About Us

Empowering Potential. Building Futures.

Thrive Learning Collaborative, Inc. is a Washington, DC-based corporation founded with a deep commitment to serve children and families impacted by intellectual disabilities, autism, and emotional challenges. We believe every child deserves access to a nurturing, individualized, and empowering education that prepares them for life beyond the classroom.

As a newly registered educational institution in the District, Thrive Learning Collaborative is working in close partnership with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to launch Thrive Learning Academy—a nonpublic special education program designed to meet the academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and vocational needs of students in grades K–12.

Our Founder’s Vision

Our work is led by Shneequa Lake, a seasoned special educator with over 20 years of experience and the proud parent of an adult child with autism. Her passion for inclusive education is both professional and personal. After serving the DC education community for the past five years, she founded Thrive Learning Collaborative to create the type of program she once wished existed for her own child—one that combines academic rigor, life skills training, therapeutic supports, and compassionate relationships in a small, structured environment.

Our Mission

To provide a safe, supportive, and student-centered learning environment where children with disabilities can thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and vocationally—and to partner with families, educators, and communities to ensure every child reaches their fullest potential.

What Makes Us Unique

  • Small Class Sizes & High Staff-to-Student Ratios

  • Individualized Programming Aligned with IEP Goals

  • Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Behavioral Support

  • Life Skills & Pre-Vocational Training

  • Family Engagement

Who We Serve

We proudly serve students ages 5 to 22 with disabilities, including:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Intellectual Disabilities

  • Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

  • Developmental Delays

  • Learning Disabilities

Where We’re Going

We are currently securing a permanent school site in DC and are committed to establishing Thrive Learning Academy as a trusted partner in the DC educational landscape. Our goal is to restore hope, dignity, and opportunity to students who have historically been underserved.