Adult Autism
Support Center

Matt Lacorazza comes to the Adult Autism Support center with a lifetime of experience supporting folks with disabilities and autism. His career has been spent volunteering at Reading Memorial High School, to his work at Camp Grotonwood, to part-time substitute teaching, into full-time work in residential settings and over a decade supporting folks in the day services and Employment settings.

Matt’s passion and expertise is working to create safe spaces to help people feel safe communicating, learning and building community. His years of experience building relationships with businesses on the North Shore, coupled with creating curriculum for job seekers and life skill builders in his Day Services roles are now applied to building and strengthening the Adult Autism Support Center’s community. You can find him in the mix at our coffee meet ups, teaching improv comedy, cooking, employment or budgeting skills, facilitating a murder mystery party or running our quarterly events forecast meetings.

In his spare time, Matt enjoys spending time with his family, reading books and comic books, watching movies and was a performer and organizing member of the Cape Ann Improv/North Shore Improv team for close to 10 years.

Daphne is the mother of four adult children, two of whom have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. All four of her children live independently in the community as adults. Daphne earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and Service with a Certificate in Leadership and Ethics at Arizona State University. She interned at the National Disability Rights Network in Washington, DC. She also received a certificate in Community Human Services Management from Suffolk University. Daphne has served in many roles for several non-profit organizations in support of adults with Autism Spectrum. Daphne lives in Acton where she likes to spend time with her family and friends as much as possible. She enjoys nature, gardening, arts and crafts, karaoke, and continuing to learn.

Lenore came to the Northeast Arc with over 14 years of experience in special education, administration and college level programming. She has a bachelor’s degree in early education, a master’s degree in moderate disabilities and a post master’s certificate in behavior analysis.  She has extensive experience working with students and individuals in the following areas: college prep, academic supports, social support opportunities, everyday life skills, prevocational and vocational life skills. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, hiking, backpacking, golfing, traveling and skiing”.

Mary Ellen has spent the last twenty years working tirelessly with, and advocating for, her son, 25, whose current diagnosis is High Functioning Autism and ADD. During these last twenty years, she has worked closely with the public school system in IEP development, as well as agencies such as MRC, the Arc of Greater Haverhill and Newburyport, AANE, and the Northeast Arc. She is knowledgeable about areas resources including SSI/SSDI, MassHealth, Housing, and much more. Mary Ellen has a passion for helping individuals and families navigate programs and systems and is excited to join the Merrimack Valley team in order to help put in place the supports needed for individuals to live their most independent and satisfying lives possible.

Mary Ellen earned her BA in Creative Writing and English, and a certificate in Internet Technology Fluency from SNHU and NECC. Since then, she has worked with this population in Boston teaching English, technology, and vocational skills. She has worked in the Merrimack Valley teaching students with various disabilities and trauma reading and math. Finally, she has worked in a public high school library to teach students the love of reading and implement programs and settings that invite the love of lifelong learning.

Mary Ellen loves spending time with her family having great conversations, hiking local rail trails, and enjoys yoga, poetry, rowing, travel, and is a brand new golf player. She is a member of the Grey Court Poets of Methuen. She is a certified yoga instructor through YogaFit. She is also a cuddler volunteer and Flu & COVID vaccine clinic volunteer at Lawrence General Hospital.

Kathy comes to the Northeast Arc with 20 years of experience with Autism. She lives this life every day and knows it well. In addition to working with children and young adults on the spectrum, she also has an adult son who was diagnosed when he was two.  Kathy has dedicated the past two decades to training and researching best practices so that people with Autism can access and receive support that allows them to live within their community.

Kathy’s experience includes Transition and Advocacy Training, Guardianship and Financial Planning for Special Needs, College and Career Access and Housing and Funding. She has attended over 400 hours of workshops, seminars and conferences relating to the world of special needs and transition.  In addition to continuously learning, she has conducted several workshops in Behavior Management, Home Programming, Person Centered Planning and Goal Setting. Kathy has worked as a Transition Coach helping families navigating public benefits, supports and eligibility services, is a Parent Support Group Facilitator and has held the position of an ABA Program Coordinator.

Kathy’s goal as an Adult Autism Service Specialist is to help adults living with Autism live their most meaningful life with as much independence as possible.

Kathy is a married mother of two incredible young adults.  Most weekends you can find her cooking with her kids and playing board games or watching a good movie. Her family is the most important aspect of her life.  She loves to spend time with family and friends vacationing – especially at the beach.  She enjoys meditation, walking, yoga, gardening, and interior decorating.

Rebecca has worked with individuals with disabilities for over 20 years. Rebecca has lived experience navigating access to services and managing complex conditions. This experience has become a passion of hers, to support individuals and their families, by connecting them to resources within their communities. Rebecca has been involved with the Adult Autism Support Center for over four years, working with individuals on their goals of increasing their independent living skills and navigating their transitions to adulthood. Rebecca also worked at Northeast Arc in the Personal Care Management Program, which facilitates implementation of physical support services for individuals with disabilities. In addition to her roles working in nonprofit organizations, Rebecca works independently with clients, providing personalized medical advocacy and case management for their healthcare needs. In this capacity, she hopes to empower individuals to advocate for themselves and to be heard by their providers. She comes to the team with a bachelor’s degree in social work from Salem State University.

Rebecca lives on the North Shore with her three children and four cats. Rebecca enjoys attending local events within the community, as well as spending time at the beach. Rebecca also likes to read and play board games in her free time with family.

Jenn started working for Northeast Arc in December 2019. She helped keep clients safe during the Pandemic and returned to Danvers as a Program Coordinator for #Opportunities and then The Steps to Independence Program. Currently working with the AASC team since January 2024, Jenn continues to promote education and resources to help families and clients live their best lives.

She passionately spent her earlier career working in daycare and providing services to families with low income and children with disabilities. Jenn graduated in 2011 from Bay Path College with a BA in Elementary Education and a minor in Special Education and received her Master of Science in Community Health Education from Merrimack College in 2017.

Jenn is a highly motivated advocate to ensure we make changes in the community. Everyone should be treated equally. Her other specialties are mental health, food security, and nutrition.

During her spare time, Jenn likes to listen to True Crime podcast, explore nature, attempt to keep houseplants alive, and cook fabulous food. She resides in Salem, MA with her boyfriend, cats Darla and Stella, and her turtle Pepito.