League School for Autism
A Walpole, Massachusetts school founded in 1966 providing day, residential and vocational education for students with autism aged 3-22, using the SCERTS Model.
League School for Autism is a specialized school for children and young adults on the autism spectrum, serving students aged 3–22 through day, residential and vocational programmes. Founded in 1966 by two sets of parents of autistic sons - Dr. Arnold and Leona Vetstein and Dr. Morton and Russela Olin - it was among the first schools in New England dedicated to educating students with autism. The school operates from a 12-acre campus in Walpole, Massachusetts, and draws students from more than 60 Massachusetts communities.
The organisation employs approximately 165 full- and part-time professionals across a range of disciplines, working in multidisciplinary teams that customise curricula for individual students. Its programmes comprise a Day Program for students aged 3–22; on-campus residential homes providing 24-hour support for 32 students; a Vocational Program preparing students for independence; and consultation services for families and educators. League School for Autism is the only institution in Massachusetts offering the SCERTS Model (Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Transactional Supports), an evidence-based framework used to shape each student's curriculum.
Staff work within a holistic, neurodiversity-affirming approach that guides students through transition to adulthood, with an emphasis on maximising quality of life and readiness for independence in a neurodiverse world. The school describes itself as evolving and innovating in autism education, with a focus on educational excellence and the long-term trajectory of neurodivergent students.
