🌿 Family Services

Support that meets your child where they are

The Authentic Educator partners with families navigating ADHD, autism, PDA profiles (Pervasive Drive for Autonomy / Persistent Demand Avoidance), ARFID, school burnout, school refusal, and complex learning needs. Many of the students we support are bright, curious learners who struggle in traditional school environments but thrive when learning is flexible, respectful, and relationship-centered.

Our work focuses on helping families reduce daily conflict, understand the root causes of school struggles, and build learning environments where students can feel safe, regulated, and capable again.

You might be here because…

• your child is bright but school has become impossible
• your child is experiencing burnout or school refusal
• traditional tutoring does not work for your child
• eating at school is a daily struggle or your child has ARFID
• demands quickly trigger shutdowns, anxiety, or resistance
• your child learns best with flexibility, autonomy, and trust

How We Support Families

Family Coaching

One-on-one support for caregivers navigating complex school and learning challenges. Together we work through questions like:

• Understanding your child’s learning and regulation needs
• Preparing for IEP or 504 meetings
• Communicating effectively with schools
• Supporting children with PDA profiles (Pervasive Drive for Autonomy / Persistent Demand Avoidance)
• Navigating school refusal, burnout, or reintegration

The goal is to help families move from constant crisis management toward clarity, confidence, and collaboration.

Advocacy

When families need more direct support, we provide advocacy and partnership with schools.

This may include:

• Preparing documentation and talking points for meetings
• Attending IEP or 504 meetings
• Supporting conversations about accommodations and services
• Helping educators understand neurodivergent learning profiles

Advocacy ensures that students’ strengths, needs, and regulation challenges are understood so schools can respond appropriately.

School Struggles & Reintegration

Many of the families we work with are navigating school refusal, burnout, shutdowns, or daily after-school meltdowns.

These experiences are often connected to:

• ADHD
• autism
• PDA profiles (Pervasive Drive for Autonomy / Persistent Demand Avoidance)
• ARFID and eating-related challenges at school
• sensory overwhelm
• chronic anxiety around school demands

We work with families to identify the root causes of these struggles and develop compassionate, realistic plans that support safety, regulation, and gradual re-engagement with learning.

Academic Support

Personalized instruction in reading, writing, and academic skills designed specifically for neurodivergent learners.

Many students we support are:

• homeschooled
• learning outside traditional school environments
• rebuilding confidence after school burnout
• learners with ADHD, autism, or PDA profiles

Sessions are flexible, relationship-centered, and designed to support learning without triggering unnecessary pressure or demand.

HBI Learning Coach

For some students, learning outside the classroom is the most supportive path.

HBI Learning Coach support is offered in two ways:

Transitional HBI Learning Coach

For students who cannot currently access school due to burnout, refusal, or regulation challenges. Instruction maintains academic progress while we work toward stabilization and potential reintegration.

Individualized HBI Learning Coach

For families choosing a long-term alternative educational path that respects their child’s nervous system, interests, and pace of learning.

A Different Approach to Learning Support

Students with ADHD, autism, PDA profiles, or ARFID often need learning environments built on:

• autonomy and trust
• flexibility and choice
• regulation before academics
• curiosity and interest-driven learning

Our goal is not to force learning through pressure. It is to create the conditions where learning becomes possible again.

Working Together

Support may include:

• family coaching
• advocacy and meeting support
• individualized academic instruction
• homeschool collaboration
• home-based instruction

All services are donation-based, and no family is turned away due to financial barriers.