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Autism‑education group asks for $300,000 per year to expand training for general‑education teachers
Summary
Success for Autism asked the committee to appropriate $300,000 annually to expand a teacher‑training fellowship (the SUCCESS approach) designed to equip general‑education staff to support students with neurodevelopmental disabilities; pilot sites and family testimony described rapid student progress and improved staff retention.
Dr. Lynette Scatis Wotilla, president of Success for Autism, requested a $300,000 per fiscal year amendment to the Department of Higher Education budget to expand a fellowship that trains general‑education teachers in the SUCCESS neurodevelopmental approach.
Dr. Wotilla said the approach combines occupational therapy, speech therapy, special education and psychology to help teachers implement differentiated, neurodevelopmentally‑informed instruction. She cited pilot results and prior studies showing reductions in autism severity scores and improvements in teacher‑reported efficacy.
Marian Armstrong, a Bedford City Schools supervisor, and parent Lisa Welsh (joined by her son Henry) testified to dramatic classroom improvements: better regulation, academic progress, and restored access to typical classrooms. Henry gave brief testimony about his school experience and improvements in self‑advocacy.
Committee members asked how the program supports teacher retention and how it is delivered; witnesses described cohort training, online coursework, on‑site coaching and a plan for phased expansion into inclusion classrooms. No formal vote occurred; members asked for further information and data on cost, scalability and metrics.
