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Sarah Dooley student gets new chance at public school

Posted on October 28, 2015
  Reneé was diagnosed with autism when she was four years old. Not long after she began kindergarten at public school, her mother, Kimberly, recognized that Reneé’s behaviors were interfering with her ability to learn. Reneé had no means of communicating, and would often lash out and hit her teachers and classmates when her wants or needs were not met. Kimberly’s search for a school that would provide her daughter ...Read More

Get to Know Adam Dreyfus, Director, Sarah Dooley Center for Autism

Posted on October 6, 2015
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

Staff team building at Richmond Ropes Course

Posted on September 10, 2015
At St. Joseph's Villa our staff never stop believing in children and their families -- or each other! On August 31st the staff of the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism went to Richmond Ropes Course (http://richmondropes.com/) located in Fulton Hill as part of a team exercise.  Through a series of physical and mental challenges we learned how to overcome fears, work as a team and remain focused on complex goals. ...Read More

Back-to-school tips to give your child a safe and healthy year

Posted on August 28, 2015
The start of a new school year is one of the most exciting times at Sarah Dooley Center for Autism.  As we prepare to welcome students back to our school, 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 ...Read More

Changing diagnoses and the increased prevalence of autism

Posted on July 31, 2015
The following post was made by Adam Dreyfus, Director, Sarah Dooley Center for Autism at St. Joseph's Villa. Penn State University researchers have concluded that as much as 65% of the increase in autism rates could be attributed to changing diagnoses, primarily children being moved from the category of Intellectual Disability into the Autism Spectrum category. They postulated that this could be due to the difficulty in drawing clear lines ...Read More

Governor McAuliffe announces schools’ high ratings for students with disabilities

Posted on July 21, 2015
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that the state's public schools have earned the U.S. Department of Education’s highest overall rating and the second-highest score for serving students with disabilities under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). “In every school division in the Commonwealth, there are special educators who are committed to preparing all students to succeed,” Governor McAuliffe said. “These accomplishments are the result of their efforts, as well as ...Read More

New studies refute causal connection between c-section and autism

Posted on July 9, 2015
The following post was made by Adam Dreyfus, Director, Sarah Dooley Center for Autism at St. Joseph's Villa. Science adds anxiety to parents, then says ‘we were wrong.'  A study claiming that children born by c-section were 21% more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder found that, upon further analysis, that there was no causal connection and that the original conclusion was likely the result of ‘residual confounding.' ...Read More

New job resource for individuals with autism

Posted on June 1, 2015
The Sarah Dooley Center for Autism at St. Joseph's Villa is 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 ...Read More

Supporting the interests of a child with autism can lead to their career

Posted on January 23, 2015
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 SDCA Director Adam Dreyfus. NBC12 - WWBT - Richmond, VA News On ...Read More

Coping with stress when your child has a chronic illness or disability

Posted on January 8, 2015
"As tough as parenting can be, it becomes even more difficult when our children are diagnosed with a chronic illness or disability. Taking care of your own physical and emotional health is an important part of providing support for your child." This comprehensive article by Fawne Hansen, a health coach specializing in stress-related conditions, identifies major sources and symptoms of stressors you may experience as a parent of a child with an ...Read More


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