Mission Statement
The Learning Tree, Inc. exists to provide a warm, caring, and nurturing environment with individualized, empirically validated services and supports to persons with significant educational, medical, and behavioral challenges; helping them develop and maintain a quality of life expected by non-disabled members of their family and community.
History
The Learning Tree is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1983 by two former public school teachers. In response to the desperate pleas of three local parents in Mobile, Alabama, co-founders Jerre Brimer and Pat Murphy established a school environment that would nurture, challenge, and provide individualized instruction with 24-hour care, year-round. The first residential school was designed to serve the four children. Initially, the school was financially supported by the founders’ personal funds. This “grassroots” program proved to be highly successful in managing the children’s significant behavioral, physical, and cognitive challenges.
Today, over four decades later, The Learning Tree provides services to numerous children and families throughout Alabama and the southeastern United States. The Learning Tree is recognized for its exemplary services catering to children exhibiting severely challenging behaviors.
The Learning Tree provides residential schools in Birmingham, Jacksonville, Tallassee, and Mobile, serving children ages 6-21 with developmental disabilities, including autism.
The School Consultation and Collaboration Services program was initiated in 2011. It involves collaboration with public school districts in Alabama to provide educators with training on implementing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles in their classrooms.
Growing Independence Behavioral Services (GIBS) clinics were established in Albertville, Anniston, Montgomery, and Mobile, Alabama.
