Peace By Piece Learning Center is a private non-profit, year-round school in Fort Myers, Florida for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Peace By Piece Learning Center provides comprehensive individualized instruction that is based on the science of Applied Behavior Analysis and B.F. Skinner's analysis of Verbal Behavior.
Dr. Terrasi has been providing quality applied behavior analysis (ABA) services to persons with autism and related disabilities for many years. Since June of 2008, she expanded her services to better meet the needs the community through a private not for profit school, Peace by Piece Learning Center. Our school currently operates in a 5000 square foot, recently renovated building. Our instructors, under the supervision of Dr. Terrasi, provide daily instruction to learners with autism, apraxia, adhd and other disabilities. Our instructors are Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA's), Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA's) as well as Behavior Technicians. The staff participate in mandatory ongoing continuing education and training to insure that we are providing state of the art and current instruction to our students. We are one of the first and only schools from Naples to Tampa that utilize an integrated Verbal Behavior and Errorless Learning approach. This is a highly successful method for teaching language and functional communication to children with language and speech disorders. Many children have come to us with little or no communication skills, often after months or years of traditional therapy and education, and have made significant gains within the first month.
Our school year begins in August and consists of four terms. Our Extended School Year setting facilitates the students need for ongoing education and therapy. Too often all is lost over the summer break and Peace By Piece is committed to engaging our students year round.
Our aim is to keep our tuition as low as possible so that children, regardless of their family’s socio-economic status, has the opportunity to attend Peace By Piece Learning Center. The majority of our students are enrolled under the Florida McKay Scholarship as well as our internal tuition reduction program. In order to keep our internal tuition assistance program viable, we reach out to our community members and leaders for assistance with items or projects that would otherwise be outside of our financial capabilities.
Parent involvement is one of the main pre-requisites for admission to Peace by Piece Learning Center. Not only is this involvement crucial when developing an appropriate program for the child but we feel it is particularly important for parents to be trained how to implement the procedures as well. Research has shown that when parents are effectively trained and consistently are able and willing to promote the use of the skills in settings outside of the school, odds that the child will generalize as well as maintain the skills is significantly greater. Dr. Terrasi provides quartely training sessions that are offered free to all PXP parents.
Peace By Piece Learning Center adheres to the Florida Department of
Education's, Ethics in Education Guidelines.
Ethics In Education (PDF File)
Mandatory Abuse Reporting Brochure (PDF File)
Educator Misconduct Brochure (PDF File)
Top Ten Things You Need To Know About Peace By Piece Learning Center
1.We accept the Florida Department of Education McKay Scholarship
2.We are a Non Profit 501(c)(3) State Approved Private School
3.We are directed by a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst – Doctoral (BCBA-‐D) and Staffed by Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA) and Behavior Therapists.
4.We use Applied Behavior Analysis , Verbal Behavior and the Errorless Learning approach
5.We offer small classes with an average 3:1 student/teacher ratio
6.We are a year round school
7.We offer unique and Individualized programs for each and every student
8. Well organized and active Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)
9.We were created from the parent perspective and believe that family involvement and support are both critical components to unlocking a child’s potential.
10.We are not just a school -‐ We are a FAMILY!!