The League School for Autism is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026, marking six decades of specialized education for neurodivergent students in Massachusetts. Founded in 1966 by Dr. Arnold and Leona Vetstein of Newton and Dr. Morton and Russela (Marget) Olin of Brookline, with organizational assistance from Dr. Carl Fenichel, the school began in the basement of Peabody School in Newton before moving to its current 12-acre campus at 300 Boston Providence Turnpike in Walpole in 1999.
Today, the school serves 110 students aged 3-22 from over 60 Massachusetts communities, including 32 residential students, with a year-round individualized curriculum. It is the only school in Massachusetts to implement the evidence-based SCERTS® Model, a neurodevelopmental relational approach supported by multidisciplinary teams of educators, clinicians, and therapy staff. This model focuses on building communication, emotional regulation, and transactional support tailored to each student's strengths and needs.
The school's Vocational Training Program provides step-by-step skill development through on- and off-campus opportunities, preparing students for future employment. Looking ahead, League School plans to create a state-of-the-art Career Learning Center on adjacent property, emphasizing the importance of transitioning students into meaningful work. This vision will be highlighted during a special presentation by renowned author and speaker Dr. Temple Grandin on October 16, 2026, as part of the anniversary celebrations.
CEO Larry Sauer stated that the school's 60-year legacy aims to catalyze support for empowering students with autism into future careers. The anniversary will culminate in a 60th Anniversary Autism Empowerment Gala on October 16th, with events woven throughout the year. For more information, visit the school's website at https://www.leagueschool.org.
