Social Practice: No Pressure Edition

Social Practice: No Pressure Edition  -  is a 90-minute, inclusive practice session for youth who want more support with social communication. The event centers disabled and neurodivergent youth and is open to anyone who feels this space would be helpful.

Hosted by Open Up and Evolve Coaching, this session focuses on one core area of practice that shows up in many parts of life: talking about yourself and navigating confusing questions.

Youth will explore common situations such as:

• Being asked “Tell me about yourself” in an interview or group setting
• Not understanding what a question is really asking
• Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to respond
• Wanting to ask for clarification but not knowing how
• Keeping a conversation flowing by asking questions

• A brief conversation about feelings that can come up in interviews or social situations (nerves, pressure, confusion, shutdown)
• Simple mindfulness tools to help youth notice what’s happening in their body and slow things down
• Guided practice responding to “Tell me about yourself” in different ways—work-focused, interest-based, or personal
• Practice asking follow up questions
• Optional, low-pressure practice rounds with peers

All activities are choice-based. Youth can observe, participate quietly, or jump in—there is no expectation to perform or share more than feels comfortable.

The ability to talk about yourself and ask clarifying questions is useful for:

• Meeting new people
• Classroom discussions
• Making friends

We emphasize that there is no single right way to communicate. The goal is to build awareness, confidence, and practice—not to be perfect. Learning tools to self-regulate when in community with others can transfer to many environments and lead to greater success in the future.

By the end of the session, participants will leave with:

• Experience practicing common social questions
• Language they can use to ask for clarification when confused
• Tools to manage stress during conversations
• A better sense of how they want to show up in social spaces

This session highlights how youth build communication skills by expressing themselves in their own ways—through practice, reflection, and support.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Open Up (www.openuppittsburgh.com)