NEWS

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 […]

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 […]

“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 […]

Two special education professors from Mogilev State University in Belarus, Professors Elina Katliarova (PhD in Psychology, Chair of Psychology Department) and Irina Komarova (PhD in Pedagogy, Dean of Faculty of Child Pedagogy and Psychology) toured St. Joseph’s Villa and its Sarah Dooley Center for Autism (SDCA) on December 4. During their visit, the Belarusian professors observed instructional techniques […]

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 […]

Students of all grade levels at our Sarah Dooley Center for Autism enjoyed fun lessons in weather from Meteorologist Carrie Rose on June 12.  Creating static electricity with balloons was one of the biggest hits!  Ms. Rose also showed a behind-the-scenes video tour of the CBS 6 news station.  A school photo aired the following morning. Many thanks […]

We extend our most heartful congratulations to our graduating students and their families.  The commencement ceremony for the Class of 2014 will take place on June 13, 2014 at the Chapel on the St. Joseph Villa campus.

Information courtesy of CNN.com. According to a new report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 68 U.S. children has an autism spectrum disorder — up from 1 in 88 in 2012.  Autism continues to be much more common in boys (1 in 42) than girls (1 in 189). The report also points out […]

Last May, the APA (American Psychiatric Association) published the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). The DSM is considered the ‘bible’ of diagnoses and is used by doctors, insurance companies and schools as the primary source for diagnoses. In the new edition (DSM-5), the diagnosis for ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) underwent significant changes. […]

A big challenge we tackle here every day is how to equip our students with job-ready skills.  The Los Angeles Unified School District has made a serious commitment to helping their students with disabilities learn work-ready skills. The article below will introduce you to Claudia who had a history of “dropping to the floor and […]