Monthly Social Skills Group for Twice-Exceptional Children
with a Concurrent Free Parent Support Group
A collaborative program hosted at The Gifted Collective
Program Overview
This program offers a monthly, evening social skills group designed for gifted and twice-exceptional children whose social-emotional development lags behind their intellectual ability most often children on the autism spectrum, but also children who show autism traits without a formal diagnosis and children with another diagnosed learning disability (such as ADHD, dyslexia, or a specific learning disorder) alongside giftedness. General social-skills programming rarely accounts for this combination. This group pairs clinical expertise in autism and social-emotional development with a specialized understanding of gifted development, giving children a consistent space to build social skills alongside peers who share similar developmental and social profiles.
The group is co-facilitated by a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who specializes in working with autistic and gifted children and families, and by Adam Laningham, owner and founder of The Gifted Collective, who specializes in special education and working with gifted students. A free, concurrent support group gives parents and caregivers their own space to connect and gain support while their child is in group.
Program Goals
• Social skill-building: Build explicit, developmentally appropriate social communication and perspective-taking skills.
• Peer navigation: Practice navigating friendships, conflict, and social misunderstandings in a supportive setting.
• Emotional regulation: Strengthen self-regulation and emotional awareness within social situations.
• Peer connection: Foster genuine connection with same-neurotype peers, reducing isolation and social anxiety.
• Self-advocacy: Support self-understanding and self-advocacy around being autistic and gifted.
• Family support: Equip parents and caregivers with community, tools, and support through the concurrent parent group.
Who This Group Serves
Children generally ages 8–13 who are gifted or twice-exceptional and who have an autism diagnosis, show autism traits without a formal diagnosis, or have another diagnosed learning disability (e.g., ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or another specific learning disorder). A brief intake conversation with the facilitators is required before enrollment to confirm fit and give each child the best chance of success in the group. If enrollment is high, the group can be split into two age bands (e.g., 8–10 and 11–13) or by profile to keep developmental levels and needs close within each cohort.
Expanded eligibility: the group is not limited to children with a formal autism diagnosis.
• Undiagnosed autism traits: Children who show social-communication differences or autism-spectrum traits — including those currently in the evaluation process or on a waitlist for one — may enroll without a formal diagnosis. Because the curriculum draws on autism-informed strategies, intake will focus on whether the group's approach is a good match for the child.
• Other diagnosed learning disabilities: Children with a diagnosed learning disability other than autism (e.g., ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or an executive functioning disorder) who are also gifted or twice-exceptional may enroll, provided intake confirms that their social-emotional and communication needs fit the group's format and peer group.
• Fit determines placement, not label: Eligibility is based on whether a child can meaningfully engage in a group built around autism-informed social skills strategies, not on diagnostic label alone. The LPC facilitator makes the final determination at intake and may recommend a different resource if this group isn't the right match.
Program Structure
• Format: Closed cohort: the same group of children meets each month for continuity and trust-building.
• Duration: 8 sessions across the school year, held once each month in September, October, November, January, February, March, April, and May (no session in December, June, July, or August).
• Session length: 1 hour per session (children's group and parent group run concurrently).
• Group size: Limited to 6–8 children so each child gets individualized attention and coaching.
• Location: The Gifted Collective.
Sessions
Session 1
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Session 2
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Session 3
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Session 4
Tuesday, January 12, 2027
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Session 5
Tuesday, February 9, 2027
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Session 6
Tuesday, March 9, 2027
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Session 7
Tuesday, April 6, 2027
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Session 8
Tuesday, May 11, 2027
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Facilitation Team
Stephen Sommers, LPC — Clinical Facilitator
A Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in autism and giftedness/twice-exceptionality. Brings clinical training in social-emotional development, evidence-informed social skills curricula, and group facilitation experience with autistic and gifted children.
Adam C Laningham — Co-Facilitator & Host Site Director
Owner and Founder of The Gifted Collective. Specializes in special education and working with gifted students, contributing expertise in gifted cognitive and educational needs so the group's approach addresses the whole child — not just the autism piece or the giftedness piece in isolation.
Concurrent Parent Support Group (Free)
While their children are in group, parents and caregivers meet in a separate space at The Gifted Collective for a free, facilitated support group running the same evening and same length as the children's group. Topics may include navigating 2e identification and school advocacy (IEPs/504 plans), understanding the intersection of autism and giftedness, coping strategies, and connecting with other parents on a similar path. There is no fee for this group, and it is open to parents/caregivers of children enrolled in the children's group. Mr. Sommers will be the primary facilitator of the children’s group and Mr. Laningham will be the primary facilitator of the parent group though they with rotate for a limited time for questions and support in both groups.
Investment
Option
Price
Per Session
Single Session (pay as you go)
$75 / session
$75
Full Program — All 8 Sessions (paid in full at registration)
$500 flat
$62.50
• Package discount: Paying for the full 8-session program at registration saves $100 (about 17%) compared to paying session by session.
• Parent group: The parent support group is free for parents/caregivers of enrolled children.
• Insurance: Sessions are private pay. A superbill can be provided upon request for families who wish to seek out-of-network insurance reimbursement; coverage for group services varies by plan.
• ESA: This group is facilitated by The Gifted Collective which accepts ESA funding. Please let us know if you would like to be invoiced directly for ESA payment.
Registration & Enrollment
• Step 1 — Intake: A brief intake call or questionnaire with the LPC to confirm the group is a good fit for the child. Please contact Steven Sommers for intake and before enrolling.
• Step 2 — Enrollment: Families choose single-session or full-package pricing at the time of registration. This group is facilitated by The Gifted Collective.
• Step 3 — Deadline: Registration closes one week before the first session (by September 1, 2026) to allow time to finalize the cohort.
• Cancellation policy: Individual, pay as you go ses play somesions are nonrefundable.Package fees are non-refundable after the second session, with credit offered for excused absences.]
Contact
Adam Laningham / The Gifted Collective — 623.986.8408 | Inquiries@TheGiftedCollective.com
Stephen Sommers, LPC — (801) 616-8819 | ssommerscmhc@gmail.com