NECC announced today it has 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 (ABA). 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.
This is the second award NECC has received from SABA. In 2005, NECC received the award for Enduring Programmatic Contributions to Behavior Analysis.
NECC CEO and Founder Vinnie Strully, Jr, along with NECC colleagues, will formally accept the award at the Annual ABAI Convention in Denver, Colorado, on May 27. He states:
“The work we do to help transform the lives of children with autism has countless rewards. The awareness on our student’s faces when they achieve success, the joy of parents seeing their children progress toward independence, the pride in watching our teachers grow personally and professionally. These moments and more bring us daily satisfaction.
When I envisioned The New England Center for Children over 40 years ago, I had no idea that as our first six staff and students walked through the door to our school in Taunton, we’d grow to become the world renowned education and research center we’ve become today.
As you know, NECC’s curriculum is based on applied behavior analysis (ABA), the evidence-based, scientific approach that identifies how children with autism learn and what motivates their behavior. We use ABA daily with our students here in Southborough, in partner classrooms across the U.S., in our school in Abu Dhabi, and in programs around the world.
What sets NECC apart is our unique model of education, research, and technology, and our talented staff, both of which allow us to refine best educational practices and share our knowledge far and wide to help thousands of children and families with autism.
I am proud to announce that this work has not gone unnoticed in our professional community. Winning this award is nothing short of outstanding. It is the pinnacle of professional honors in the ABA field and truly reflects the years of hard work, innovation, and commitment of our team. This is only the second time in 21 years that an organization has received the award, which is generally granted to individuals.
To quote Dr. Maria Malott, CEO of ABAI, “The reach and influence of NECC are truly inspiring, and the success of NECC Abu Dhabi in particular illustrates the impact of disseminating applied behavior analysis best practices. NECC has played a large part in making inroads for behavior analysis in the Middle East and worldwide.”
I would like to extend heartfelt thanks and congratulations to all of our teachers, behavior analysts, researchers, and staff for their dedication, and to our NECC families, who’ve placed their confidence in us to care for their children. By continuing to disseminate our research and technology, train teachers, and empower our staff with the practices of applied behavior analysis, we will continue to transform the lives of thousands of children across the globe.
As I recall the modest beginnings of our program, I’m reminded of a well-known quote from the prominent anthropologist, Margaret Mead, which is fitting for our entire NECC community: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ ”