Hidden Gems: Meet Diana Cortese of South Bay Kids Connection and Teach Social Skills

Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Cortese.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and former Special Education Teacher, I have spent my entire career working with children with special needs. From children with severe challenges in a residential program to heading a team of behaviorists in the public school system, I have been lucky enough to observe, work, and play with children of all different ages, strengths, and needs in a wide variety of settings.

And what cuts through as the most important but often the most challenging aspect of education for children is fulfilling their social needs; specifically forming healthy, meaningful friendships. This is because social skills are complex and context-dependent. Contrary to learning academics like math, which is constant, social skills evolve and are nuanced.

These social skills are even more challenging for children who have special needs. They need more practice in an environment with their peers. One that is safe and supported.

I created South Bay Kids Connection to meet that need. Our group works on the overarching themes of self-awareness, social awareness, self-regulation, and self-esteem which are all incorporated through the playful kinesthetic activities and games we play. The key is for the kids to have fun and see that their peers add value to their lives. Being flexible and working together brings them even more joy than just doing things by themself. They need to feel good about themselves so they can be open to new experiences and people.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest challenge is not having room in the program for all the families who would like to join. Many schools are sorely lacking in their services for social skills and it’s not logistically feasible for parents to set up their own social skills group with an experienced BCBA to facilitate.

In order to overcome this obstacle, I formed an online professional development called “Social Skills Groups for 21st Century Kids” through Teach Social Skills to help other Special Education Professionals form their version of what South Bay Kids Connection does.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about South Bay Kids Connection and Teach Social Skills?
The development of positive peer connections is the single most undervalued aspect of a child’s education. Making this a priority was the catalyst for me forming South Bay Kids Connection, a weekly, in-person, Social Skills Group.

As children enter elementary school, they are on an academic track. The emphasis is put on grades and academic achievement. Socializing and play are for recess time. But what about the kids who don’t know how to play? Don’t have a friend? Going to play at recess is like jumping into the deep end of the pool before knowing how to swim.

South Bay Kids Connection helps children strengthen their friendship skills and improve the quality of their social interactions. We use fun, interactive activities that center on teamwork, problem-solving, and communication. In today’s competition-obsessed culture, SBKC helps kids feel the value of playing with others over playing against others.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
When COVID hit, South Bay Kids Connection went online. We continued to have weekly social skills groups but adapted to work with zoom. The positive aspect was that we got to learn even more about each other as they could show each other their room or their pets or their favorite things at home. During this time, I also made pen pal templates and matched the kids up so they could exchange real-life letters in the mail. Everyone needed something special to look forward to during this time!

When it was safe we transitioned our groups to an outdoor park. The need to be physically together was high! We took the proper precautions and made it work.

Currently, I am speaking with many parents whose children were in preschool or toddlers during the pandemic and the effects of social isolation have taken their toll. That is another reason why I formed the online portion of my program, Teach Social Skills. If I cannot physically serve these children, I want their school to be able to provide a similar level of service through my training.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.teachsocialskills.com and www.southbaykidsconnection.com
• Instagram: @teachsocialskills
• Twitter: @sbkidsconnect
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFEkJRW_bJu2DYQiamuE0w
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@teachsocialskills