We have been making a big difference for kids and young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities for more than 40 years. Our developmental disabilities services help individuals learn skills for life beyond St. Joseph’s Villa, and provide care for the whole family.
Our Sarah Dooley Center for Autism prepares students with autism for the fullest possible life as adults. Serving children and youth ages 5 to 22, we focus on developing real-world skills through community-based instruction and best-practice Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) principles. We provide education year-round at no cost to families.
The primary goal of our Center is to help students successfully transition back to their public schools, to vocational programs, and to the community. We partner with families, public schools, universities, research centers and professional networks to help students reach their potential. Our Center is part of a continuum of care at St. Joseph’s Villa, where students and families can access a range of wraparound supports including Career and Transition Services.
View our 2023-24 school calendar here.
Day Support provides a structured program for children with a diagnosed intellectual disability and/or autism. The after-school program caters to each child’s needs working inside of the school’s Individualized Education Program and Individual Service Plan. Participants have the opportunity to engage in skill enhancement activities, socialization with peers, therapeutic recreation such as arts and crafts, music, and physical activity, and field trips focused on community integration. Individual choice is encouraged throughout all aspects of programming.
Personal care assistance and nutritional meals and snacks are provided. To best serve each child, staff-to-client ratio will not exceed 1:4.
This program for individuals 21 and older with a diagnosed intellectual disability and/or autism focuses on building social, pre-vocational, and essential life skills. Participants have access to campus resources and recreational areas. We also partner with local nonprofits and businesses to offer job training and volunteer opportunities. Our goal is to support participants in gaining as much independence as possible and improving their overall quality of life.
Day Support for Adults offers personal care assistance, physical fitness activities, arts and crafts, library visits, and music and sensory stimulation. We work with a 1:4 staff-to-client ratio to provide personalized service and ensure the outcomes of each Individual Service Plan are met.
Take a virtual tour of Adult Day Support.
Outpatient Behavioral Therapy at St. Joseph’s Villa provides clinic and home-based services that use Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to improve children’s communication and functional daily living skills. We help children with behavioral difficulties, communication limitations, adaptive functioning delays, or sensory integration difficulties resulting from intellectual disabilities or developmental delays. In collaboration with the whole family, our goal is to increase positive interactions at home and in the community, while providing the tools and supports needed to avoid out-of-home placement. A qualified mental health professional supports caregivers in effectively advocating for their child and help secure the services needed to safely and successfully provide care.
Each child and family receives:
Activities may also include providing the family with training on a specific diagnosis or communication device, implementing a therapeutic behavior support plan, and helping maintain consistency and structure in the home. The program is supervised by a Licensed Behavior Analyst.
Our clinic operates on the 82-acre campus of St. Joseph’s Villa, giving families an option for treatment outside of the home. All clients have access to the Villa’s array of enriching campus resources. Transportation services are available.
Outpatient Behavioral Therapy operates as part of Medicaid’s Early Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) program.
Meet Mysonne, a 2021 Villa graduate who today proudly serves as a counselor for elementary students in our Dooley School. Mysonne says he discovered his passion for helping others while
Announcing our 1st annual conference for our public school partners! Thursday, November 2 8:00am-3:30pm | $120 Sarah Dooley Center for Autism at St. Joseph's Villa Lunch will be provided. REGISTER
In Virginia Home Grown's recent episode on the healing power of nature, our own Matthew Kreydatus, Senior Director of Wellness and Transition Services, and Tyler Berkeley, Garden Coordinator, shared the
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