Each session lasts 45 minutes.
Communication that Connects
Make friends. Talk with confidence. Build the relationships you want.
Hello, It's Me® and Focus EduSolutions
Communication that Connects
Make friends. Talk with confidence. Build the relationships you want.
A Program for adults at Spectrum Support, with Hello, It's Me®.
What is Communication that Connects?
You meet with a coach. Sometimes a Spectrum Behavior Tech joins you too.
Your coach helps you make friends, talk with people and build relationships.
You meet in a private room at your Spectrum location, or in another private space nearby that everyone agrees on.
The Program lasts twelve months.
Spectrum Support pays for the Program. It is part of the support you get from Spectrum.
What happens in a session?
You see the same coach each time.
You talk about what you want. You practice. You pick one thing to try before next time.
Next time, you tell your coach how things went.
You can meet your coach up to four times a month.
What you work on
You and your coach pick what matters to you. Some things people work on:
Understanding my feelings and staying calm
Starting and keeping a conversation
Personal space, saying yes and saying no, staying safe
Making friends and keeping them
Dating and healthy relationships
Speaking up for myself
Your free access to Hello, It's Me®
You get the Hello, It's Me® app for free.
You use the app between sessions. You meet people, share stories and practice what you learned.
Your coach helps you set up the app at your first session.
Our coaches
Your coach lives near your Spectrum location.
Every coach has a college degree.
Every coach has at least three years of experience working with people with disabilities.
Every coach passes a background check.
Every coach is trained by Dr. Karyn Harvey, an expert in this work for over 30 years.
What we ask of you
-
Come to your sessions.
-
If you cannot come, tell us before the session.
-
Try the things you and your coach agree on.
How to join
Go to an orientation with Spectrum.
Fill in the short form at the bottom of this page.
Our team calls, texts or emails you, whichever you choose.
We check with you, and with your guardian if you have one, that you want to join.
We find a day and time to suit you and Spectrum.
You meet your coach for your first meeting, then your sessions begin.
For families and caregivers
Communication that Connects is a one to one relationship coaching Program run by Focus EduSolutions, as part of the Hello, It's Me® program, in partnership with Spectrum Support.
Sessions take place at Spectrum locations in Baltimore, Frederick and Cumberland. Individuals in the Carroll area attend Frederick or Baltimore. Where it suits a group better, sessions may take place in another private community space agreed by everyone, such as a library room.
At the start, each person completes a short intake with the coach. Together with the Spectrum Program Director, the coach sets two or three goals. The coach records each session and shares progress with Spectrum every month. For people with a behavior plan, a Spectrum Behavior Tech may take part in sessions.
Coaches do not receive medical records. Spectrum shares only the information a coach needs to support the person's goals. Each participant signs a release of information and a short commitment agreement at intake. If a person has a legal guardian or decision-maker, we also collect their written agreement before the first session.
Spectrum arranges transportation with each family for anyone not already on site. Evening sessions are possible where families help with travel.
Spectrum Support funds the Program as a benefit of its services. Individuals and families do not pay.
If a person leaves Spectrum's programs during the twelve months, their sessions end. Our team can share other Hello, It's Me® options open to the public.
FAQs
Thank you. Our team will contact you soon, the way you asked.