Our founder, Donna M. Neill, MS, ITDS, L-BCBA, is the driving force behind Autism Journey Academy. She is a visionary educator and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) whose work has empowered countless students, families, and educators.
Her journey into special education began with a simple, powerful belief: every child with ASD deserves meaningful support to grow, thrive, and feel understood.
Originally from Sydney, Australia, Donna was raised by hard-working parents who instilled in her the values of resilience, creativity, and compassion. These values shaped her deep commitment to finding real solutions for children with ASD and related disabilities.
Throughout her career, Donna has been a problem-solver, program developer, and advocate for neurodiverse learners. Donna has spent her career designing learning environments that are structured, supportive, and personalized.
Her work has spanned multiple states and school systems, from launching behaviorally grounded day programs in South Florida to leading district-wide special education services in Arizona.
In 2017, Donna relocated to Arizona and took on leadership roles within public education. She used her experience and insights to reimagine how schools could better serve neurodiverse learners. As Director of Specialized Programming at Mesa Public Schools, she saw firsthand how many students were being underserved, not due to lack of care, but because the systems in place were not designed for their needs.
This realization sparked the development of The CMS Approach™—a structured, classroom-based model that combines the best of applied behavior analysis (ABA) with a flexible, whole-child perspective. Donna’s goal was to give educators the tools to truly connect with their students and guide meaningful, measurable progress.
That same philosophy became the foundation for Autism Journey Academy (AJA). Donna founded AJA to create the kind of school she long envisioned, a place where:
At Autism Journey Academy, children with ASD are not only supported but are also celebrated. It is a place where individualized instruction, behavioral expertise, and a deep respect for neurodiversity come together to help each student build confidence, independence, and real-life skills.
Donna continues to lead Autism Journey Academy with the same passion, innovation, and unwavering belief that inspired its founding. Through her leadership, AJA remains a place where learning is transformative, and every journey is honored.
If you are looking for a school that will honor your child’s individuality and needs while supporting their full potential, 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.
