Transition Specialist & Special Educator

Sarah LaFerriere, M.Ed., is a transition specialist and special educator who has nearly a decade of experience working with transition aged students in public schools, college, and home-based settings. She supports a wide range of clients from adolescence through adulthood, and specializes in supporting students with autism, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, and medical conditions. She is passionate about transition skills and working with students on functional life skills, daily living skills, community access skills, and pre-vocational and vocational skills. Her experience will help students and families gain skills to become confident and independent individuals and achieve their goals.

Mrs. LaFerriere holds both a bachelors and master’s degree in Severe Special Education, with a double major in Psychology, from Bridgewater State University. She is a licensed special educator and also holds a Massachusetts’ Autism Endorsement certification. Having taught in public and specialized schools, Mrs. LaFerriere brings extensive experience working with individuals with diverse abilities as well as with their IEP teams.

Her professional journey spans various settings including camps, schools, state-funded services, and private services, reflecting her commitment to providing inclusive and effective education for students with special needs in any environment. Mrs. LaFerriere has served as a special education transition teacher for Dedham Public Schools in the Life Start Program as well as a special education teacher at Norwood High School’s Practical Application of Curriculum and Skills (PACS) Program. She also worked with high school students in a collaborative setting at The Education Cooperative in Walpole, MA, where she helped students build communication and emotional regulation skills as well as accessing the curriculum through an integrated service model.

Sarah’s dedication to supporting transition-aged students extends to her roles as a Resident Mentor and Education Coach at the EXCEL Program (formerly ICEI) at Bridgewater State University. In these positions, she helped students adjust to college campus living, and facilitated their academic, organizational, and social skills development. Additionally, Sarah has served as a respite worker, skills trainer, and Personal Care Assistant (PCA) at The Arc/Charles River Center.

With a wealth of experience in teaching, coaching, and collaboration, Sarah is equipped with the skills and expertise to make a meaningful impact in the lives of students with diverse abilities. She joined NESCA in July 2024 and offers transition assessment and consultation services as well as direct coaching of students.