NEWS

When it comes to education for children with autism, the great debate is whether to mainstream or go to a school specifically designed for kids with autism. It is a choice that almost all parents of kids on the spectrum consider at one point or another. The answer that’s right for your child depends on […]

The Sarah Dooley Center for Autism would like to congratulate Richmond’s own Pam Mines for being a FINALIST for the Good Neighbor Award presented by Steve Harvey. Pam is an Autism Advocate superstar whose non-profit JP JumPers Foundation is a local treasure. Make sure to go to neighborhood awards.com and vote for her on June […]

Summer is the time when most kids look forward to playing outside, staying up later, going to summer camp and having care free days at home. Unfortunately, for kids with ASD, the transition can be difficult. Summer causes a disruption of the schedule and structure that school provided over the past 10 months and this […]

Our Sarah Dooley Center for Autism students had a great time at The Steward School’s Field Day held on May 25th.  A fun-filled morning playing kickball, volleyball, baseball, and ping pong, as well as face painting, cookie decorating, and exploring science stations made it a day to remember. Community partners enable us to help students engage with their […]

Children on the autism spectrum, especially those on the milder side often want to make friends, but have trouble picking up on social cues, such as body language, hand gestures, figures of speech and facial expressions. Kids with autism may also portray behavior and use language that other kids perceive as odd or unusual. These […]

Parents often wonder what school is best for their child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The truth is that different schools are the right fit for different students. Public or private isn’t nearly as important as how the people at the school interact with your child. Some children with Autism thrive in a public school […]

The transition to middle school can be filled with uncertainty, anxiety and apprehension, especially for those with Autism and their parents. While change is scary, it is also necessary for growth, progress and opportunity. The good news is that with proper planning there are several things you can do to ease your child’s stress (not […]

In partnership with the VCU Department of Psychiatry and Virginia Treatment Center for Children, St. Joseph’s Villa will present a two-day clinical training workshop on using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2). The workshop will be held April 25-26, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. each day at St. Joseph’s Villa (8000 Brook Road, Richmond, VA 23227), during […]

All parents worry about how to prepare their teens for life in the real world, however parents of kids on the Autism spectrum worry even more than most. How will they earn a living? How will they manage their finances? Where will they live? How will they maintain social relationships? These are just a few […]

Autism Awareness Month is an especially important time for us.  St. Joseph’s Villa has provided education and care to children and families facing autism for more than 30 years. Our programs are designed to help students with autism build life skills that will enable them to engage with their community, and live as fully and […]