The League School for Autism commemorates its 60th anniversary this year, tracing its origins to 1966 when it was established as one of Massachusetts' first schools dedicated to students with autism. Founded by Dr. Arnold and Leona Vetstein of Newton and Dr. Morton and Russela Olin of Brookline, with organizational assistance from Dr. Carl Fenichel of the League School of Brooklyn, the institution began in the basement of Peabody School in Newton before relocating to the Old Richardson House a year later.
After moves to Boston's Lindemann Mental Health Center in 1973 and Newton's former Carr School in 1981, the school settled permanently in 1999 at its current 12-acre Walpole campus at 300 Boston Providence Turnpike. Between 2015 and 2019, the facility expanded with a three-story addition and two residential buildings. Today, the school is licensed to serve 110 students ages 3-22 from over 60 Massachusetts communities, including 32 residential students, operating year-round with individualized curricula.
A distinctive aspect of the school's approach is its status as the only Massachusetts institution implementing the evidence-based SCERTS® Model, a neurodevelopmental relational framework supported by multidisciplinary teams of educators, clinicians, and therapy specialists. This methodology represents a significant advancement in autism education, emphasizing social communication, emotional regulation, and transactional support tailored to each student's strengths and needs.
The school's Vocational Training Program employs a step-by-step process to build student confidence through on- and off-campus opportunities. Looking forward, League School has announced plans to develop a state-of-the-art Career Learning Center on adjacent property, underscoring its commitment to preparing neurodivergent individuals for meaningful employment. This focus will be highlighted during an October 16, 2026 presentation featuring Dr. Temple Grandin, the renowned author and speaker on autism and animal behavior.
CEO Larry Sauer emphasized that the school's six-decade legacy "stands on the shoulders of our school's founders, leaders, staff, and supporters," expressing hope that this history "will provide a catalyst of support for our vision, helping transition students with autism into meaningful work, careers, and opportunities for the future." The anniversary celebration will culminate in an Autism Empowerment Gala on October 16, 2026, coinciding with Dr. Grandin's presentation.
For business and technology leaders, League School's evolution demonstrates how specialized educational institutions can drive innovation in workforce development for neurodivergent populations. The planned Career Learning Center represents a strategic investment in creating scalable vocational pathways, potentially influencing corporate diversity initiatives and educational models nationwide. More information about the school's programs and history is available at https://www.leagueschool.org.
