Dino was a happy, healthy energetic toddler – always on the go. But his mother, Sarah, worried when his play skills weren’t developing and he wasn’t talking by age 2. She took him to a specialist, dreading the words she’d hear upon diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorder.

By the time he was ready for kindergarten, Dino started exhibiting increasingly disruptive behaviors. He’d get frustrated easily, throw tantrums and scream. Although he’d acquired some language skills in early intervention therapy, he was still struggling to communicate.

With the help of Dino’s teachers and doctors, Sarah tried different techniques to improve her son’s classroom performance – a dedicated teaching aide, a shortened school day, even a medication trial. Nothing worked. Dino’s behavior deteriorated rapidly. He became hyperactive, destructive and aggressive in all-day episodes.

Soon after, Dino’s school district said they could no longer help him. They recommended that his mother place him in a residential school.

Sarah was exhausted and felt utterly defeated. She knew Dino needed extraordinary help in order to learn and thrive, but she didn’t know where to turn…

…until she found The Hope Institute.

Today, Dino is flourishing in Hope’s structured schedule and dedicated space to work through behaviors. “I miss him terribly,” Sarah says. “But he’s thriving at Hope and he’s very happy. I’m so thankful for Hope’s support in so many ways.”

Hope’s classrooms are specially designed to calm and focus children on the Autism spectrum. And Dino’s teachers and therapists have the dedication, time and expertise to fully support him so he can learn his best and enjoy life every day.

Today, Dino’s negative behaviors are virtually non-existent and he’s moved from his campus home to the independence of a community home. He’s doing so well, in fact, that he may soon “graduate” back to his local school and be able to live with his mother at home again.

The Hope Institute offers children like Dino, who battle Autism and other developmental disabilities, the highest quality, best researched and most professional, loving care available anywhere. But we couldn’t provide these critical services without the heartfelt generosity of friends like you.

Thank you for help in creating hopeful futures for children with disabilities.

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