Vincent Strully established the first NECC program in 1975, and since then has built from there to include a day school, a residential program, a classroom model for use within public schools, a consulting practice, a research center, onsite graduate degree programs, and a technology division to develop the center’s curriculum to learners with autism far and wide.
The model at NECC has been replicated and scaled far beyond its Southborough home, providing effective treatment and education for children with autism as far as the Middle East. NECC is one of the largest employers in Central Massachusetts and has equipped nearly 2,000 staff members with research training and applied behavioral analysis degrees. The comprehensive nonprofit publishes multiple best-in-practice research studies each year, furthering the landscape of autism education beyond its own programs, and has a walloping $113-million annual revenue, according to GuideStar. In his 48 years since starting NECC, Strully has adapted and continuously improved to further services across the region and internationally through its research programs and data-driven decision making, substantially impacting the accessibility of services for children and families.
How should professionals best use the power they wield? “Build a core of well-trained and well-educated professionals committed to your mission, who are empowered to use the skills they’ve been taught to continuously improve the organization. Use your power to engage people in the mission of advancing the lives of the people you are meant to serve.”
Parlez-vous français?: Strully speaks French and loves to visit France and engage with French culture.
