Taking to the road to build social and vocational skills – LEARN Academy of Scottsdale, AZ, awarded new van

LEARN Academy, formerly Chrysalis Academy, a state-approved private day school in Scottsdale serving students with autism and related disorders in grades K-12, has received a donation of a new van to enhance student learning opportunities beyond the classroom.

The new minivan, valued at $80K, was donated by the Chrysalis Academy Parents Association (CAPA), a non-profit organization that helps support the unique and special needs of the students, as well as contributes to their supportive learning environment.

The 12-person van accommodates five to six students along with support staff and will be utilized throughout the week for school-related activities. Operating within a 10-15 mile radius of the campus, the vehicle will provide transportation for both education and community-based experiences.

As the school’s first official transportation, the new van enables students to travel beyond the school campus to work on activities of daily living, communication, life, and vocational skills.

For high school students, the van is used for vocational training, providing transportation to businesses where they can gain essential skills and job experience. These opportunities may include positions such as stock associates, cashiers, and other community-based employment roles.

The van is also used to transport younger students on field trips to restaurants, stores, and other outings, helping these students gain experience in their community beyond the school environment. They will be exposed to new settings and new social opportunities. Students will have opportunities to strengthen communication skills, learn how to make purchases, order food, exchange money, and engage appropriately with community members.

“Many of our students need the extra help of our support staff, and we’ve received positive feedback from parents who are thrilled that their children are able to get out in the community and obtain success beyond the home and school environment,” said Abbie Tavizon, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA, Site Administrator for LEARN Academy Scottsdale. “The new van facilitates an important opportunity for students to engage in the community and develop necessary skills for success.”

About LEARN Academy Scottsdale

LEARN Academy (formerly Chrysalis Academy) in Scottsdale is an Arizona Department of Education-approved private day school for children with autism and related disorders in grades K-12+, based in south Scottsdale, AZ. LEARN Academy is contracted to provide educational services to more than 12 school districts in the state.

For more information about the Scottsdale campus, visit https://thelearnacademy.com/locations/scottsdale

For more information or to support the Chrysalis Academy Parents Association (CAPA), visit www.chrysalisacademyparentassociation.org

About LEARN Academy

LEARN Academy partners with schools across the country to strengthen special education and academic intervention programs and prepare students for success beyond the classroom. LEARN Academy provides expert support in special education compliance, behavioral health, and academic programming, all designed to help students reach their full potential. To learn how LEARN Academy can help schools teach meaningful vocational and life skills, visit thelearnacademy.com

LEARN Academy is part of LEARN Behavioral, a national leader in autism treatment, offering comprehensive diagnostic services and contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With a nationwide network of ABA providers and Learning Centers across the country, LEARN delivers the highest standard of evidence-based care—customized to meet the unique needs and interests of each child and family. For more information, visit learnbehavioral.com.

Learn It Systems Changes Name to LEARN Behavioral

BALTIMORE, MD – Learn It Systems is changing its name to LEARN Behavioral to better reflect its focus on behavioral health market. Over the past several years, the organization has transformed into one of the leading networks of providers serving children with autism and other special needs, and the new brand better aligns this vision.

Michael Maloney, LEARN Behavioral’s CEO and Founder shared, “This name change reflects the evolution of our organization and our dedication to grow and support the behavioral health needs of the communities we serve. We are very proud of the difference we make in the lives of our clients and their families, and we are excited to do even more good as we move forward and expand our footprint.”

LEARN’s primary focus is the delivery of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to children with autism and related disorders in their homes, schools, and in its learning centers. ABA is the only evidence based therapy for children with autism. Justin Funches, President of LEARN’s autism provider network, continued, “LEARN’s network of autism service providers is of the broadest and highest quality in the country. The hallmarks of our clinical services are truly individualized treatment, a collaborative approach, data-driven decision making, and a commitment to meaningful outcomes for our clients and their families.”

The LEARN team currently includes more that 3,000 professionals passionate and purposeful about finding success for every child in their care. The team, one of the broadest in the industry, includes behavior analysts, technicians, teachers, psychologists, therapists and other specialist who embrace LEARN’s culture of clinical excellence and professional growth.


LEARN Logo.png

ABOUT LEARN BEHAVIORAL

LEARN is the leading network of providers serving children with autism and other special needs. LEARN specializes in behavioral health treatment based on the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and is committed to providing programs and services that are family-focused, community minded, and delivered with the highest clinical integrity. The LEARN team delivers more than 1.5 million hours of services annually and is comprised of more than 3,000 passionate professionals dedicated to nurturing every child’s personal best. www.learnbehavioral.com.

LEARN Academy Partners with Arizona-Based Chrysalis Academy

 

– Together, they work with schools and school districts to provide special education and academic intervention services to students with social, emotional and behavioral challenges –      

 

Baltimore, MD (April 26, 2021) – LEARN Academy, a division of LEARN Behavioral, which provides schools and school districts with customizable solutions across the continuum of special education and academic intervention needs, announced the acquisition of Chrysalis Academy—an Arizona Department of Education-approved private day school for children with autism and related disorders, based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Chrysalis Academy also includes Play ABA, which provides an array of services to children and young adults with autism and other disabilities.

Founded in 2002, Chrysalis Academy is contracted to provide educational services to more than 12 school districts in Arizona. While Chrysalis Academy will continue to operate under its current brand, LEARN Academy has secured the necessary licensure from the Arizona Department of Education. 

“LEARN Academy values what we value, including achieving measurable progress for students with social, emotional and behavioral challenges,” said Patty McCarthy, Co-Founder of Chrysalis Academy. “Like us, their team consists of professionals with decades of experience building and implementing programs that enable students to make important academic gains and behavioral improvements.”

“They also value their employees,” said Tara Rick, Co-Founder of Chrysalis Academy. “LEARN Academy provides ongoing professional development and mentoring to their clinical staff, as well as significant career growth potential.”

Together, LEARN Academy and Chrysalis Academy now provide an extended network of clinicians and practitioners trained in the most recent advances in evidence-based teaching and learning practices. By providing quality care and treatment for individuals with developmental disabilities, they are advancing treatment outcomes and improving the quality of life and functional independence for students.  

“Chrysalis Academy and LEARN Academy are an ideal match,” said Michael Maloney, Founder and CEO of LEARN Academy. “We both bring a broad range of special education expertise, evidence-based practices and cost-effective programs directly to students.”

“We devise workable, effective solutions to some of the most pressing problems districts and schools confront today,” said Don Scheeler, President of LEARN Academy. “By partnering with LEARN Academy, districts and schools greatly reduce their administrative workload and can devote more time to the needs of their students, families and educators.”

With the acquisition, which was completed on December 31, 2020, Chrysalis Academy joins

Beach Cities Learning, Desert Choice Schools, Learn It Academic Services and Light Street Special Education Solutions as part LEARN Academy’s network of schools.

About LEARN Academy

LEARN Academy provides schools and school districts with a full suite of customizable solutions across the continuum of special education and academic intervention needs. We offer fully onsite programs at your facility, bringing our broad range of special education expertise, evidence-based practices and cost-effective programs directly to your students. We also offer virtual therapy and academic intervention services, using proven strategies and methods for working with students through online platforms.

LEARN Academy serves all students who need special education or academic services. Our team includes specialists in school-based and online therapy services, educational professionals with expertise in academic interventions for struggling students and professionals with decades of experience building and implementing programs for students with challenging social/emotional and behavioral needs.

LEARN Academy is part of LEARN Behavioral, a national organization that uses evidence-based therapies to nurture potential in children with autism and other special needs. Both LEARN Academy and LEARN Behavioral are Gryphon Investors companies.

About Gryphon Investors

Based in San Francisco, Gryphon Investors (www.gryphoninvestors.com) is a leading private equity firm focused on profitably growing and competitively enhancing middle-market companies in partnership with experienced management. The firm has managed over $5.0 billion of equity investments and capital since 1997. Gryphon targets making equity investments of $50 million to $300 million in portfolio companies with enterprise values ranging from approximately $100 million to $600 million. Gryphon prioritizes investment opportunities where it can form strong partnerships with owners and executives to build leading companies, utilizing Gryphon’s capital, specialized professional resources, and operational expertise.

About Chrysalis Academy

Chrysalis Academy is an Arizona Department of Education-approved private day school for children with autism and related disorders based in south Scottsdale, Arizona. Founded in 2002, Chrysalis Academy is contracted to provide educational services to more than 12 school districts in the state.