Evidence-Based Social Skills Classes for Autism & ADHD
The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) was originally developed at UCLA by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson, Founder and Director of the UCLA PEERS® Clinic, and Dr. Fred Frankel. “PEERS® is a manualized, social skills training intervention for youth with social challenges. It has a strong evidence-base for use with adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder but is also appropriate for adolescents and young adults with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other socioemotional problems.”
Source: semel.ucla.edu/peers
Our social skills classes for autism and ADHD are based on the UCLA-developed PEERS® curriculum – one of the most researched social skills interventions in the world, used in over 150 countries. At PEERS® RVA, we teach this evidence-based program in a 16-week course that meets once a week for one hour, giving students consistent, manageable practice over time.
Students Will Learn How To
Use appropriate conversational skills
Find common interests by trading information
Appropriately use humor
Handle rejection, teasing, and bullying
Be a good host during get-togethers
Choose appropriate friends
Classes are taught by instructors who have experience teaching teens and young adult neurodivergent students, and hold Virginia Collegiate Licenses. Our small class sizes ensure every participant gets real attention and meaningful feedback throughout the course.
How Our Social Skills Classes Work
At the start of the program, each student completes a brief pre-assessment to capture where they are with navigating different social situations. At the end of the 16 weeks students take the same assessment again – giving students and families a clear, concrete picture of the progress made.
The Social Coach Model: Family-Centered Support
What makes PEERS® RVA different from a traditional social skills class is the social coach. Every student is paired with a parent, guardian, or trusted adult who is heavily involved in their daily life. Social coaches are kept up to date on what’s covered each week and are actively encouraged to help reinforce the material at home – holding students accountable in a supportive way and helping them practice their new skills in real-world situations. This family-centered model is a core part of why the PEERS® approach works.
What is PEERS®?
If you’d like to read more about PEERS® you may find information by clicking here.
PEERS® in the News
NPR ran a story regarding the PEERS® pilot program that Barbara began in Richmond.
PEERS® from a Student Perspective
Cole is a young adult monthly contributor to knowdifferent.net
More PEERS® Facilitators
See a list of all the Certified PEERS® facilitators in the Virginia area.
In-Person and Online Social Skills Classes in Richmond, VA
Our social skills classes are available both in-person in Richmond, VA and online — accessible from anywhere in the country — so families nationwide can find the format that works best for them.
In-person classes involve structured role-play, active conversation practice, and collaborative group activities that let students apply what they’re learning in a safe, supportive environment with their peers.
Online classes include live instruction, video lessons, assessments, and online learning modules – delivering the full PEERS® social skills experience to students anywhere in the country.
Payment plans are available. Please contact us for payment information.
