We’ve made a break-through in education by bringing connections between the body and the brain into the educational conversation, and empowering kids to leverage them to maximize their learning and growth.

Cajal Academy’s research-backed educational model puts neurophysiology at the center of the educational experience—because established neuroscience demonstrates that connections between the body and the brain are at the core of how we learn, socialize and grow.

This fundamental human truth is infused throughout our next generation educational model, including our academic and social-emotional learning, for all our students. This is in addition to customized programs providing rehabilitative services delivered by licensed occupational and physical therapists to reduce or remove challenging neurophysio disabilities including sensory processing disorder, dysgraphia and/or dyspraxia, or chronic medical conditions (including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTs, mast cell activation syndrome, migraines, thermoregulatory disorders and more) receive additional, customized programs addressing these challenging neurophysio needs.

Scroll down or use the links below to learn more about how this foundational human truth is at the core of our unique, next generation educational model.

Each student’s day starts with reconnection and sensory to ready the mind to learn

We teach our students how they can use different sensory inputs to release neurochemicals rebalancing their brains for learning. All learners start their day by reconnecting with teachers and peers while doing a sensory routine.

sensory integration

We integrate movement into the classroom, accelerating learning

Our exclusive, Body-Informed Learning pedagogy gets kids up and moving as a way to learn new academic concepts—not just a break between them. This taps into powerful research about how humans *actually* learn best.

body-informed learning

We leverage connections between the body and the brain to rewire deficient neurodevelopmental links that drive learning disabilities

Core academic tasks like reading and writing build on the neural networks that are laid down through the development of motor coordination skills. Our research-backed, Neuroplasticity Interventions leverage this powerful truth to strengthen learning and even *remove* learning disabilities. Read more about this exciting break-through for the field of special education!

removing learning disabilities

We help students understand how their neurophysio profiles influence their social-emotional ones

From self-regulation difficulties to the ways our sensory profiles influence our perception of social interactions, we incorporate the neuroscience of social and emotional experience into our exclusive, Neuro- and Trauma-Informed Approach to social and behavioral learning.

neuro- and trauma-informed approach

We coach each child in how to self-monitor, self-manage and self-advocate for their needs

We model the importance of attending to physio needs to increase your ability to attend to instruction. Our teachers are trained in how to cue our students to self-monitor and self-manage their varying sensory, musculoskeletal and neurovascular needs, integrating strategies into the classroom to generalize the skills they need for independence in other environments.

agency coaching

We foster agency and an authentic growth mindset by teaching kids the neuroscience of how we *all* learn, socialize and grow

Our unique, Human 101 curriculum is like a user manual to being human. Delivered through formal classes and informal coaching, we bring together anatomy, neurophysiology, psychology and sociology to help students understand how the human experience is informed by our “wiring,” and how they can use that to their advantage!

human 101

We give kids agency over complex neurophysio needs

Cajal Academy’s program evolved out of work with under-served populations of kids with complex neurophysio needs that have hidden impacts on their learning and social-emotional experiences, and we continue to offer customized programs giving children agency over sensory processing disorder; complex, chronic medical conditions; gross or fine motor coordination disorders; and more. These programs move well beyond accommodations to give kids agency over the disabilities themselves—because that’s what our co-founder demanded for her own children. In the case of students with dysgraphia and/or dyspraxia, this includes rewiring the brain to remove the disability itself. Use these links to learn more about these exciting programs.