The Jacob's Ladder Group

The Jacob's Ladder Group Grounded in Science. Guided by Love. Bringing hope, healing, and a path forward for those who need it most.

The Jacob’s Ladder Group is a leader in therapeutic, educational care for the neurodiverse population. Since 1998, Jacob’s Ladder has transformed over 4,000 lives through The Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care® (IWBMC™), our unique, science-backed methodology that utilizes a whole-brain, whole-person approach with individualized treatment plans. Based in Roswell, Georgia, The Jacob’s Ladder G

roup consists of five entities: Jacob’s Ladder School, AHAVA, Ascend Training Institute, Pillar Research Institute, and The Jacob’s Ladder Network. Together, we are changing the conversation around the potential of the neurodivergent population – regardless of age, diagnosis, or level of need. Learn more about our methodology:
INTERPERSONAL WHOLE-BRAIN MODEL OF CARE® (IWBMC™)
Using the latest in neuroscience, our one-of-a-kind IWBMC™ is built upon the principle of neuroplasticity – the idea that the brain can grow and change – and our commitment to deliver excellent care in love. Learn more about our five entities:
JACOB'S LADDER SCHOOL
Jacob's Ladder School uses a person-centered approach and instruction to help clients experience outcomes never thought possible. Accredited by SAIS-Cognia as a non-profit private school and therapeutic entity, Jacob’s Ladder offers full- and part-time enrollment and remote care options to help more families and communities carve a path toward hope and healing. AHAVA
Our comprehensive software solution provides global access to the science of the IWBMC™. With over 1,300 assessment metrics and 4,000 corresponding strategies, AHAVA empowers trained providers and evaluators to evaluate clients, design individualized programs, and implement therapeutic activities. ASCEND TRAINING INSTITUTE
Ascend Training Institute offers in-person and remote training for families, communities, and professionals in the IWBMC™. Training includes access to AHAVA, allowing for high-quality and comprehensive care delivery in various therapeutic and educational settings. PILLAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Pillar Research Institute houses comprehensive studies for trainers, evaluators, and providers, supporting the efficacy of the IWBMC™ methodology. Utilizing three decades of collected data, this institute fosters collaboration, promotes innovation, and advances understanding to shape the future of educational and developmental neuroscience for improved outcomes. THE JACOB’S LADDER NETWORK
Membership to The Jacob’s Ladder Network is available for those interested in replicating our Model of Care at home, in an existing educational or therapeutic program, or as a new community school or part-time center. Becoming a Jacob's Ladder Network Member means joining a community dedicated to providing exceptional therapeutic and educational support and services.

06/18/2026

"Within 3.5 months, he is a boy who is confident, happy, and learning" ❤️

Every child deserves an environment that helps them recognize their own potential. The effects reach far beyond the classroom. Confidence grows, they engage more with the world, and new possibilities begin to emerge.

For this family, the change has been remarkable. In a short period of time, they have watched their son develop a stronger sense of confidence, happiness, and belief in himself at a time where hope felt like it was slipping out of reach and transformation seemed increasingly unlikely.

Sometimes the most meaningful transformation is helping a child discover who they are capable of becoming and showing them a better path forward.

In most systems, a child who hurts themselves or others gets managed. A behavior plan, a consequence, a referral. We tre...
06/18/2026

In most systems, a child who hurts themselves or others gets managed. A behavior plan, a consequence, a referral. We treat the action as the problem to solve.

But fight or flight isn't a behavior. It's a nervous system that has stopped believing the world is safe, scanning for the next assault and ready to protect itself by any means. Correcting the behavior while the body stays in survival changes little, because you're working on the symptom and leaving the cause untouched.

This is what Amy O'Dell has documented across 30+ years of direct work with more than 6,000 individuals, measured against 1,300+ assessment metrics. The pattern holds. Regulation has to come before expectation.

The Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care® is built on that order. Restore nervous system safety and relational trust first, and only then does the capacity for learning, behavior, and connection come online. AHAVA brings that methodology into a form organizations can scale, and Ascend trains clinicians and educators to deliver it with fidelity.

06/17/2026

High-Interest Reading 📚✨

Within an Interpersonal Whole Brain Model of Care lens, learning is most meaningful when it is relational, regulated, and connected to what truly motivates the individual. Our High-Interest Reading Activity is designed to build neural pathways for both receptive (what is understood) and expressive (what can be communicated) identification of sight words—while strengthening reading comprehension.

By anchoring learning in high-interest, individualized content, we support integration across the brain—linking thinking, feeling, and doing. This allows sight words to move beyond rote memorization and into meaningful, functional use.

When an individual feels safe, engaged, and connected, their brain is more available for learning. When high-interest material is included, neurotransmitters fire that promote engagement, success, and retention. Through co-regulation, shared attention, and intentional language, we can bolster comprehension, support language development, and deepen understanding in ways that are both brain-based and person-centered.

When reading is relational and relevant, learning sticks. 💡

Music has a beautiful way of reaching the whole child - supporting connection, communication, regulation, movement, conf...
06/17/2026

Music has a beautiful way of reaching the whole child - supporting connection, communication, regulation, movement, confidence, and joy 🎶

Our Ladder students recently participated in a group music therapy session as part of our enrichment programming, creating space for shared engagement, expression, and meaningful interaction with peers.

In addition to group enrichment opportunities, Jacob’s Ladder also offers 1:1 music therapy, allowing students to receive individualized support that meets them right where they are.

Whether in a group setting or one-on-one, music therapy is another way we support each student’s growth - helping them connect, express, participate, and shine in their own unique way.

Our Compass students are learning, growing, and contributing beyond the walls of Jacob’s Ladder - and we are so grateful...
06/16/2026

Our Compass students are learning, growing, and contributing beyond the walls of Jacob’s Ladder - and we are so grateful for community partners who help make that possible.

Through our Compass Program, young adults have the opportunity to build real-world life skills, practice independence, strengthen confidence, and experience the dignity and joy of meaningful work.

A special thank you to our friends at Trader Joe’s for welcoming our students, creating space for hands-on learning, and being part of a community that believes in ability, purpose, and belonging.

These moments matter. They help our students take what they are learning each day and carry it into the world - one step, one skill, and one meaningful connection at a time.

Grounded in science. Rooted in love. Connected through community ❤️

A brain map tells a story.In this qEEG case study, we’re looking at one real client’s brain maps nearly six years apart ...
06/16/2026

A brain map tells a story.

In this qEEG case study, we’re looking at one real client’s brain maps nearly six years apart - and the transformation that happened between them.
What began as a map showing significant dysregulation in areas connected to impulsivity, anxiety, reactivity, and emotional volatility became a map reflecting greater regulation, connection, and capacity.
This is the power of neuroplasticity.

Through the Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care® - integrating neurotherapy, mental health support, educational programming, and real-world application - the brain was not just observed. It was supported. Strengthened. Reorganized.

And behind the data is a person.

A young person who worked diligently, grew deeply, became a mentor to others, and ultimately stepped into a future once marked by uncertainty -including university enrollment.

This is why we believe no brain is beyond growth.

The brain can change.
Lives can change.
Hope is measurable.

06/15/2026

For Josh, The Jacob’s Ladder Group is more than an organization - it’s a place with a soul.

From the moment he joined the team, he experienced that Hope, Truth, and Love aren't just words on a wall. They are reflected in the people, the culture, and the unwavering belief that every client has incredible potential.

Josh is inspired by the genuine passion he sees in his teammates each day as they come alongside clients, encouraging them to discover just how much they are capable of. He believes that when people are surrounded by love, supported with purpose, and believed in without limits, extraordinary things can happen.

For Josh, that's what makes Jacob's Ladder so special - a community where hope is lived, love is evident, and every individual is empowered to reach their fullest potential 💛

When a child has stopped trusting the world, no worksheet can reach them. Their body is still braced for the next thing ...
06/15/2026

When a child has stopped trusting the world, no worksheet can reach them. Their body is still braced for the next thing that hurts, and learning can't take hold while that's true.

So we don't start with math or reading or a behavior chart. We start with the part of a child that has to feel safe before anything else, the part that's often been waiting a long time to be seen. Restoring that trust comes first, for however long it takes.

That sequence is the heart of the Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care®. Safety in the body, then trust, then everything we usually rush toward. When you build in that order, the rest finally has somewhere to stand.

If your child is carrying more than their report card shows, we'd love to help you start there.

Ellie’s story is one of persistence, possibility, and hope ✨Early in life, her family was told she might never walk or t...
06/12/2026

Ellie’s story is one of persistence, possibility, and hope ✨

Early in life, her family was told she might never walk or talk like other children. Her development was impacted across movement, communication, learning, and emotional regulation — and the path ahead felt uncertain.
But Ellie’s story did not stop there.

When her family came to Jacob’s Ladder all the way from Argentina, they were searching for the right support, the right environment, and a path forward that saw Ellie as a whole person — not a list of limitations.

Through integrated, individualized care, Ellie began building the foundational skills her brain and body needed to grow. Over time, she began moving with greater confidence, finding her voice, engaging in learning, and connecting more fully with the world around her.

Today, Ellie is walking, talking, learning, and becoming more of who she was always created to be — confident, determined, and joyful.

Her story is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when hope is grounded in truth, love, and the belief that every child is capable of meaningful change.

Read Ellie’s full story of hope on our blog ❤️

When reviewing the data, Pillar noticed something important - several of our students gained more than 20 percentage poi...
06/12/2026

When reviewing the data, Pillar noticed something important - several of our students gained more than 20 percentage points in cognitive processing. In a single month 🙌

In our March to April 2026 reporting period, 20 of 26 Ladder Program students made significant gains within their individualized goals, each one tracked against where that child started. Progress appeared in every area we assess: sensory, academic, physiological, emotional-behavioral, and independence skills. Several students gained more than 20 percentage points in cognitive processing in a single month.

Growth occurred because the supports were built around the child and adjusted as that child changed. That is what ongoing assessment and responsive programming are for, and it is the foundation of the Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care®.

Address

407 Hardscrabble Road
Roswell, GA
30075

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(770) 998-1017

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