MEDIA INQUIRIES
Interviews
Contact Chief Development Officer, Jared Bouzan
[email protected]
508-481-1015 x3250
AWARDS
- 2020 Boston Parents Paper Family Favorite – Special Needs Preschool
- 2020 Vincent Strully, Jr. – Worcester Business Journal: The Power 50, Class of 2020
- 2017 Award for International Dissemination of Behavior Analysis from Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis (SABA)
- 2017 Vincent Strully, Jr. – Lifetime Achievement Award by Nonprofit PRO
- 2017 Vincent Strully, Jr. named Business Leader of the Year by Worcester Business Journal
- 2015 Innovation Award for ACE® ABA Software System from Small Business Association of New England (SBANE)
- 2008 NASET School of Excellence – National Association of Special Education Teachers
- 2007 Vincent Strully, Jr. named Social Entrepreneur of the Year in New England by Ernst & Young
- 2006 $450K Challenge Grant Recipient – The Kresge Foundation of Troy, Michigan
- 2005 Award for Enduring Programmatic Contributions in Behavior Analysis from the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis (SABA)
- 2000 National Award for Model Professional Development from the U.S. Department of Education, the only special education school to receive such recognition
NECC IN THE NEWS
Jessica Sassi Named a 2025 Innovator in Healthcare
On December 19, NECC President and CEO Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, was named one of the Boston Business Journal’s 2025 Innovators in Healthcare. Dr. Sassi was recognized in the category of Health Equity Champion.
Autism Infant Sibling Study Featured in the News
The Millbury-Sutton Chronicle recently published a feature on the importance of early intervention, highlighting NECC’s Autism Infant Sibling Study. The article shares the story of the Kycia family, whose twins were diagnosed with autism at the age of 2. Because a child is 20 percent
NECC in the News: Behavioral Health Buoys
NECC was included in a recent Boston Business Journal article, entitled “Behavioral Health Buoys,” about the challenges Massachusetts is facing in building a workforce to meet the growing behavioral health needs.
TIME Story Features Photo of NECC
TIME magazine recently published a piece about artificial intelligence (AI) and special education, which featured a photo of an NECC student.
Dr. Sassi Interviewed by Autism Spectrum News
Earlier this month, the publisher of Autism Spectrum News interviewed Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, President and CEO of The New England Center for Children (NECC), about her journey to leadership . at NECC
Dr. Sassi Featured on CEOs You Should Know Podcast
In December, Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, President and CEO of The New England Center for Children (NECC), was featured on iHeart Radio’s CEOs You Should Know program, a weekly podcast feature that profiles business leaders who drive the regional economy.
NECC Included in Piece About Supporting Working Caregivers
The New England Center for Children (NECC) was included in an article about ways to support parents and caregivers at work that appeared in trade publications DEI Advisor and Senior Executive.
Strully Warns Private Equity Involvement Will Harm Autism Service Market
In the March issue of Spectrum News, The New England Center for Children (NECC) Founder and CEO Vincent Strully, Jr., contributed an opinion piece about the downside of private equity (PE) firms getting involved in autism services.
DEI Director Shares Best Practices in Autism Spectrum News Article
NECC's DEI Director Fatou Njie-Jallow shares a blueprint for DEI action and policy for autism service providers, which was published in the Winter 2023 issue of Autism Spectrum News.
In the News: Westfield Special Education Team Shares Success with ACE®
During a December 5 school committee meeting, officials from the special education department in the Westfield Public Schools shared an update on how the staffing shortage has created challenges for the district in delivering special education services, and how the ACE® ABA Software System has helped assuage them.
Dunkin’ Golf Classic for Autism Returns September 12
The 24th Annual Carlos Placido Dunkin’ Golf Classic for Autism benefitting The New England Center for Children (NECC) will return this fall to the Franklin Country Club in Franklin, MA, on Monday, September 12.
NECC Featured in NE Psychologist Story on Pandemic-Related Teacher Shortages
NECC's Executive Director Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, was included in a feature published by the New England Psychologist regarding pandemic-related teacher shortages and how they are triggering academic changes in organizations across the state.
NECC Featured in WBUR Report of Staffing Shortages
WBUR report Carrie Jung tackled the local staffing crisis and how it was affecting special education schools in a recent report that included an interview with Executive Director Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA. NECC was also referenced extensively in the reporter's appearance of WBUR's Radio Boston show that afternoon.
Photos from Children of Promise Gala Featured in Boston Globe
Check out scenes from the November 12, 2021 NECC Children of Promise Gala at Boston’s InterContinental Hotel, as published in The Boston Globe.
Strully Advocates for Investment in Human Services Staffing
The Boston Globe published a letter written by NECC Founder and CEO Vincent Strully, who applauded a recent article on the staffing crisis in the human services field. He added that special education schools play a vital role in the lives of children with autism and advocated for more investment.
NECC Teacher Taylor Turnquist Featured on Boston 25
On April 16, 2021 Heather Hegedus and Boston 25 featured NECC teacher, Taylor Turnquist. In addition to her role as a teacher at NECC, Taylor is a professional hockey player, suiting up for the Boston Pride, a team in the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). The Pride recently won the Isobel Cup, the NWHL's championship.
NECC Founder and CEO Featured in Boston Globe Letters to the Editor
On February 12, NECC Founder and CEO, Vincent Strully, Jr. was featured in the The Boston Globe's Letters to the Editor section. In his letter, Strully lauded Governor Charlie Baker and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for enabling congregate-care facilities to receive the COVID-19 vaccine quickly.
NECC Family Uplifted By Compassion of Local Business
Amanda Lussier, recently shared the story of taking her son, a NECC student, out to eat at a restaurant for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. In a challenging situation, the restaurant went above and beyond in showing compassion for them.
Jessica Sassi Interviewed by Boston 25 News
The New England Center for Children's Clinical Director Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, joined Boston 25 News' Heather Hegedus to speak about the impact that the COVID-19 situation is having on children with autism.
NECC’s Morrison Featured on NBC 10 Boston About School Reopening
Heather Morrison, Director of Administration at The New England Center for Children (NECC), recently spoke with NBC 10 Boston about the importance of reopening schools, specifically highlighting the crucial role that in-person education plays in the development of children with autism.