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Kindness Café: Promoting Communication and Life Skills in School Settings

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Title: Kindness Café: Promoting Communication and Life Skills in School Settings
Language: English
Authors: Heather Kurto (ORCID 0009-0004-0601-307X), Kristie Asaro-Saddler
Source: Intervention in School and Clinic. 2026 61(5):267-273.
Availability: SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 7
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Descriptive
Descriptors: Communication Skills, Daily Living Skills, Skill Development, Positive Behavior Supports, Students with Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Inclusion, Evidence Based Practice, Direct Instruction, Program Design, Program Implementation, Peer Teaching
DOI: 10.1177/10534512261420840
ISSN: 1053-4512
1538-4810
Abstract: The Sand Creek Kindness Café is a school-based Tier 2 intervention within the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework, designed to support communication, social interaction, and functional life skills for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and complex communication needs. The café integrates evidence-based practices (EBPs), including explicit instruction, peer-mediated instruction, and positive reinforcement, within structured, socially meaningful routines. Students utilize augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, visual supports, and scaffolded instruction to engage in authentic interactions, fostering independence, social engagement, and generalization of skills across contexts. Implementation of the Kindness Café has demonstrated increased opportunities for functional communication, expanded vocabulary, and enhanced autonomy in real-world settings. This article details the café's design, implementation, and data-driven instructional strategies, offering practical guidance for educators seeking to replicate or adapt the model in inclusive school environments.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1503460
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Kindness Café: Promoting Communication and Life Skills in School Settings
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Heather+Kurto%22">Heather Kurto</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0601-307X">0009-0004-0601-307X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kristie+Asaro-Saddler%22">Kristie Asaro-Saddler</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Intervention+in+School+and+Clinic%22"><i>Intervention in School and Clinic</i></searchLink>. 2026 61(5):267-273.
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  Data: SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communication+Skills%22">Communication Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Daily+Living+Skills%22">Daily Living Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Skill+Development%22">Skill Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Positive+Behavior+Supports%22">Positive Behavior Supports</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Students+with+Disabilities%22">Students with Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autism+Spectrum+Disorders%22">Autism Spectrum Disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Augmentative+and+Alternative+Communication%22">Augmentative and Alternative Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Inclusion%22">Inclusion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Evidence+Based+Practice%22">Evidence Based Practice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Direct+Instruction%22">Direct Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Design%22">Program Design</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Implementation%22">Program Implementation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+Teaching%22">Peer Teaching</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/10534512261420840
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  Data: The Sand Creek Kindness Café is a school-based Tier 2 intervention within the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework, designed to support communication, social interaction, and functional life skills for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and complex communication needs. The café integrates evidence-based practices (EBPs), including explicit instruction, peer-mediated instruction, and positive reinforcement, within structured, socially meaningful routines. Students utilize augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, visual supports, and scaffolded instruction to engage in authentic interactions, fostering independence, social engagement, and generalization of skills across contexts. Implementation of the Kindness Café has demonstrated increased opportunities for functional communication, expanded vocabulary, and enhanced autonomy in real-world settings. This article details the café's design, implementation, and data-driven instructional strategies, offering practical guidance for educators seeking to replicate or adapt the model in inclusive school environments.
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        Value: 10.1177/10534512261420840
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 7
        StartPage: 267
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Communication Skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Daily Living Skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Skill Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Positive Behavior Supports
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Students with Disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Autism Spectrum Disorders
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Augmentative and Alternative Communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Inclusion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Evidence Based Practice
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      – SubjectFull: Direct Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Program Design
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      – SubjectFull: Program Implementation
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      – SubjectFull: Peer Teaching
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      – TitleFull: Kindness Café: Promoting Communication and Life Skills in School Settings
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              Y: 2026
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