Educator Honored by National Special Education Association Lynn Abelson Invited to Washington D.C. To Accept Award

Lynn Abelson, a speech and language pathologist at The Phoenix Center has been named by the National Association of Private Special Education Centers as the Related Services Provider of the Year. Each year, the Association selects one related service provider from across the country to be recognized for outstanding work and achievements in special education.

A resident of Edgewater Park, and 25-year veteran of special education, Abelson has worked in public and private special education schools, preschools, and center- and home-based early intervention programs. She maintains a private pediatric speech and language practice in northern New Jersey, and is an affiliate faculty member at The Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health at Montclair State University, where she also teaches for the graduate certificate program in Developmental Models of Autism Intervention.  

Abelson and her colleagues from The Phoenix Center traveled to Washington D.C. to accept the award during the Association's meeting and luncheon, held earlier this spring.

“There are no words to adequately convey how honored I feel.  I am so grateful to have the opportunity to use my talents, skills and heart to create, implement and lead programs I am passionate about,” said Abelson.

"Lynn generously shares her time and talent to benefit children and families," said Dr. Geraldine Gibbia, co-founder and Executive Director of The Phoenix Center. "Her dedication extends well beyond the boundaries of our school. She volunteers her time providing support and guidance to families who need it."

Now in its 22th year, The Phoenix Center is a private, not for profit school in Nutley serving roughly 150 students with autism and other developmental disabilities from nearly 70 towns throughout northeastern New Jersey.