Letter from an Autism Mom to Hopebridge

To the amazing people at Hopebridge,

My name is Jen Haase and my son Mason is graduating from the Hopebridge North center in Tucson, Arizona this week. He has been attending Hopebridge since April of 2021, so almost 2 years.

He started out at the East center while the North one was getting up and running (we live closer to North). From the moment we first started at Hopebridge with an evaluation, I can tell you we felt at home. The front desk staff/manager were beyond friendly, compassionate and understanding and the BCBA that did the evaluation was so knowledgeable and kind and made us feel so welcome. As we got a tour of the center, I could feel a weight lifted off of my shoulders, we had finally found the place that
would accept, love and lead my child in just the way that he needed. The very first day I dropped him off, the amazing RBT that was going to be with him for the day was beyond loving towards Mason and I could tell she couldn’t wait to play and get to know him and she was going to take great care of him.

After a few months, the North center was done and we transferred over there. We got a new BCBA and RBT, but again we felt right at home. Mason went full-time at the center a little over a year and then it was time to prep him for Kindergarten. At this point in time, I was nervous, would he be ready? Our BCBA assured me he would be. And she was right. I don’t know how she did it, but every program she created for Mason was spot on. Looking back at where he was when we began to where he was then, I couldn’t believe how far he’d come. Every parent training I took, I always received an update on Mason and his goals and what they’d been working on and everything would come together and make sense. The skills and tools we were taught in parent training helped us stay consistent with what he was learning in the center. I was always able to ask questions, voice concerns and ask for help. I always felt heard and everything was always followed up on. Even when the time came to enroll Mason in Kindergarten and sit in our first IEP meeting, our BCBA was there. When he had a really rough first week, our BCBA took the time to speak to his special education teacher and give her some ideas on how to help.

Hopebridge has been there, every step of the way. They’ve guided Mason and guided us to a place I never thought we’d be. To say we are grateful would be an understatement. Hopebridge has not only been our home, but everyone there has been our family. It’s easy to see that everyone there loves what they do and loves our kids like we do. When our son was diagnosed with autism, we were scared, worried and not sure what the future held for us or for our son. Hopebridge has truly been a place of hope while guiding us through such a tough time in our lives. We will continue to sing their praises and recommend Hopebridge to anyone we come in contact with that might be in our same situation.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
The Haase Family, Tucson Arizona

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