Meet Michelle Puopolo of Beyond Autism

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Puopolo.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Beyond Autism was created in 2014 out of necessity and love for my oldest son, Nicholas. Diagnosed with autism at age two 1/2, his educational journey had been an enormous challenge throughout his life.

It was when he became a teenager that my husband Tim and I decided that is was time to create a program that would shift our focus from purely academic goals to a more holistic approach to include life skills, leisure skills, and vocational skills.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, and there were times that I questioned whether or not I had to stamina to operate a small business in addition to managing my two children with a traveling spouse. From leading a small team of professionals to fundraising to remain a viable non-profit, it was beyond a full-time job.

The biggest challenge is the tremendous responsibility I feel and have when a family entrusts their child to our care with so much hope. We remain committed to honest and effective communication with our families to minimize misunderstandings which can lead to disappointment.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Beyond Autism is one of many private schools for children with autism in the Valley. The important thing, for us, is to make sure that the skills taught have the potential to improve the student’s quality of life and the lives of the people closest to them.

In particular, the skills selected should be of value both inside and outside of a school setting, as well as potential vocational settings. Our specialized curriculum and assessment help guide Beyond Autism’s team into making decisions for their loved one’s programming that will be most beneficial to their long-term success.

We believe in order to help our student’s reach their potential, we have to truly get to know each and every one of our students. This is why we have a self-imposed limit of ten students per location. With our 2:1 team member to student ratio, we know our students are being provided all of the support they need to be successful.

We provide our students with weekly pre-vocational opportunities to determine where their interests lie. In addition, we believe it is equally important to support their play and leisure skills to ensure they have a full life outside of the school environment, especially as they enter adulthood.

Raising a special child isn’t a sprint, nor a marathon. It is a lifestyle. As a parent to a special child, I know the challenges that our families face each day which is why Beyond Autism values our families and their experiences. We spend our days alongside some amazing souls who inspire us.

We will continue to guide, support and challenge our students, just as they do us. We recognize that the focus is primarily on the deficits or challenges that our students are experiencing. We strive to share positive stories that highlight their strengths, their talents, and uniqueness.

Do you feel luck has played a role in your life?
I’m not much of a believer in luck. My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me at a very young age as I watched them work extremely hard to provide for a family of six. We are all facing different challenges in life, and we make choices that have consequences. Instead of labeling good or bad, I prefer to find the lesson and move on.

Contact Info:

• Address: 6508 E Cactus Road Scottsdale, AZ 85254
  555 W. Glendale Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85021
• Website: http://www.beyond-autism.com
• Phone: 602-541-9743
• Email: michelle@beyond-autism.com
• Instagram: beyondautism1
• Facebook: beyondautism

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