Learning Academy

Meeting individualized educational needs in a therapeutic setting

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TERI’s Learning Academy is a special education school dedicated to serving students in the San Diego, California area with autism and other developmental disabilities ages 8 to 22 years. Programs are specifically designed to be one-on-one, educational and therapeutic for students whose behavior precludes their inclusion in public school or other private special education programs. The program includes vocational, academic, daily living skills, and intensive behavioral supports. Programs focus on providing specialized assistance in reintegrating students back into their home school district or less intensive settings as appropriate.  The dedicated and one of a kind staff are highly trained and qualified to serve students with autism and other developmental disabilities. Curriculum includes individualized consultation for physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and psychological services. Learning Academy students are referred by a student’s home district, which incurs the cost of placement.  We serve students from San Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties.

Student's daily schedules are specifically designed to meet each student's individualized needs. Students are provided with 1:1 instruction in community settings at least weekly, as well as offered sensory integration therapy, social skills training, therapeutic equestrian services, music therapy, swimming therapy. Both the Learning Academy and the Country School are approved student teaching sites for several universities and also offer internship opportunities for persons studying to become Certified Occupational Therapy Aides and Music Therapists.

Learning Academy Principal

Pat Friedman first became interested in Special Education during college when she started working at a group home for children with developmental disabilities. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. She moved to San Diego in 1988 and worked for the Arc of San Diego for 19 years. At Arc, Pat served as Director of ICF/DD- H Operations, overseeing 13 group homes, with 78 residents and 120 staff. In 2007, Pat was hired by Area Board XIII, the Office of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and worked on the Life Quality Assessment project. In her work, Pat values greatly the importance of listening to individuals and families to determine the best way to provide quality services.

3225 Roymar Rd.
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 721-1706 ext. 127
Fax (760) 547-2129 

Executive Summary School Accountability Report Card 2009-2010