works as a Developmental Support Worker for the YRDSB. She has also obtained a B.A. in Psychology from York University and a MEd in Developmental Psychology and Education from University of Toronto.
Together, they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to support children, youth, and their families.