Matt is a happy, bright-eyed 12 year old who loves to play sports. He shares his enthusiastic smile with everyone he meets.

But because Matt lives with autism, he struggles to do things many children take for granted every day.

When Matt was 7 years old, he fell behind in school. Changes in the class routine upset him and he had difficulty understanding what was expected of him. He became frustrated, aggressive and disruptive. The other children teased him. He had no friends.

Matt’s mother, Renee, knew her son needed a special learning environment – one that would help him focus on his studies and build his communication and social skills. She searched desperately for a solution to help Matt learn and grow to his full potential.

Renee found everything her son needed, right here at The Hope Institute.

“It’s the individualized attention that makes all the difference,” Renee told me. “Hope’s staff really cares about helping each child achieve what he or she is capable of.”

Today, Matt’s thriving at Hope. An individualized education plan, structured daily schedule and therapeutic supports are helping him experience the academic successes his mother dreamed were possible. Matt’s made great strides socially, too. He’s a star on our Bulldogs basketball team and a Special Olympics gold medalist.

For the first time in his young life, Matt really feels good about himself. He’s discovering and celebrating his unique talents. His future is hopeful.

Matt’s story is just one example of how your heartfelt support of The Hope Institute provides real hope to special needs children and their families.

Thank you for making hopeful futures possible for Matt, and all of our boys and girls, here at The Hope Institute.

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