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Join us for our Teacher Hiring Event!

Posted on March 4, 2024
We're looking for individuals to join our incredible team of teachers! Our Sarah Dooley Center for Autism and Dooley School are hiring teachers and classroom assistants. If you're a dedicated educator with a passion for helping children learn, grow and thrive, we'd love you talk to you! Join us at St. Joseph's Villa for our Teacher Hiring Event where you'll meet our program leaders and see how you can begin ...Read More

How a Rhythm-Based Music Game is Teaching Students Essential Social Skills

Posted on October 25, 2023
One of the biggest challenges in educating students diagnosed with autism is encouraging them to try new things and explore new ways to engage with the world. At the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism (SDCA), we focus on utilizing their ‘affinities’ (things they like to do) not only to improve their communication skills, but also to feel comfortable in a wide range of environments and social situations. To accomplish this, ...Read More

Join our Inaugural Sarah Dooley Center for Autism Conference

Posted on September 22, 2023
Announcing our 1st annual conference for our public school partners! Thursday, November 28:00am-3:30pm | $120Sarah Dooley Center for Autism at St. Joseph's Villa Lunch will be provided. REGISTER HERE  Designed to share our pioneering model in a collegial and collaborative environment, this event will be ideal for special education teachers, administrators who supervise special education classrooms, support staff, and other professionals who work with students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. ...Read More

One of the biggest misconceptions about people diagnosed with autism

Posted on December 5, 2022
By Adam Dreyfus, MA, BCBA, LBA – Senior Director, Sarah Dooley Center for Autism I’ve been fortunate to work with individuals diagnosed with autism and their families for almost two decades now, nearly half of that at the Villa. In that time, I have seen amazing growth in the general public’s awareness and understanding of autism. Due to the fact that the scientific community has, to date, not been able ...Read More

SDCA Senior Director Adam Dreyfus appointed to Virginia Board of Education Special Education Advisory Committee

Posted on July 12, 2022
Adam Dreyfus, Senior Director of the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism at St. Joseph's Villa, has been appointed to serve on the Board of Education’s State Special Education Advisory Committee. Adam has led the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism since 2013, after serving the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Technical Assistance Associate at VCU’s Autism Center for Excellence. He has worked in Region 1 and 8 providing direct services to school divisions, ...Read More

Life Skills: A Vital Part of Autism Education

Posted on November 23, 2021
All children, including children with autism, can develop the essential life skills that equip them to live happy and fulfilled lives. With life skills, children learn how to care for themselves, interact with the world, and succeed at school, at home, and in the community.  At the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism, we believe that life skills are a vital part of autism education. That’s why we include life skills ...Read More

St. Joseph’s Villa Announces Grand Opening of New Autism Center

Posted on August 11, 2021
Historic School Building Repurposed to Serve as National Model for Autism Education and Teacher Training Classrooms are equipped with modern technology and filled with natural light. RICHMOND, Va. – Inspired to make a difference by rising autism rates and the demonstrated long-term impact of expert educational intervention, St. Joseph’s Villa unveiled its new Sarah Dooley Center for Autism (SDCA) on Sept. 2, 2021. The school will expand SDCA’s capacity beyond ...Read More

You Are Not Alone: WTVR CBS6 features therapeutic Villa Garden

Posted on April 30, 2021
Isabel's son Xavier was thrilled to return to his friends and teachers at the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism earlier this year. “When he saw them, the smile he had on his face. He remembered everybody at the school. He was where he was supposed to be." Throughout the pandemic, staff from all programs have banded together to find new and creative ways to meet the needs of children and ...Read More

SJV Center for Autism staff share pivots in education model at state conference

Posted on March 12, 2021
When Governor Northam ordered the physical closing of every school in the Commonwealth due to COVID-19 on March 13th, 2020, the Villa's Sarah Dooley Center for Autism (SDCA) rebooted as a virtual private day school the following Monday. All of our resources pivoted to providing the best online learning experience we could. We knew that many of our students would not be able to simply sit in front of a ...Read More

COVID-19 Response Plan at SDCA

Posted on March 18, 2020
UPDATE (Monday, March 23): In compliance with Governor Northam's decision, Sarah Dooley Center for Autism will be closed for the remainder for the 2019-2020 school year. We will communicate more information in the days to come. UPDATE (Monday, March 16): As we continue to take every measure to protect the health and well-being of our community, all Sarah Dooley Center for Autism staff will work remotely with email access through Sunday, March ...Read More


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