Adam came to the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism in 2013 after serving the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Technical Assistance Associate at VCU’s Autism Center for Excellence. He graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s degree in Language and Child Development and went on to earn his Master’s degree in Special Education/Applied Behavior Analysis from Columbia University’s Teachers College. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Adam is a ...Read More
Join us Saturday, October 17 for the third annual Trick-or-Trot 5K benefiting Brook Road Academy! Enjoy a beautiful fall day on the campus of St. Joseph's Villa with Halloween-themed fun for all ages. Proceeds support the programs that enrich the education of our middle and high school students. Great prizes for top finishers in all age groups Live music Halloween costume contest Scenic flat course Professional timing T-shirts guaranteed for ...Read More
The start of a new school year is one of the most exciting times at St. Joseph's Villa. As we prepare to welcome students back to our campus, we encourage families to become familiar with key health and safety information that has been prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our teachers and faculty are committed to providing students with a safe, nurturing, inclusive environment that enables them to gain knowledge and skills ...Read More
This summer we had the pleasure of welcoming Destiney as our new administrative intern. Destiney came to St. Joseph's Villa through Partnership for the Future (PFF), a nonprofit that connects high-potential high school students from challenging circumstances with tools and experiences that will help them attain a college degree. She is a rising junior with an interest in communications. As part of PFF's program, Destiney will also be interning at the Villa for the next ...Read More
St. Joseph's Villa's developmental disabilities services are focused on helping individuals successfully transition to adulthood and live as fully and independently as possible. In the same vein, a new online resource is now connecting individuals with autism and other disabilities to employers in their community. The Spectrum Careers, launched by Rangam Consultants in partnership with Autism Speaks, is a free website where job-seeking youth and adults can upload video resumes and find career opportunities in ...Read More
Obstacles in cost or accessibility make healthy eating out of reach for many children and families the Villa serves. This spring we are delighted to partner with the Bon Secours Class-A-Roll to provide Villa students with hands-on nutrition education and experience in healthy food preparation. The Class-A-Roll is a mobile interactive kitchen that links families to fresh, affordable produce in their own communities. Each week our students learn to prepare ...Read More
14-year old Dylan Greene has a unique interest. Vacuum cleaners have fascinated him ever since he was 2 years old, about the same time he was diagnosed with autism. The story of his birthday present, a live demonstration from a vacuum salesman and company gift of a Kirby vacuum, has gone viral. NBC12 covered the story and included an interview with Adam Dreyfus, Director of the Sarah Dooley Center for ...Read More
Today 1 in every 68 children is diagnosed with autism. While the increasing rate of autism is alarming, there is hope. Lifelong differences can be made in a child's social, behavioral and cognitive skills with early detection of treatment. However, even though pediatricians are able to diagnose autism as early as age two, the average age of diagnosis is seven in Virginia. "The key to early intervention is early," said ...Read More
Looking for a ghoulish good time this Halloween? Join us Saturday, October 25 for the second annual Trick-or-Trot 5K benefiting Brook Road Academy! Enjoy a beautiful fall day on the campus of St. Joseph's Villa with Halloween-themed fun for all ages. Proceeds support the science and technology programs that enrich the education of our middle and high school students. Great Prizes! Live Music! Halloween Costume Contest! Scenic Flat Course! Professional Timing T-shirts ...Read More
While winter slowly but surely makes its way out, our students are eagerly awaiting the return of gardening time at the Villa. Now they have one more reason to look forward to a sunny spring full of planting, harvesting and outdoor learning: the addition of a brand new greenhouse in our Learning & Therapy Garden. Generously donated by The Good Shepherd Fund, the greenhouse will provide a new way for our students ...Read More
