This summer, 27 students in the Simmons Education program for New England Center for Children Employees (NECC) staff presented their original research during the annual Simmons University Applied Autism Research poster session at NECC’s Southborough, Massachusetts, campus.
The event featured 12 research posters created by NECC staff enrolled in “Applied Autism Research II/Lab” (SPND 495) as part of Simmons University’s Master of Science in Education: Autism Specialization with Severe Disabilities Licensure. The presenters came from across the NECC community, including the Southborough campus, residential and day programs, and Partner Program classrooms in communities such as Barnstable, Massachusetts, and Derry, New Hampshire.
They shared the research questions they explored, the methods they used, and what they learned throughout the research process. Topics included prompting procedures, chaining strategies, skill acquisition, procedural integrity, and teaching functional and academic skills.
Accolades for Simmons Research
Partner Program members Libby Sibbio ’27MSEd and Ryan Massey ’27MSEd received the "Outstanding Poster Award" for their presentation, "Comparing Prompt Fading Procedures: Most-to-Least, Least-to-Most, and Flexible Prompt Fading."
The panel included Simmons adjunct faculty Amanda Willand, Holly Wiggins, and Tanvi Pendharkar, alongside NECC staff and Simmons alumnae/i.
Professor of Practice and Department of Education Chair Christine Evans led the evening alongside faculty mentors, continuing a tradition that has become an annual highlight of the partnership between Simmons and NECC.
“Every year, I’m impressed by the thought, care, and enthusiasm our students bring to this experience,” said Evans. “This poster session is a great reflection of the work they’ve done throughout the Simmons course. From developing their research to preparing for a practicum in a public school inclusive classroom, the curriculum gives our students opportunities to build their knowledge, strengthen their skills, and become confident, well-prepared educators.”
Coming Full Circle
For Jescah Apamo-Gannon ’06MSEd, ’17PhD, the opportunity to return to the poster session as a judge offered a chance to reflect on her own journey.
“It was inspiring to see so many students share research focused on improving educational outcomes and promoting meaningful independence for learners. Having once stood in their place as a Simmons graduate student, returning as a judge was a meaningful reminder of the lasting impact this program can have on a person’s career,” said Apamo-Gannon.
Since 1992, NECC and Simmons University have partnered to provide graduate training in autism education, helping NECC staff deepen their knowledge, strengthen their research skills, and bring what they learn back to the students they support every day.
To learn more about NECC’s graduate programs, including the free on-site Simmons University program, visit the NECC graduate programs page.