Latham, Pine Plains, and Mount Marion, New York….Anderson Early Learning Academy (AELA), an affiliate of Anderson Center for Autism, announced today plans to host its annual graduation ceremonies, which will be held throughout the last two weeks in June.
First launched in 2022, AELA is a NYS-approved 4410 program which delivers evidence-based educational services to children ages 3-5 in each of its three locations: Pine Plains, Latham, and Mount Marion. AELA offers customized math, reading, and language arts curricula with functional communication, visual, and environmental supports, in-classroom occupational, speech, and physical therapy, and social skills development.
Graduation across all 3 AELA sites (and 9 classrooms) will honor both students who are graduating and moving on to kindergarten programs, and those who are “moving up” to spend an additional year at AELA. The decision to build both groups into the ceremonies is to promote inclusion, according to AELA’s leadership team.
Noted Patrick Paul, CEO and Executive Director of Anderson Center for Autism, “Thanks to their families and our team at AELA, all of these children have begun to develop the foundation for long-term success; the graduation ceremonies are a special way to honor the strides they’ve made. The celebrations are, likewise, symbolic of the progress of our AELA program. Since inception, enrollment has grown 400%, and our teachers, therapists, and team members now work with 80 students from 34 New York State school districts.”
Said Daniel Rounds, MS Ed. SBL, Director of Early Childhood Education at Anderson Early Learning Academy, “Preschool graduation is a proud moment for everyone involved. It reflects the hard work of our young learners, and the dedication of the educators who guide them every day. At AELA, we believe that amazing growth happens when children are nurtured in a safe, engaging, and supportive environment—and this year’s graduates are a shining example of that belief in action. We are so proud of our students and all that they’ve accomplished. Watching them grow socially, emotionally, and academically has been a joy.”
Rounds continued: “These celebrations are a testament to the power of early education and the need for early childhood services. And our AELA team also wants to express heartfelt gratitude for the families who have entrusted their children to the program.”
Among those family members is Iliana Trianna, parent of an Anderson Early Learning Academy 2025 graduate, who reflected, “Anderson Early Learning Academy in Latham is a place where children are truly seen, understood, and supported. My child is graduating from preschool, and we are celebrating milestones that once felt out of reach. I am so grateful for the kindness and support my child received during his time in AELA -they didn’t just teach him, they believed in him; and that belief made all the difference. Teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, and staff, you have made a lifelong impact on our children, and on us as parents, and for that we are extremely thankful.”
For more information about Anderson Center for Autism and its educational, vocational, residential, clinical, and consulting/training offerings, visit andersoncenterforautism.org.
To learn more about Anderson Early Learning Academy, visit AndersonEarlyLearningAcademy.org.
About Anderson Center for Autism
Our mission at Anderson Center for Autism is to optimize the quality of life for individuals with autism.
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Through grantmaking, fundraising, and marketing initiatives, Anderson Foundation for Autism helps support, sustain, and expand upon Anderson Center for Autism’s efforts to optimize the quality of life for individuals with autism.