Our lives are rich with socially-mediated contingencies and reinforcement. This means that focusing on individualized goals, forming meaningful relationships, and creating supportive opportunities for social development is just as important as the fundamental adaptive domains. In order for social-emotional skills to be functional, they need to be individualized, neurodiverse affirming, relevant, and practical. 

Traditionally, there is a focus on developing “social skills” rather than nurturing the authentic social-emotional desire in all people. It is our due diligence now to promote safe spaces for social opportunities and place the emphasis on goals for growth in self-advocacy, perspective taking, and emotional regulation. It is our commitment to support every person in achieving these milestones no matter the age in development or mode/fluency of communication. 

That’s why we offer Social Programs as young as two years old and well beyond twenty. Peer support and relationships are meaningful and long-lasting, and we believe in the nourishment of these experiences for a lifetime. 

Our goals are to provide enriched opportunities for peer and social interaction in a supported, therapeutic setting for Neurodivergent individuals.

Our Early Learning with Peers (ELP) Program is an early learning and development program for learners ages 2-4. This peer-focused setting follows a child-led schedule and emphasizes daily group activities that strengthen your child’s sense of self and participation and understanding of the world around them.

Key Focuses: 

• Child-led and peer-modeled play

• Naturalistic opportunities to support growth in communication, social goals and cognitive functioning 

Key Goals

• Building self-advocacy

• Supporting self-awareness

Jr. Beakers is an age-based peer group for learners ages 5-7. Here we emphasize consistency for building self-advocacy and self-perception while offering the opportunity to engage in meaningful and rewarding activities with peers.

Key Focuses: 

• Child-led and peer-modeled play

• Naturalistic opportunities to support growth in communication, social reciprocity and active participation

Key Goals: 

• Self-advocacy

• Self-perception

Exploration Lab is an age-based peer group for learners ages 6-8 dedicated to supporting young children in creating and maintaining meaningful, social connections. This peer-group setting heavily focuses on interactive play and leisure to explore common themes and shared interests. Each month focuses on novel topics found in everyday life.

Key Focuses: 

• Child-led and peer-modeled play

• Naturalistic opportunities to support growth in communication, social reciprocity and active participation

Key Goals:

• Promoting self-advocacy and self-perception

• Building intrinsic motivation for learning and play

Camp Lab is an age-based peer group for learners ages 9-12 dedicated to supporting pre-teens in creating and maintaining meaningful, social connections. This pre-teen peer group setting heavily focuses on movement and active participation in common interests to support meaningful and rewarding peer engagement. 

Key Focuses: 

• Identifying and engaging in hobbies and shared interests with peers

• Naturalistic opportunities to support growth in communication, social reciprocity and active participation

Key Goals:

• Promoting self-advocacy and self-perception

• Supporting peer relationships and navigating problem solving

Open Lab is an age-based peer group for learners ages 13-16 dedicated to supporting teens in exploring their community in a socially interactive and emotionally supportive environment amongst peers and professional leaders. Community outings range from sports and movement to arts and creative endeavors following a variety of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Maths) activities. 

Key Focuses: 

• Identifying and engaging in hobbies and shared interests with peers

• Naturalistic opportunities to support growth in communication, social reciprocity and active participation

Key Goals: 

• Promoting self-advocacy and self-perception

• Fostering and nurturing relationships within oneself and the community

The Lab is the culmination of foundational skills and building blocks to support the vocational, social-relationship, and health and well-being needs of our autistic young adult community. We aim to create a safe and supportive space where individuals can learn managerial, administrative, and trade skills as well as learn and understand the resources in their community for leisure and activity to build lasting, meaningful relationships.

Key Focuses: 

• Identifying and engaging in hobbies and shared interests with peers

• Naturalistic opportunities to support growth in communication, social reciprocity and active participation across responsibilities and interests

Key Goals: 

• Promoting self-advocacy and self-perception

• Offering novel experiences and supporting sustainable independence