One Two Three Autism School Marks Continued International Expansion for NECC
Southborough, Mass. – September 19, 2019 – The New England Center for Children® (NECC®), a global leader in autism education and research, announced today a partnership with One Two Three Autism School in Beirut, Lebanon, to serve children with autism and their families. NECC was contracted to manage school operations, teaching, applied behavior analysis (ABA) consulting, and professional development. One Two Three is the first and only school in Lebanon for children with autism.
“Autism treatment in much of the Middle East remains scarce, leaving thousands of children and families lacking resources,” said Vincent Strully, President and CEO of The New England Center for Children. “NECC is excited to bring proven, research-based ABA teaching practices to Lebanon through our management of One Two Three Autism School. Our growing international programs and services have reached 18 countries, bringing effective, evidence-based educational services to underserved children with autism and their families.”
“Autism services are sorely needed in Lebanon, as I experienced with my own son. The autism rate for children in Beirut and Mount Lebanon is one in 67,” said Saritta Trad, a co-founder and mother whose son attends the school. “For One Two Three Autism School, we turned to the world leaders in autism education. Our partnership with NECC enables their staff and NECC-trained Lebanese teachers to provide the highest quality ABA therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy to our children.”
“NECC is excited to be part of One Two Three Autism School and we look forward to helping transform the lives of children with autism and their families,” said Kristin Buchanan, NECC’s Global Consulting Director. “By empowering teachers worldwide with the knowledge and tools of ABA, together we can create more success stories like One Two Three.”
NECC Bringing Autism Education to Underserved Nations
NECC has helped thousands of children in the Middle East and worldwide through its centers, consulting services, and ACE® ABA Software System. In addition to Lebanon, NECC operates or consults in Kuwait City, Kuwait; Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE; Doha, Qatar; Gurgaon, India; Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia; and in Brazil, Australia, Italy, England, Canada and other countries. The ACE Software is currently used in 13 countries. NECC employs close to 300 people internationally, a quarter of whom are U.S. citizens and the remaining are nationals. NECC employs more than 50 percent of the BCBAs in the entire Gulf Region.
An important part of NECC programs is the integration of local language and cultural and religious practices into the curriculum. Key to NECC’s mission is training and educating local staff to ensure knowledge transfer, program sustainability, and local growth of ABA programs. More schools and centers have followed suit in applying ABA practices, looking to achieve the results of NECC.
International Influence and Reach
Reflecting its worldwide reputation, NECC received the 2017 Award for International Dissemination of Behavior Analysis from the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis (SABA), the peer academic organization of applied behavior analysis. The highly respected award is given to a person or organization demonstrating a significant and sustained contribution to the dissemination and development of ABA outside of the United States.
NECC’s professional development program has graduated many of the autism service industry’s leaders – teachers, behavior analysts, and researchers inside and outside of NECC whose training and dedication have helped thousands of children with autism and their families.
“The reach and influence of NECC are truly inspiring, and their impact in disseminating applied behavior analysis best practices,” said Dr. Maria Malott, CEO of the Association for Behavior Analysis International. “NECC has played a large part in making inroads for behavior analysis in the Middle East and worldwide.”
About One Two Three Autism School
The establishment of One Two Three Autism School was inspired by Bachir Sarkis and Saritta Trad who were not able to find the appropriate education provider for their child in Lebanon. They wanted to build a school that could help provide quality services for their child as well as children in the community. Bachir’s uncle, Sarkis Sarkis, helped to fund the school and NECC services through a generous donation. One Two Three Autism School’s geographical location provides easy travel for families from other countries in the region. One Two Three Autism School hopes to provide an educational setting for Lebanese and other Middle Eastern citizens who are struggling to find an appropriate school for their children.
About The New England Center for Children
The New England Center for Children® (NECC®) is an award-winning autism education center and research institute. Our community of teachers, researchers, and clinicians have transformed the lives of thousands of children with autism worldwide through education, research, and technology. The Center provides comprehensive services to maximize independence: home-based, day, and residential programs, partner classrooms in public school systems, consulting services, the ACE® ABA Software System (www.acenecc.org), teacher professional development, and research on educational best practices.
NECC is committed to staff professional development, partnering with local colleges to provide on-site graduate training and degrees at little to no cost to the NECC teacher. The result is a growing pool of exceptional teachers trained in best-in-class methodologies, whether they continue their careers at NECC or move on to public schools or private agencies. The New England Center for Children is based in Southborough, MA, and operates a center in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Learn more at www.necc.org.
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Contact:
Michele Hart
The New England Center for Children
(508) 481-1015 x4049
[email protected]