Barbara Simeroth, M.S. Ed.
Barbara Simeroth was still in elementary school, participating in a gifted program, when she first encountered neurodiversity. Over time, both her students and family have uniquely shaped her understanding of those who think differently, laying the foundation for a career devoted to their success.
An experienced classroom teacher, department head, and independent consultant, Barbara spent years in the high school classroom observing a troubling pattern: bright students with ASD were heading to college only to fail out or earn degrees but struggle to attain meaningful employment. Determined to change that outcome, she founded SpectrumWise, a Virginia-based college consulting firm specializing in preparing and placing students in colleges with dedicated, comprehensive on-campus autism support.
Barbara’s book, We Did It! Early Prep, Big Dreams, Autistic College Graduates, will be available on Amazon in October 2026, offering guidance on college preparation for students with autism.
As her client work deepened, so did the demand for social skills instruction. In search of an evidence-based approach, Barbara became a certified PEERS® social skills training provider in 2017. Her pilot PEERS® group in Richmond, Virginia drew enough attention to be featured on NPR, and in 2018 she co-founded PEERS® RVA with her colleague Holly Roper.
Barbara holds a Master of Science in Education from Old Dominion University and a B.A. from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she is the proud mother of three sons, a devoted grandmother to two cherished grandchildren, and a willing servant to one very demanding young cat.
Holly Roper, M.A.
Tailoring services in a holistic manner is Holly Roper’s philosophy for helping find the balance that her clients seek. As a counselor, she has a passion for building a strong therapeutic relationship, based on trust and non-judgmental regard. Her goal is to make all of her clients feel comfortable and safe by meeting them exactly where they are on their journey.
In addition, she is trained in the integration of psychology and theology. Seeing a need among her younger clients for help with social interaction, in 2018 Holly became a certified PEERS® social skills training provider. With her colleague, Barbara Simeroth, Holly began PEERS® RVA to provide evidence-based social skills.
In her role as social coach facilitator, she helps parents and other coaches understand the curriculum and problem-solve in order to better support the PEERS® student. Holly earned her Master’s of Professional Counseling degree from Liberty University and her B.A. from the University of Richmond. She currently resides in Richmond, VA.