School-Based Services

Our school-based services are designed to give students with ASD the tools, care, and encouragement they need to thrive in the classroom. We bring together academic instruction, therapeutic support, and opportunities for social-emotional growth in a nurturing, child-centered environment.

Unlike traditional schools that often struggle to support neurodivergent learners, AJA is built specifically around their unique needs. Our students receive therapeutic support, integrated into the learning process. 

At Autism Journey Academy, we use applied behavior analysis (ABA) principles and personalized teaching methods to help students progress socially, academically, and functionally. 

Our goal is to bridge the gap between therapeutic care and a real-world school experience for your child, so they can feel confident and capable beyond the school walls.

At Autism Journey Academy, we know that no two children learn or grow the same way. That is why every student enrolled at AJA is supported by two personalized tools: 

• Individual Student Academic Plan (ISAP): This plan outlines your child’s academic goals, strengths, learning preferences, and the accommodations they need to succeed in the classroom. 
• Individual Student Behavior Plan (ISBP): This plan focuses on helping your child build positive behaviors and reduce challenges that may affect learning or social interaction. 

Together, the ISAP and ISBP are a central part of your child’s experience at Autism Journey Academy. 

At Autism Journey Academy, we create each student's plan through a close partnership with parents, general education teachers, special education representatives, therapists, and ABA specialists. 

We take the time to understand your child’s strengths, challenges, and your family’s goals to create each plan.

• Plan Creation & Review: We develop each ISAP and ISBP using developmental assessments and real-time classroom observations. If your child already has an educational plan from a previous setting, we will review it and revise it to fit AJA’s supportive environment.
• Family Collaboration: We prioritize your insights and include you in every step of the planning process. Your perspective helps shape goals that truly matter.
• Clear Communication: We help you understand the plans in easy-to-understand language, so you always feel informed, empowered, and prepared to support your child.
• Seamless Integration: Our team of Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), and educators uses your child’s ISAP and ISBP as a living document that guides instruction and behavior support throughout the school day.

At Autism Journey Academy, our educators do not work in isolation, they are supported by a dedicated team of ABA-trained professionals. This includes BCBAs, RBTs, and more.

Our collaborative approach means your child learns in an environment that is continually shaped and strengthened by experts in behavior science, autism support, and applied learning techniques. 

This ongoing built-in consultation is built into our daily classroom environment and is a core part of how we teach. 

We maintain small class sizes and a 2:1 educator-to-student ratio. This means every child receives focused support from the lead teacher and a paraprofessional or RBT.

Our ABA professionals regularly observe students in their natural classroom settings, offering ongoing support and real-time feedback to teachers and parents. These observations help fine-tune daily instruction, manage maladaptive behavior proactively, and adjust teaching strategies to better align with each student’s way of learning.

Our school consultations ensure that the teachers receive real-time, practical guidance rooted in behavioral science. 

Our team of licensed teachers, therapists, and BCBAs works together closely to help students achieve success at their own pace and in ways that honor their unique strengths.

Here is how our ABA-based approach works in the classroom. 

When a student joins Autism Journey Academy, we begin with a detailed assessment to understand their current abilities, challenges, communication style, sensory profile, and learning needs. This assessment includes:

• Direct observation in natural school settings (classroom, playground, lunchroom)
• Interviews with parents and caregivers
• Review of previous evaluations (if available)
• Skills testing across areas like communication, academics, behavior, and daily living

The goal is to capture the full picture of the student. This includes their challenges as well as their motivations, interests, strengths, and potential.

Based on this assessment, our team develops a fully customized learning plan for each student. These plans outline specific, measurable goals in critical areas, such as:

• Communication
• Academic Skills
• Social & Emotional Learning
• Functional Life Skills
• Behavior Support

Once the plan is in place, students receive daily, individualized instruction rooted in ABA strategies. Our classrooms use:

• Structured learning activities for new skill acquisition
• Natural environment teaching to promote real-world application
• Positive reinforcement systems to motivate and encourage the child
• Visual supports and schedules to enhance predictability and independence
• Small group and one-on-one instruction tailored to each student's needs

Our teachers and BCBAs collect data on each student’s progress daily, tracking responses, new skill acquisition, behavioral changes, and independence levels. This allows us to:

• Celebrate small and large successes
• Identify when students need more support or when goals need adjustment
• Ensure that skills generalize across settings (classroom, lunch, home)

Regular team meetings, progress reports, and parent communication ensure every student’s plan remains dynamic and responsive.

As students master skills, new goals are introduced to build on their progress. Teaching strategies are adjusted based on the student's responses and developmental needs.

The goal is to continually challenge students at the right level, promoting both confidence and new learning.

At Autism Journey Academy, we blend therapeutic expertise with personalized instruction to meet each student where they are. Our school-based services are tailored to bridge the gap between your child’s needs and what traditional school can provide. 

If you are looking for a school that celebrates your child's unique needs and offers the individualized support they deserve, we invite you to be part of our community.

Enrollment is now open!

We accept Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) funds. Our team is happy to assist families with the ESA application process to make tuition more accessible.

To get started, please call us today or schedule a pre-enrollment discussion.