At Guiding Independence, my mission is to empower individuals with profound autism–of all ages–to reach their fullest potential for independence.
Through personalized, compassionate, and evidence-based approaches, I teach their caregivers how to guide them to develop essential life skills necessary to navigate the world with autonomy.
It starts at home
I believe that no one has more potential to positively shape the future of a child with profound autism than their own caregivers. That’s why I focus on equipping you with the same tools and strategies I used inside the classroom as a life skills coach.
With patience, compassion, and the right guidance, you can help your child achieve milestones you never thought possible. You just need to be taught how.
Work with me
I offer practical, parent-focused support through self-paced courses, printable resources and personalized coaching. No matter your experience with teaching or your child’s current skill level, I meet your family where you are.
— Matthew Jacobson
The founder
As an educator and life skills coach with over 5 years of professional and 10+ years of personal experience, I’ve supported kids with disabilities like autism, ADHD, OCD, Down syndrome, and more. I’ve worked in classrooms and directly with families to help children achieve things they were once told weren’t possible.
My specialty is adapting everyday activities to fit each child’s unique abilities, making it possible for them to be independent no matter the difficulty of the task. I combine my background in educational psychology and child development with strategies I have developed to guide families in building life skills, confidence, and lasting independence—one small step at a time.
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