The Skill Tree

02/19/2026

Fun Fact About The Skill Tree:
Did you know our name was inspired by gaming?

In many video games, a “skill tree” is a system that allows players to unlock new abilities and strengthen existing ones as they grow and level up. It lets each person build their own path, develop strengths, and choose the skills that matter most to them.

That idea is exactly what The Skill Tree is all about.

Every member is on their own journey, building real-life skills, confidence, independence, and opportunities step by step — just like leveling up in a game.

Because growth isn’t one-size-fits-all. Everyone deserves a path that works for them.

02/17/2026

🤖 Could Technology Like VR Help Neurodivergent Learners Build Real-World Skills?

We came across an interesting new report from the OECD about how AI and immersive technologies may support neurodivergent learners in vocational education and job training programs.

The research highlights that advanced tools, including Extended Reality (XR) and immersive environments, can create hands-on, adaptable learning experiences tailored to different needs and learning styles. These technologies may help learners practice real-world tasks, build confidence, and transition into employment more successfully.

At The Skill Tree, we are always exploring tools that could better support our members’ growth, independence, and success.

💬 What do YOU think?

Would adding Virtual Reality or immersive technology to our program be helpful?
Would you or your child be excited to try it?
What skills would you want practiced in a safe, virtual environment?

Your feedback matters as we plan for the future of The Skill Tree.

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/ai-to-support-neurodivergent-learners-in-vocational-education-and-training_718d7522-en.html

02/14/2026

This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating what makes everyone unique.

At The Skill Tree, we believe differences are something to be proud of. Every personality, every strength, every way of learning and connecting matters here.

We love your differences, because they are what make you, you. And everyone deserves friendship, support, and a place where they belong.

02/13/2026

Valentine’s Day is about connection, and everyone deserves that.

At The Skill Tree, our older members get guidance and support with real-life social skills like making friends, navigating dating, understanding relationships, and building healthy connections.

Love and friendship can feel confusing, especially as we grow and change. We’re here to help break things down in a supportive, respectful way so individuals feel more confident, understood, and connected.

Because everyone deserves to feel valued, included, and cared about. 💛

02/11/2026

Love and autism go hand in hand.

Love might look a little different. It might show up as parallel play, a favorite repeated phrase, deep focus on a special interest, or a quiet moment of connection instead of big words. But it is still love, and it is just as meaningful.

Every child connects in their own way, on their own timeline. With patience, understanding, and support, those connections grow in beautiful ways.

Different does not mean less. It means uniquely, wonderfully them.

02/06/2026

When a child struggles, the whole family feels it. When a child grows, the whole family benefits.

At The Skill Tree, we partner with families to support progress beyond sessions, offering guidance and tools that help skills carry over into everyday life.

You are not alone, and your child is capable of amazing things.

02/05/2026

Love and friendship can look different for everyone, and that is okay.

As Valentines Day approaches, it is a great time to talk about how dating, friendships, and expressing care can feel different for neurodivergent individuals. Social cues, communication styles, personal space, and comfort levels may not always follow what we see in movies or on social media, and that does not make those connections any less real or meaningful.

At The Skill Tree, we help neurodivergent children, teens, and adults build social understanding, communication skills, and self awareness so they can form healthy relationships in ways that feel safe and authentic to them.

Every person deserves connection, respect, and relationships that honor who they truly are.

📞 Contact us to learn more
🌐 Visit our website

02/03/2026

Big growth starts with small skills.

At The Skill Tree, we help children, teens, and adults build real world life skills that support confidence, independence, and success at home, in school, and in the community. From communication and social interaction to daily living skills, every step matters.

When we feel capable, everything changes.

📞 Call to learn more
🌐 Visit our website

01/28/2026

Hello Hampstead. We plan on opening our office tomorrow and would very much like to hire someone to shovel some snow for us. If anyone is able to help please reach out. Able to pay cash. Need two or three walkways from the road across the sidewalk.

01/27/2026

My beautiful mom’s Obituary. The Skill Tree will be closed on Friday, January 30th while our family celebrates her life. Thank you for everyone’s kindness and understanding during this painful time.

View Ann Jeanette Roelecke's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

01/26/2026

How cool is this? We didn’t need a study to tell us this… but we love seeing it confirmed!

New research shared by ScienceDaily highlights something many in the autism community already understand: autistic individuals express emotions differently — not less, just different.

The study found that facial expressions in autism may rely on different movement patterns and facial features than non-autistic expressions, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. But here’s the important part: this is not a lack of emotion. It’s simply a different emotional language.

We’ve always known that connection and understanding go both ways. This research is another reminder that difference does not equal deficit — and that learning to truly see and understand one another matters.

Science catching up to lived experience? We love to see it 💙