The Spectrum School
Somatic, trauma-informed education and developmental programs for children with autism, ADD/ADHD.
A donor-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to bring this vision for children and families to life.
Support Our Work
The Spectrum School is a donation-supported nonprofit organization.
Your support helps us:
- Expand access to somatic, trauma-informed programs
- Develop sensory-safe learning and regulation spaces
- Offer caregiver education and community workshops
- Sustain high-quality, child-centered programming
Donations support the program as a whole and help ensure that families can access services regardless of financial means. Participation in programs is not contingent on payment or donation.
Partner With Us
An Extraordinary Opportunity to Create a New Model of Education for Children with Autism and Their Families
The Spectrum School is a developing nonprofit dedicated to creating sensory-safe, connection-centered learning environments for children with autism and their families.
Our vision is to establish a relationship-centered school where children with autism can learn, regulate, and participate in education in ways that honor their bodies and individual development.
The Spectrum School was born from a simple but powerful belief: when children feel safe in their bodies and supported through connection, their capacity to learn, engage, and develop expands in meaningful ways.
The Vision
Across many communities, families of children with autism are searching for learning environments that truly understand their children’s sensory and nervous system needs. Too often, children are asked to adapt to systems that were not designed for how they experience the world.
The Spectrum School was created in response to this need.
The school was founded by Tovah Petra, MA, a trauma-informed somatic practitioner with a background in Human Development and Early Childhood Education. Through years of supporting children with autism and their families, she began envisioning a different kind of learning environment — one where sensory awareness, relationship, and nervous system regulation guide how children learn and develop.
Today, The Spectrum School is in the early stages of development. We have received our official 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and are actively working to secure our first location while building the foundation needed to bring this vision to life.
Our Approach
At The Spectrum School, we believe that regulation and learning begin in the body. Our approach integrates somatic and trauma-informed practices that prioritize nervous system stability before academic or behavioral expectations are introduced.
We see the school as a living ecosystem where the presence and regulation of adults help support the nervous systems of children. Educators are encouraged to cultivate their own awareness and capacity for regulation, creating classrooms where calm, attunement, and co-regulation can naturally emerge.
Through sensory-informed environments, movement, play, creative expression, and relationship-centered learning, children are given the conditions they need to engage, explore, and develop with confidence.
Why This School Matters Now
Across our communities, many families are searching for learning environments that genuinely understand their children’s sensory, emotional, and nervous system needs. When environments prioritize compliance over connection, many children become overwhelmed, misunderstood, or disengaged from learning.
The Spectrum School is being created to offer something different — a learning environment where sensory safety, regulation, and authentic connection form the foundation for development and education.
Your Support Will Help Build Our Vision
As we begin laying the foundation for The Spectrum School, community support will help us create a learning environment thoughtfully designed around the sensory, emotional, and developmental needs of children with autism.
Your partnership will help support:
- Software, Legal Support and Establishing Our Initial Location
- Hiring and Retaining A Passionate and Accredited Team
- Sensory-safe classrooms designed to reduce overwhelm and support regulation
- A calming sensory room where children can decompress, regulate, and reset
- Nature-rich outdoor spaces including gardens, sand areas, and open play environments that encourage movement and exploration
- Learning environments that integrate movement, play, creativity, and body-based learning
- Training and support for educators to cultivate awareness, regulation, and relationship-centered teaching practices
- Family-centered support that recognizes the importance of the whole child and the whole family
- Together, these elements create the foundation for a school where children feel safe in their bodies, connected to those around them, and supported in their development.
Ways You Can Help
There are many ways to support the early development of The Spectrum School:
• Become a founding sponsor and help establish the first sensory-safe learning environment
• Make a tax-deductible donation to support classroom development and program design
• Share our vision with families, educators, and community members who may want to get involved
• Connect us with potential partners, land opportunities, or resources that could support the school’s development
• Make a tax-deductible donation to support classroom development and program design
• Share our vision with families, educators, and community members who may want to get involved
• Connect us with potential partners, land opportunities, or resources that could support the school’s development
Every contribution — large or small — helps bring this vision one step closer to becoming a reality.
Join Us in Building The Spectrum School
With gratitude and hope, we invite families, educators, community members, and supporters to partner with us in helping bring The Spectrum School to life.
Your support will help establish a sensory-safe, relationship-centered learning environment where children with autism can feel understood, supported, and empowered in their development.
Together, we can help create a place where children are met with safety, respect, and the opportunity to flourish.
Become A Sponsor
Get In Touch With Us
We look forward to getting to know you.
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