What We Do
Each year, The AJ Foundation hosts 5 major events to raise funds and awareness about autism in the Greater Philadelphia area. Proceeds from the events support the Comprehensive Learning Center, a private school opened by The AJ Foundation in 2000, devoted to ensuring that the individuals with autism we serve receive the proper education and treatment services they deserve.
Your tax-deductible contribution is vital in ensuring that the students receive proper education and treatment services; thus providing them with the tools necessary to be productive and contributing members in the community and home settings.
Moving Towards the Future
The AJ Foundation was formed in 1997 to raise funds to support educational programs, based on the science of Applied Behavior Analysis, for individuals with autism. Comprehensive Learning Center (CLC) opened 3 years later as a result of the foundation’s fundraising efforts and CLC has been supported by the AJ Foundation since inception.
In August of 2024, AJ Foundation (AJF) and Comprehensive Learning Center (CLC) merged and currently operate as a single entity, under CLC’s existing Tax ID number. Founder and President of the AJ Foundation, Joanne Corless, remains involved with CLC as CLC’s Director of Fundraising, and Joanne continues her work in her capacity as President of AJF (now a division of CLC) in support of the vision and mission that the AJ Foundation and CLC have brought to life. We know that our organizations are better together – and we are excited for this streamlined approach to future fundraising by the AJ Foundation in support of CLC!
Community Sponsor Showcase
The AJ Foundation would like to recognize & thank our 2025 sponsors. Please show your appreciation by supporting these businesses!
Our Success Stories
We hope you enjoy reading about their accomplishments as much as we do!
Peter was diagnosed with Autism at 18 months. We were devastated and worried about his future!! We knew we had to do whatever we could to help peter live a full successful life. So we started with therapy right away.
He started making some progress here and there, however, it felt like we would get 10 steps forward and 30 steps back. The past few years have been very challenging for Peter, he was having a really difficult time, everyday was a struggle and we were all on edge. It was heartbreaking to watch a person you love so much struggle like that everyday. Peter is non-verbal for the most part, so he would get frustrated because he wasn’t able to express himself and deal with his emotions, which would cause him to have a meltdown and have self injurious behaviors like hitting himself. There were times when he would have lumps on his head from hitting himself so much, it was horrible. That’s when we decided that peter needed more support. Peter doesn’t like loud noises and has a difficult time being in crowds. He needed a more suitable environment where he was comfortable and could learn. With that in place, the possibilities are endless. We felt that was the only way Peter was going to start making the progress that we hoped for. That’s when we found CLC.
We went through the whole process and in September 2022, Peter started his new journey at Comprehensive Learning Center. We cannot express what a significant change we've seen in Peter already- he is just a pleasure to be around, always happy and smiling. He hardly has any meltdowns and head hitting has decreased. He is more engaged, he listens to when we ask him to do something and follows through with the demands given. He doesn’t put up a fight every morning when we get him ready for school, he is more willingly going and actually seems like he enjoys it! He is a lot more comfortable and happy at CLC. We are able to take Peter out to restaurants and stores, and he doesn’t have a total meltdown while doing so, which is a huge improvement. The teachers and everyone at CLC are absolutely amazing. They will go above and beyond to help these kids and their families. They are all so pleasant and patient with each and every child. Whether they realize it or not, They are all makings huge impact in so many families lives. All in all, CLC has completely changed our lives. We feel like we have hit the lottery, however, this is way better, to see the joy in Peter’s eyes is priceless!! All the money in the world can’t buy that!!
- - Tami, Peter's Mom
At two years of age, when AJ was first diagnosed with autism, we were told to institutionalize him. We refused to give up, and instead, began our exhaustive search for the most effective treatments for him. Through our joint efforts with other families, we realized our goal in September 2000 when The AJ Foundation opened CLC, a school for children with autism utilizing the scientifically validated principles of ABA.
Over the years, CLC's staff taught AJ the skills necessary to become the person he is today - an independent functional member of our family and the community. The staff worked tirelessly to teach him many skills like toileting, tying his shoes, balancing his checkbook, and finally, job training. Because of CLC, AJ is not in an institution, but instead works fulltime between three part time jobs! As AJ's parents, we never dreamed he'd have the quality of life he enjoys today! CLC has changed AJ's life!
- - Allan & Joanne, AJ's Parents
The first time we walked through the doors of CLC, we knew this was the place our autistic daughter, Bryn, needed to be. Bryn was receiving services through out district and private therapy before entering CLC. Within the first few months, we could see significant improvements in our daughter. Transitions, which were a major problem for her, became so much easier. Her vocabulary grew and she started to read and sing songs.
The wonderful staff at CLC not only provides Bryn with basic education, but also teaches her personal hygiene, social skills, and how to handle everyday chores. Bryn works hard for each achievement and so does the staff at CLC. There is no cure for autism yet, but CLC has given Bryn a chance at a better life and more independence. It has made out family feel whole again!
- - Gregg & Joanne, Bryn's Parents
At 2 months old, Connor was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. With this diagnosis comes a variety of medical problems and developmental delays, so at age 3.5 he was diagnosed with Autism. This was an intensely frustrating point in our lives as we struggled to communicate with him and meet his needs. We knew when it came time for him to attend school, that he needed an aggressive program which was ABA based since that was the only method of teaching that showed any acquisition and retention of new skills.
Then we found CLC! Connor has been learning many new skills at school which have generalized to home and community life. He is learning turn-taking, waiting quietly, and appropriate peer interaction and conversation. Connor is also speaking in sentences with more clarity than ever. His teachers work hard to teach him life skills as well. He's riding a bike with assistance and is also gaining independence in showering/toileting.
He's more engaging and loves to share his accomplishments with us; often taking one of our hands and leading us to his latest object of interest. "Look, look, look Daddy! Show you something!" It takes a village. We're hopeful that you'll become a part of the village that invests in the life of our family by supporting The AJ Foundation and CLC. Thank you!
- - Adam and Camille, Connor B's Parents
When Katelyn was diagnosed with autism at age 3, we knew we had to do whatever was necessary to get her the services she needed. That is when family stepped in and helped us get Katelyn into the best program possible - "CLC". The one-on-one support they provided helped Katelyn with speech, eye contact, potty training and staying in her car seat while riding in a car. CLC's home and community program was tremendous. The teachers would come into our home and train us, her parents, on what to do after school and at night.
Our daughter needed so much structure which CLC provided by setting up the same programs for her at school and at home. Katelyn is now fully transitioned into her home school and will be going into 6th grade in September. She plays softball, piano, draws and successfully interacts with her peers. She would not be the active bright child she is today if it wasn't for the dedication and commitment of the management and staff at CLC!
- - Tony & Lisa, Katelyn's Parents
Owen began attending CLC when he was 2.5 years old in February of 2013. We recognized early on that he needed a one-on-one ABA treatment program and were thrilled when we found CLC! A year after receiving intensive ABA therapy at school and at home, he began part-time inclusion in a typical preschool program with support from CLC staff. In the Fall of 2015 Owen successfully transitioned into a typical Kindergarten program, thus being able to fade out CLC's support completely.
Without early intervention and the quality of ABA therapy he received, this day would not be possible! We are so thankful that there is a program like CLC out there and that we found it for our son! Owen is a sweet, smart boy with a bright future!
- - Andrew & Jill, Owen's Parents