Building stronger connections inside & out.

Dad supports neurodivergent son who has ADHD

From Pinch Points to Path Forward

We’re engineers of informed empathy, reimagining how people communicate and connect.

We believe understanding changes everything.

Peopling exists to help the adults around neurodivergent young people (educators and families) build a shared way of seeing, responding, and growing alongside them.

Our experts are here to support you and are available to facilitate professional learning at your schools.

Meet Our Experts

Photo of Mike Haykin, expert in neurodivergence and family coach.

Mike Haykin, Haykin Consulting

For over 45 years, I have worked with children, adolescents, and young adults to help them uncover their talents and find their unique path in life. As I often say, “You do something long enough, you learn something—and you get a couple things right.”

I have designed and led programs in schools and healthcare settings that strengthen learning, mental health, and family relationships. I began my career with Project HELDS, a national grant supporting college students with learning disabilities, and went on to teach special education, where I transformed a self-contained behavior program into a successful inclusion model. I later established counseling services in six public elementary schools and study skills programs in middle schools.

For 23 years, I served at Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences (SAAS), where I developed the Learning Support Program, led the Counseling Department, and served as Assistant Head of School. I have also provided assessment and consultation in hospitals, coauthored several books, including Leadership in Behavior Support and Meaningful Work, and advised numerous boards and organizations, from children’s hospitals to community nonprofits like Sharing the Stage.

I hold a Master’s in Counseling from the University of Washington, a degree in Special Education from Central Washington University, and administrative certification from Gonzaga University.

When I’m not working with families, you’ll often find me outdoors—on the water, camera in hand, or exploring history and culture somewhere between Taiwan, Alaska, and Central America. My favorite new role is Grandpa.

In appreciation and memory of their wisdom, modeling, and influence, I thank: Myrtle Clyde-Snyder, Wadell Snyder, Kim Marcum, Hussein Bashey, Karen Hagen, and Martin Haykin. I also deeply appreciate the ongoing influence, integrity, wisdom, and support of Jo and Mary Pat Osterhaus, Steve Morris, Michael Hagen, Joe Puggelli, and Jean Orvis.

And with love and gratitude to my family and many friends.

Portrait of Vanessa Tucker. She is a smiling with light skin, shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a dark blazer and a green blouse with blue and purple polka dots, against a gray background.

Dr. Vanessa Tucker-Douglas, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA

I work with adults who have complex disabilities, including autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. I am especially drawn to partnering with parents and caregivers, helping them design supports that are practical, safe, and sustainable in real life.

My work spans hospitals, schools, adult family homes, supported living programs, and other care settings. Across all of these contexts, I focus on areas that are often overlooked: helping caregivers truly understand what’s going on, and helping teams coordinate care in ways that make everyday life more workable.

Parents value a clear, compassionate approach—and the ability to translate complex systems into support that actually holds.

Services:

Educational evaluations and IEE’s
Functional behavior assessment and behavior intervention planning
Program design and staff coaching
Parent training focused on psychoeducation and care coordination
Material design (visual systems)
BCBA professional mentoring and coaching

Portrait of Laura Berringer, an expert in neurodiversity, particular autism and behavior. It is a close-up portrait. She has long dark hair, light-colored eyes, smiling showing her teeth, outdoors with blurred background.

Laura Barringer, Continuum Education Consulting

I have spent my career alongside children and adolescents who don’t always fit neatly into traditional school systems, and helping the adults around them build something better. My work is grounded in the belief that when environments shift to meet a child’s needs, entirely new possibilities open up.

I began my career as a special education teacher and IEP coordinator in New York City public schools, where I also mentored new teachers and coached teams working in complex classrooms. I later brought that work to Seattle, serving as Head of School at The Academy for Precision Learning, a K–12 program for neurodivergent students. There, I led the growth of a model that integrates academic instruction with neurodiversity-affirming clinical supports, strengthened systems for individualized learning, and worked closely with families navigating both public and independent school landscapes.

I now lead the APEX Summer Program at the University of Washington Autism Center and founded Continuum Educational Consulting, where I partner with families to navigate school placement, special education systems, and the often overwhelming question of “what’s next.”

I hold a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master’s in Teaching Students with Disabilities from Brooklyn College. I am certified in special education in both New York and Washington.

Outside of my work, I am most likely gardening, reading, or spending time with my spouse and young son. My life, like my work, is shaped by neurodiversity, and I bring that perspective into every space I enter.

Meet the Team