Speaker Series

This empowering talk will equip you with practical strategies to help your child understand and improve their executive function skills. We'll explore the neuroscience behind neurodivergent brains and delve into three crucial steps for building a customized task-management system to empower your child. 

Sam Young, M.Ed., is the Head of School at Young Scholars Academy, a strength-based, virtual village that empowers gifted, twice-exceptional, and neurodivergent students to thrive. Sam is a two-time Fulbright Scholar, TEDx presenter, Keynote speaker, and a neurodivergent person himself who has committed his life to supporting clever, quirky students to overcome the harmful deficit-based system and discover, develop their superpowers, and lead strength-based, talent-focused lives!

In this session, Cindy Palmer, MA, will share expert tips for what you and your neurodivergent college-bound student should be doing this summer to make sure this transition is one that everyone is ready for. From big picture questions to the details you haven't thought about, this should be a super helpful tool to aid in a successful launch.

Cindy is the founder and owner of Threshold Coaches. She has been immersed in education and therapeutic realms for over 25 years, as a high school teacher, an adolescent therapist, a parent coach, and now as the owner of Threshold Coaches, which specializes in ADHD/Executive Function Coaching for college students. Cindy is also a mother to two emerging adults and is currently immersed in the college process, navigating how to support their neurodiversity in the college setting.

In this session, join 2e expert Stephanie Grayson, LCSW, for a discussion of Dr. Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory, the Safe and Sound Protocol, and ways to support your child's nervous system.

Stephanie Grayson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist who works primarily with neurodivergent and twice-exceptional children, adolescents, and their families at a group private practice on New York’s Upper West Side. Stephanie holds a Master’s of Social Work from NYU's Silver School of Social Work and maintains certifications in The Safe and Sound Protocol, 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.

Join Melissa Schwartz, specialist and coach supporting highly sensitive children and their families, as she unravels the often misunderstood connections between high sensitivity, sensory processing challenges, and giftedness. Parents will gain clarity on how these traits intersect and influence their child's daily experiences, emotional responses, and learning style. Through real-world examples and evidence-based insights, you'll learn practical strategies to support your child's unique sensory needs while nurturing their exceptional abilities. This session will help you move beyond traditional labels to better understand and advocate for your highly sensitive, gifted child.

A sought-after author, coach, and public speaker, Melissa Schwartz draws from both clinical research and lived experience as a highly-sensitive person to guide families through transformative solutions that honor their children's unique sensory needs while nurturing their exceptional abilities.

Wondering how much screen time is too much? Ask clinical psychologist Michael Fraser, Ph.D. In this follow-up to his highly popular presentation, Helping Youth Unplug, Dr. Fraser will answer parents' questions about kids and technology in a live virtual Q&A session.

January 10, 2024
"Strategically Supporting Executive Functioning at Home"
We will explore what executive functioning is and why these skills are important to build and practice to enhance planning, organizing, prioritizing, self-regulation, and much more! We will also discuss what EF looks like in the home and how we can strategically support our children in building these skills to become more independent.

A licensed clinician, Melissa has been working with gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) children and their families since 2003, and earned her Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University with a specialization in children and families. Melissa is the co-founder of Twice Exceptional Children's Advocacy, Inc., and served as president of the organization from 2002 through 2023. Her private practice specializes in support and services for all kinds of gifted children, including 2e children who are gifted with social, emotional, or academic challenges. Melissa is the executive director of the practice, oversees all programs and services including training and supervision, and works directly with gifted children, adolescents, and adults in a therapeutic capacity.