A Legacy of Impact: NECC Celebrates 50 Years of Excellence

The New England Center for Children^® (NECC^®) reflects on an extraordinary year of accomplishments and announces its 50th anniversary. 2024 was marked by groundbreaking achievements, expanded global reach, and an unwavering commitment to transforming the lives of children with autism.

2024 Highlights: A Year of Excellence

• Grand opening of NECC Clinic in Abu Dhabi: In March 2024, NECC opened a new clinic in Abu Dhabi, enhancing access to autism services in the region. Active in the Middle East since 1997, NECC also operates in Dubai Healthcare City and offers consulting across the GCC.
• Historic graduation of international staff: NECC’s first international staff cohort graduated with master’s degrees from its Simmons University partnership. Since 1992, over 1,800 US staff have earned degrees through NECC’s on-site graduate programs.
• NASET School of Excellence: NECC was honored as a 2024-2025 National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) School of Excellence, a testament to NECC’s unwavering dedication to quality education.
• Nafis award for NECC’s school in the UAE: The Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Special Education operated by NECC (MRC-NECC) in Abu Dhabi received the prestigious Nafis Award, recognizing exceptional growth in employment opportunities for Emirati citizens.
• Leadership recognition: President and CEO Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, was appointed to the Massachusetts Commission on Autism, highlighting NECC’s influence on state-level autism policy and advocacy.
• Record-breaking fundraising events: The 18^th annual NECC 5K event achieved unprecedented success in both attendance and fundraising, while the Children of Promise gala raised $1.27 million.
• Largest summer internship program: NECC hosted 60 interns from 36 colleges, its largest group yet, to train future autism educators and professionals.
• Technology Improvements: This year, the ACE® ABA Software System introduced significant updates that enhanced its user experience, now supporting over 13,000 learners in 11 countries since its 2003 launch.

Looking Ahead: Celebrating NECC’s Golden Anniversary

In 2025, NECC celebrates 50 years as a global leader in autism education, having trained thousands of educators and behavior analysts and supported tens of thousands of children worldwide with innovative programs and research.

“Our 2024 achievements highlight our dedication to autism education and ensuring the best possible outcomes for our students,” said Dr. Sassi. “As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2025, we look forward to advancing our legacy of impact and innovation.”

To learn more, visit, https://youtu.be/-dE2XaXvYf8.

ABOUT NECC

NECC is an award-winning autism education center and research institute. Committed to creating a more inclusive world, our community of teachers, researchers, and clinicians provide comprehensive services including day and residential programs, partner classrooms in public schools, consulting services, and the ACE^® ABA Software System (www.acenecc.org).

Based in Southborough, MA, NECC operates the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Special Education in Abu Dhabi, UAE, as well as Clinics in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar. Learn more at www.necc.org.

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