A True Sense of Belonging
From the moment we walked through the doors of Victory Academy, we felt something different. We were met with genuine kindness, deep care, and a sincere desire to truly know our daughter and our family. That immediate sense of being seen and understood meant more to us than words can express.
Since our daughter began at Victory, we have been surrounded by an extraordinary team of teachers and specialists, all who have walked alongside us every step of the way. They have embraced our daughter for who she is, celebrated her strengths, and supported her growth with compassion, patience, and unwavering commitment. As a family, we no longer feel alone in navigating her needs–we feel supported, encouraged, and hopeful.
Victory has given us more than an education for our daughter; it has given us a true sense of belonging and an authentic experience of inclusivity. It is a place where our daughter is valued, understood, and loved, and for that, we are profoundly grateful.
Susan and Hans Mittelstrass
The Positives of a Comprehensive Program Under One Roof
Having two children attend Victory Academy has been a transformative experience for our family. The school’s comprehensive approach, combining ABA therapy with community-based instruction, has significantly enhanced their learning and social skills.
The inclusion of music, art, and physical education into the curriculum not only keeps my kids engaged but also allows them to express themselves creatively. It's heartening to see them explore their interests while developing essential skills. The speech and occupational therapy sessions are tailored to their unique needs, and the progress they’ve made in communication and daily living skills has been remarkable.
The staff members at Victory are incredibly dedicated and supportive, fostering a nurturing environment that makes both children feel valued and motivated. Their commitment to individualized education ensures that each child thrives at their own pace. I am truly grateful for the positive impact Victory has had on my children's lives!
Lloyd Dollar (Parent of Liam and Avery Dollar)
The Answer in Our Own Backyard
When our son was in fourth grade, I traveled the country looking for a school that would fit his needs. I went to San Francisco, LA, Seattle, and Washington DC and felt jealous that these "big cities" had such specialized schools. When I got home, I toured Victory Academy, a new school in a blue church in Wilsonville – and I saw the seeds of something wonderful.
Our son came to Victory in fifth grade and grew up with the school. He graduated in 2023, and attended the Compass program for two years after that. Throughout that time, Victory worked as hard as we did to recognize my son’s strengths, deal with his challenges, and develop the academic, social, and life skills he would need for adulthood. They stuck with us through behavioral challenges in middle school, shifted his classroom assignments so he could try new challenges in high school, coordinated with outside therapists, and let his personality shine.
Today, we have a young adult who can take the bus on his own; who attends community college part-time; and volunteers at a local company. He still sees his Victory friends, and we have our own support system of Victory families on whom we can call. Victory was the best decision we ever made.
Catherine Bekooy (Parent of Prashant Khare)
Utopia
Victory Academy is a utopian school environment for children with autism. I can't say enough wonderful things about the staff and school. My son has been attending for two and a half years, and his progress in that time has been truly groundbreaking. The students receive speech therapy, occupational therapy, ABA, art therapy, music therapy, and social emotional therapy. Victory also provides support with hair cutting, hygiene, and medically challenging appointments with doctors, dentists, and much more!
I used to have to drive all over town just to receive a few of these therapies, and now it's all under one roof. Each year, Victory adds more special activities and clubs to my son's schedule. This year, he's participating in moon club and electronic music club, and last year he did equine therapy and chicken club. My son also receives extra 1:1 therapy in his areas of talent and interest. Victory also has service animals to help soothe the children during difficult times. The classrooms are small, and the highly skilled staff are loving and attentive to each child.
Soon, my son will receive assistance with job training and placement to help transition into adulthood. Victory has been an absolute dream experience. I am so thankful everyday for this incredible school. They go above and beyond to help our children thrive. Thank you to everyone at Victory Academy for all you do!
Erica Nelson (Parent of Ronan Kubat)
A Victory Success Story
I became a student at Victory Academy in 2012. Before that, school was unbearable. I never felt supported and I was often bullied. It got so bad that I was frequently ill at just the idea of having to go back.
When my parents first discovered Victory, I was nervous about it. I worried that I would have no friends, that the teachers wouldn’t like me, and that I wouldn’t learn anything. Boy was I wrong! In less than a week, I felt fully loved, supported, academically challenged, and I made a ton of friends. And it’s not just the classroom teachers that made such a difference in my life.
The occupational therapist helped me conquer my balance issues and taught me how to ride a bike. Their speech therapist found fun ways to help me with my speech apraxia and shyness around it. As a result, I went on to perform in several school plays. In music class, I learned how to play the piano because I was taught in a way that made sense to me. In art class, I learned how to sketch and became quite good at it. Before Victory, I cringed at the idea of drawing but now I sketch all the time. At the school coffee shop, I learned how to run a cash register, cook, and make a fantastic latte. In 2018, I obtained my first paying job at Killer Burger, thanks to Victory’s WE program.
It’s safe to say that as the years went by at Victory, their impeccable staff provided me with not just an academic education and confidence, but the life skills I needed to grow and thrive as an adult.
In 2019, I decided that for my senior year, I wanted to try public high school. I love basketball and wanted to play on a high school team. Victory’s PE teacher helped me train for tryouts, and my classroom teacher went with my parents and me to meetings at the public school to ensure that I would be properly supported. In 2020, I graduated from that public school where I was an integral part of the varsity basketball team.
Now, I am living my best life in large part due to the extraordinary opportunities Victory provided me. I will always be thankful to them and in the future, I hope to return to Victory Academy as an adaptive physical education instructor.
Spencer Allard
Kanoa (his preferred name) came to Victory in Summer 2025 as a Teaching Assistant, having worked with young adults and children in Portland Public Schools, Oregon College of Arts and Craft, and various community centers in Portland over the prior seven years. He is also owner and operator of his own gamified tutoring company, Happy Work LLC.
