When we launched The Social Board at our Newcastle Therapy Office, our vision was simple: create a warm, neurodiversity-affirming space where working on communication goals doesn't feel like "work." We wanted a place where speech pathology meets strategy, connection and the genuine fun of playing games.
Two full blocks later, we could not be prouder of what our participants have achieved together around the table 💛
More Than Just Rolling Dice ♟️💡
Games provide a natural, low-pressure backdrop to practice real-world communication. Over our first two blocks, group members tackled an extensive range of targeted speech and social goals, building skills that translate far beyond the tabletop:
💬 Authentic Connection & Social Dynamics: Greetings and introductions, establishing genuine social connections, finding shared interests and giving & receiving praise.
🧠 Reasoning & Language in Action: Verbal reasoning, auditory processing, problem-solving, planning moves and practical word retrieval strategies.
👥 Collaboration & Leadership: Group decision-making, giving directions, taking turns explaining game rules and reciprocal leadership.
👀 Social Perspective: Inferring emotions, reading non-verbal cues, perspective-taking and guided self-reflection.
🗣️ Self-Advocacy & Support: Seeking clarification, practicing self-advocacy social scripts, exploring communication support tools and honouring individual communication preferences.
Whether it was navigating high-stakes cooperative board games, strategizing through quick-fire card challenges, or bringing a favorite game from home to teach the group, every session celebrated individual strengths.
📢 Expressions of Interest Now Open for 2027!
Due to the overwhelming success of our first two blocks, we are officially taking Expressions of Interest for our next block starting in early 2027!
📍 Location: Newcastle Therapy Office
🎯 Who: Speech Therapy clients looking to build functional, independent communication skills in a casual, friendly setting. We work with adults only, must be 18years+.
🧩 Approach: Strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming and focused on genuine, authentic interaction.
👥 Format: Small, intentionally sized groups to ensure individualised support for every participant.
Spaces are limited to ensure a personalised, supportive experience for everyone at the table.
If you or someone you support would like to join our 2027 block, reach out today to lodge an expression of interest. Let’s roll some dice, share some wins and build lasting communication skills together! 🎲💛✨