Special Education Tutoring Reimagined!

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The Hope Source, an Indianapolis behavioral health provider, specializing in ASD since 2007, began offering project-based therapeutic education in 2013. 

After years of meaningful outcomes for our clients, "Purpose Project" as a 8 week theme curriculum for naturalistic learning opportunities was officially launched in 2020. Projects build to an end tangible which may include a trifold display, a diorama, field day, a pitch to the "sharks" or even a musical on the big screen! 

In 2024, Therapeutic Education Labs were added to strengthen client skills for executive functioning and collaboration in a group space, but with 1:1 support. The Labs are themed to the "Scientific Method" promoting exploration, application and presentation of academic concepts while targeting critical social, emotional, cognitive and behavioral skills. 

Now we are expanding enriching program to reach homeschoolers, those in other programs and on our waitlist! 

After over a decade of development by Julie Gordon, LCSW, this therapeutic education model bridges a major gap - learners with ASD, ADHD and other special needs deserve supports that are grounded in neuroscience and co-regulation to prevent further educational trauma. 

No learning occurs under stress! Children must have readiness skills to learn through regulation, certainty and experiences of success through applied learning. 

We break down concepts in meaningful and attainable ways, providing safety and ensuring competence through our therapeutic method. Foundational skills in social-emotional reciprocity, perspective taking, problem-solving, executive function, communication and others are necessary for academic achievement and life. We believe these areas should be focused on first or simultaneous for better outcomes and greater confidence of self. 

Project-based curriculum, especially designed as therapeutic education, gives students the opportunity to learn as children learn best - a developmental, naturalistic apprenticeship model. With trauma-responsive guiding through short and long term projects, learners develop competence in working through hard things in a hands-on, broken down way. It isn't working for an immediate reward, but experiencing the intrinsic motivation to see a plan through. 

Project-based learning removes the "Why are we learning this?" and prepares learners for planning and collaboration skills that occur in almost every aspect of life for a quality of life.