As Chas transitions out of HeartShare’s care, her mother is confident about her more independent future.

“Julia could live on her own one day. I know she could work a part-time job. Julia has become very independent,” said Josephine, who can dream big because of the support her daughter and family found at The HeartShare School.

Twelve year old Grace can’t wait to see Diane Grzebyck, the school’s first Board Certified Behavior Analyst, responsible for implementing the school’s ABA curriculum. Diane works closely with students daily, including Grace, to shift away from certain behaviors using positive reinforcement. For Grace, her time with Diana is her incentive. “You’re the best, Ms. Diane!”…

With 24/7 exposure to skilled, compassionate staff at The HeartShare School and the HeartShare’s Children’s Residence next door, Tallal was able to make this extraordinary breakthrough to become more independent.

The HeartShare School, a school for children ages 5-21 with autism, celebrated its first graduate, Valerie, in June 2014. Valerie first joined HeartShare with the opening of its Children’s Residences, adjacent to the school, three years earlier. Valerie’s mother, Odessa, described the obstacles that Valerie overcame to reach this milestone, “Valerie experienced a lot of…