We were lucky to catch up with Diana Cortese recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Diana thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

After working in the public school system, I recognized a significant gap in social development support for children who fell somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. These students didn’t require intensive individualized intervention, yet struggled to thrive in standard social environments. I witnessed firsthand how schools lacked the time, resources, and prioritization necessary to nurture these children’s social growth. This realization inspired me to create South Bay Kids Connection (SBKC), a specialized social play skills program that provides a smaller, more intimate group setting. SBKC creates a space where children can meaningfully engage with peers while having ample opportunity to practice social skills without feeling rushed or pressured. The program fulfills my vision of offering children a supportive community where they can develop confidence and experience the joy of social connection.

Diana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and former Special Education teacher with a strong foundation in evidence-based practices. My career path took an unexpected but fulfilling turn when I began working at the prestigious New England Center for Children with children facing severe behavioral challenges. While I had initially planned to become a family psychologist, witnessing the remarkable effectiveness of applied behavior analysis firsthand transformed my professional trajectory.

During my time at NECC, I benefited from exceptional supervision that not only enhanced my clinical skills but also deepened my appreciation for behavior analysis as a discipline. This formative experience solidified my commitment to data-informed decision making and demonstrated how systematic behavioral approaches could create meaningful, measurable improvements in children’s lives. The mentorship I received there continues to influence my professional practice today, guiding my approach to assessment, intervention design, and progress monitoring.

I have worked will all ages of children from 2-18, in different cities from New York City to Madrid, Spain, and across environments from home based to clinic, to school to now a private social play skills group and online professional development. This diverse experience has given me unique insights into how children develop socially across cultures, age groups, and settings. Working internationally taught me the universal importance of social connection, while my experience across various educational environments revealed the common challenges children face regardless of their background.

South Bay Kids Connection offers weekly social play groups for kids ages 5-10 years old. These carefully structured sessions combine fun activities with intentional social skills practice, creating an environment where children feel both comfortable and challenged. Each group is kept small to ensure personalized attention while still providing adequate peer interaction opportunities. The need for our services is great, as demonstrated by our consistently long waitlist. Parents frequently share how they’ve searched extensively for programs like ours that address this specific developmental need.

My other goal is to increase teacher trainings so other special educators or behaviorists can also lead social skills groups. These professional development workshops cover evidence-based practices, curriculum development, behavior management strategies, and practical implementation techniques. By training more professionals, we can collectively reach more children who need support with their social development. The online format of these trainings has allowed me to connect with educators nationwide who share my passion for supporting children’s social growth.

I believe that communication is one of the most important aspects of the program. After each session, parents receive detailed updates about their child’s participation, progress, and any challenges they encountered. We also schedule regular check-ins to discuss strategies that can be reinforced at home. As a parent myself, I know what it’s like to have concerns about your child and want to know everything that is happening with your child so you can best help. This perspective has shaped my efforts to be as thorough, timely, and supportive as possible.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

My most valuable source of new clients has consistently been word-of-mouth referrals from current client families. Parents who witness their children’s progress firsthand become natural advocates for the program, sharing their experiences with friends, family members, and other parents in similar situations. These personal testimonials carry exceptional weight because they come from trusted sources who can speak authentically about both the challenges their children faced and the improvements they’ve observed. Firsthand accounts often address specific concerns and questions in ways that marketing materials simply cannot. This organic referral network brings in clients who are already well-informed, and committed to the goals of the program.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I prioritize building genuine relationships with each child and family. I take the time to learn about each child’s unique interests, strengths, and challenges, using these insights to tailor my approach accordingly. Parents mention how they appreciate my accessibility in terms of responding promptly to questions, providing detailed updates, or offering practical strategies for home implementation. This individualized attention extends to how I structure each child’s experience in our social play groups, ensuring they receive the specific support they need while feeling valued and understood. It’s this combination of professional expertise and authentic personal connection that parents reference when recommending our services to others,

Contact Info:

• Website: https://southbaykidsconnection.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southbaykidsconnection/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-cortese-bcba-05b9827/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@teachsocialskills
• Other: Teach Social Skills-Online Professional Development Resources
  https://www.teachsocialskills.com/