The Abbie Advantage

The Autism School Tucson Needs

Special Needs

Most of our students have a diagnosis of Autism, ADHD, Learning Disability, OHI, or other Sensory Processing Disorders. An Abbie education offers flexibility, specialized instruction, and what you and I both want, to be loved, valued and accepted for who we are.

Individualized Learning

Every student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), prepared by a specialist that is reviewed annually. At Abbie, we work to prepare students for what comes next, whether that is a return to public school, preparation for college, or career.

Small Classes

The Abbie School maintains a maximum 8:1 student staff ratio. Small classes allow students to have a rich classroom experience, benefit from differentiated instruction, and obtain the assistance they need to be successful. We feel this is critical to be successful.

Life Skills

Abbie School's focus is giving equal value to academic work as well as to honing the social skills necessary to be successful. An Abbie education offers flexibility and specialized instruction with an array of electives and life skills to help ensure self-sufficiency, and independence.

Courses

Core Elective & Life Skills

Core Classes

All students are taught the standard classes of Science, Math, and English.

Explore

Electives

Students can explore classes like Music, Photography, and Home Economics.

Explore

Life Skills

Our teachers are committed to creating a foundation for social growth.

Explore

The Abbie Mission

Our mission is to provide children with individual academic needs, an education worthy of their potential. We provide a specialized education based on innovative and research-proven techniques in a sensory sensitive and accepting environment. We endeavor to maximize potential and build confidence by drawing on strengths, interests, and by giving students the opportunity to be valued for their individuality.

Testimonials

How Parents Feel

My two kids have been at The Abbie School for the last 3 years. They have flourished under the Abbie way of life and I am so great full to all the wonderful staff that work there.

KatieMae

Abbie parent

Since coming to Abbie our son has become successful in academics, drastically improved social behaviors and emotionally more stable and confident. The Abbie School truly teaches to the individual student and their specific needs.

Amanda Tronsdal

Abbie parent

The Abbie School has changed our daughter’s life. Over the course of the 8 months since she has started at The Abbie School, we have watched our girl transform into a happy and confident child, with friends and emerging talents. There is some magic alchemy at work at Abbie; between the serene, wooded campus, the goats and chickens, the calm and positive staff and vibrant children, our daughter’s anxieties have receded into the background, and she is finally able to breathe, to learn and to be herself.

Kylee Fenton

Tucson

This is our son’s first year at Abbie School. This has also been the first educational experience that our child has had where we are certain his needs are being met. He is 12 years old. We have moved our home multiple times to live in the “best” public school districts only to be disappointed time and time again. Class sizes of 30 children and lack of quality special education training made it very easy for him to get left behind. True inclusion means meeting a child where they are at in the least restrictive environment and Abbie has done that for our son. Each teacher, staff member and administrator that our child interacts with has his best interest at heart. Any question or concern that we have had as a family has been met with care and concern. Somehow Abbie School sculpts the perfect learning program for each child and we are blessed to be a part of this community. Prior to Abbie School our son never spoke of friendships or what he did that day. Now he cannot wait to tell us what he learned and who he played with on the playground. There is an energy that we can read as parents especially if our child has difficulty expressing themselves. Our son appears more relaxed, content and most excitedly, proud. Our family has experienced a healing at Abbie School and has restored our faith in education.

Sarah D.

Abbie Parent

Meet Our Staff

Passionate Leaders

Liz Gallagher

Head of School

Alicia Cordova

Office Manager

Lee Bucyk

Director of Development

Minnie Garcia

Human Resource Manager

Support Abbie

Ways to Give

Building For Our Future

Since our buildings are over 60 years old, we are in need of capital improvements. Your funding will help make our campus a safer, more accessible place for future Abbie Scholars.

Explore

Tax Credit Scholarships

Your private school tax credit contribution will allow us to educate even more children in need.

Explore

Donate

Children with disabilities are full of gifts, just waiting to be cultivated.

Explore

Our Board of Directors

The Arizona Center for Autism (dba Abbie School) is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization founded in 2013, and is vested with a fiduciary responsibility to set policy, fiscal and ongoing governance of the Corporation, and empower its Executive Director / Principal with the ability to carry out that responsibility.

School Board Members

Thomas Trondsdal, President

Doug Loftus, Treasurer, Secretary

Jill McCollum, Director

Luis Cordova, Director

Dave Overstreet, Director

LuisFernando Rodriguez, Director

To contact board members or apply for board membership, please contact [email protected]