Who Attends Lynchpin?

There is no such thing as a “typical” Lynchpin student. Our unique group of students is what makes our community so special!

However there are many common characteristics our students share:

• Average to well above average academic profile
• Solid use of receptive and expressive language
• The ability to participate in structured and less structured group experiences independently and safely
• A desire to connect with socially peers, despite difficulty doing so
• Possessing incredible strengths and interests, but often struggling with the daily expectations of life that most people consider innate (conversation, joining a group, maintaining friendships, understanding the perspective of others)
• The experience of feeling "misunderstood" by others

While the Lynchpin team has a reputation and passion for supporting social learners, our expertise is not all-encompassing.

We are not able to effectively support students who:

• Struggle with behavioral outbursts
• Have limited use of expressive language
• Have a history of wandering or "bolting" from groups
• Currently require acute mental health support
• Currently require ABA behavioral supports to successfully be part of a group
• Have a history of physical aggression toward others
• Require the support of a one-to-one aide for basic self-care and learning

Lynchpin is committed to providing the best possible environment for social learning. If our style doesn’t match the needs of a particular student, we work with families to offer referrals to local programs that might be a better fit.

What is social education? How does it differ from counseling?

The Lynchpin team uses a transdisciplinary model, combining their varied professional backgrounds to provide a unique opportunity for student learning. The team holds advanced degrees in a number of areas, including counseling and special education. However, at Lynchpin, we act as social educators as opposed to therapeutic counseling professionals.