About Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia

Program Overview

Y.A.L.E. School, with nearly 40 years of experience serving students with special needs and disabilities, proudly offers a campus in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia.

Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia provides an environment dedicated to cultivating the strengths, interests, and abilities of students on the autism spectrum and with related differences. We offer opportunities for students in grades 1-12, with an option for students ages 18 to 21 to continue in our program for young adults that emphasizes functional skills and language development.

In the elementary and middle school grades, we provide a highly individualized, challenging, and creative curriculum for students who are academically capable, but who experience difficulties in their current school environment because of sensory, social competency, executive function, anxiety, or learning differences.

All students benefit from best practices including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), positive behavior supports, instruction based on the work of Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking®, the Wilson Reading System®, and early transition planning. Hands-on, project-based learning leverages each student’s interests in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) through classroom and community resources that encourage discovery and exploration.

At age 14, students may continue at Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia if they require more intense functional skills training and language development. The high school program and transition experience for students ages 18-21 build skills for the work place, home, and community.

About our students

Age/grade range:

Approximately 6 years to 21 years of age, or grades 1-12 with continuing transition special education instruction available from ages 18-21.

Diagnoses:

Autism spectrum disorder
Social Communication Disorder
Executive functioning differences
Social competency differences
Anxiety disorder
Learning differences

Students come to Y.A.L.E. School with a wide range of abilities and aspirations. Many have experienced learning, emotional, and social frustrations in other school settings, at home, and in their communities.

Often, they have one or more clinical diagnoses including anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and Social Communication Disorder.

While each student is unique, each shares a learning profile with our other students. They require individualized, comprehensive, evidence-based intervention, and a school that is staffed by well-trained professionals who understand and appreciate them and are deeply committed to students’ individual progress and well-being.

Care Solace Services

Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia fosters a culture that promotes the health, safety, and well-being of students, parents, and staff. To demonstrate our desire to continuously support this commitment, we are pleased to inform you that we have partnered with Care Solace, an online resource with a live 24/7 concierge service designed to assist you in finding local mental health-related programs and counseling services.

Learn More

Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia Team Leaders:

Jacqueline Turner, M.Ed., BCBA – Program Supervisor

Jackie earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and her master’s degree in education with a concentration in applied behavior analysis from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) and is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International as well as the Association for Professional Behavior Analysts.

Before joining Y.A.L.E. in 2016, Jackie worked in a variety of roles at a large behavioral health provider. Most recently, she oversaw all clinical/behavior analytic services as well as the quality assurance and regulatory aspects at a large residential provider. She has dedicated herself to the continuous improvement and growth of children’s programming through the development of operational systems and staff training.

Patrick Graham, M.Ed. – Education and School Director

Patrick is the education and school director at Y.A.L.E. Philadelphia. Patrick received his bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from St. Joseph’s University in 2015. He also received his master’s degree in Education studying special education law, Applied Behavior Analysis, Wilson Language Certification, and Faith Justice Components in education from St. Joseph’s University in 2016.

Patrick has worked for Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia since 2016. Previously he taught at KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy while working towards his master’s degree.

In 2022, Patrick was named one of Metro Philadelphia’s Education Power Players, and in 2023 he was profiled by his alma mater, St. Joseph’s University as a rising star making education inclusive and accessible. His special area of interest is remedial reading instruction, and data-driven instruction for all students.