About The Learning Center of Northeast Arkansas, Inc

Mission & Vision

At The Learning Center of Northeast Arkansas (TLC), we are dedicated to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) from birth through adulthood. Our mission is to provide lifelong support, therapeutic services, education, and housing opportunities to help every individual reach their fullest potential.

 TLC is dedicated to providing the highest quality services to our county’s residents with developmental disabilities through a professional team that is both caring and innovative. 

We utilize TLC values established in our operations protocol. We prioritize the involvement of families and individuals in all decisions regarding our participants’ care, ensuring that personal choice and inclusion are central to our approach. We empower families and individuals to build strong, ongoing relationships and supportive networks within their respective communities. We advocate on behalf of those we serve, collaborate with like-minded organizations to enhance opportunities and are committed to the responsible and effective use of all resources entrusted to us. Through these core values, we strive to create an environment where every person enrolled can reach their fullest potential.

History

Our story started in 1959, when a group of determined parents, including Dr. John T. Gray, came together with a shared dream. They wanted opportunities for their children with disabilities that did not yet exist—opportunities for growth, for education, and for a life beyond limitations. What began as a small group of visionaries quickly grew into a movement.

In 1990, the organization officially became known as The Learning Center of Northeast Arkansas (TLC)—a name that reflects both our mission and our heart. 

We continue to expand and evolve to meet the needs of our community:

• 2020 – We opened a new Outpatient Therapy Center, expanding access to essential therapies for children in our region. We currently serve about 130 children in our outpatient program. 
• 2021 – We acquired the nonprofit David Puryear Center (ICF), extending our services to include residential care for adults with IDD. This facility is a 10 bed Intermediate Care Facility. 
• 
   We launchedThe Academy of TLC, a private school dedicated to providing specialized education and therapies for children with autism. Our current enrollment is 53 students. 
• We established the Diagnostic and Resource Center, bringing in a child psychologist to provide comprehensive testing and diagnostic services. We have tested hundreds of children over the past 4 years and have a 18 month waiting list for testing. 
• 2025 - We have expanded The Academy of TLC with adding four additional classrooms to service additional middle school students; expanded to 6th grade; went from 4 to 7 classrooms 
• 2025 - We are constructing a new recreational gym for students on-site for additional in-door activity space 
• 
  

The Learning Center provides OT, PT, ST, Developmental therapy, ABA therapy, Adult Day Day Treatment, Diagnostic and Psychological testing, and residential services for adults who require 24/7 supervision- a 10 bed residential facility. 

The TLC Preschool is a private school for children with autism currently serving 160 children starting at 6 weeks old. We are the only EIDT provider in Jonesboro providing ABA services to children with autism. These services help our children learn social skills, communication and daily living abilities. 



Since our founding 67 years ago, we have grown significantly, serving thousands of children and adults with special needs in Craighead, and also from Poinsett and Greene counties. Our programs focus on promoting independence, developmental progress and quality of life for individuals with special needs while supporting their families. We focus on early intervention, education and therapy to address the evolving needs of our clients, ensuring they have access to the resources and guidance necessary to thrive as best they can.

Today, we remain a cornerstone of the Craighead County community, maintaining a strong commitment to excellence in care and program innovation for all our community’s residents with developmental challenges.

 Our Value

TLC is dedicated to providing the highest quality services to our county’s residents with developmental disabilities through a professional team that is both caring and innovative. 

We utilize TLC values established in our operations protocol. We prioritize the involvement of families and individuals in all decisions regarding our participants’ care, ensuring that personal choice and inclusion are central to our approach. We empower families and individuals to build strong, ongoing relationships and supportive networks within their respective communities. We advocate on behalf of those we serve, collaborate with like-minded organizations to enhance opportunities and are committed to the responsible and effective use of all resources entrusted to us. Through these core values, we strive to create an environment where every person enrolled can reach their fullest potential.