The mission of the Newton-based Price Center is to “empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, to thrive in living, social, and work communities.” In her first year as CEO, Abigail Parrilla has been instrumental in creating new opportunities, developing existing programs, and setting a path for the Center to become a $20 million organization in the next three years.
Around 3PM on any Wednesday, a visitor to the Price Center will see a lot of movement — cars, buses, and people all trying to get to one place or another — and hear participants in the Center’s day programming talking about the day they’ve had and cheerfully saying goodbye to each other, leaving the Center’s halls fairly empty. In the Center’s Fineberg Building, rooms are labeled for a variety of purposes — ranging from a notable “stage door” used by the Drama Club for its various performances to several classrooms used for training individuals in the Center’s Employment Services program.
The Center’s commitment to its mission is abundantly clear through both its varied programming and advocacy efforts.
The Center operates three main programs:
- Community Based Day Services, teaching individuals important life skills through community integration;
- Specialized Supports, providing one-on-one assistance with individuals’ communication, behavioral, and social skills; and
- Day Habilitation, including the use of therapy (both physical and occupational) and adaptive technology to support individuals who are more medically complex.
An Intensive Day Habilitation program is also offered primarily for non-ambulatory and non-verbal individuals, focusing on individuals’ gross motor development and ability to communicate. Ensuring that these programs promote participating individuals’ autonomy and self-determination, with a focus on community involvement and job readiness, is one of The Price Center’s core values.
The Price Center’s outreach initiatives are just as notable as its many day programs. The Center has begun holding monthly tours of its facilities, allowing registrants to meet its team of employees and speak to the individuals served by the Center about its impact.
Reflecting on her professional experience prior to joining the Price Center, CEO Abigail Parrilla says that she’s “done this work before,” having spent the last decade working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including autism. Parrilla left her previous role as CEO of The Arc of the South Shore, an organization working similarly to improve the lives of these individuals, to join the Price Center. For 11 years prior to her time at The Arc of the South Shore, Parrilla worked in elder care, but felt that the IDD community “spoke to [her] heart in a very meaningful way.”
In just a few short months, Parrilla has made remarkable changes at the Center. Through her help in forming The Price Center’s Strategic Plan, the Center is estimated to grow to a $20 million organization in the next three years. This plan focuses on four key pillars of success, which the organization intends to bring into all of its efforts—quality, culture, compliance, and fiscal responsibility.
Additionally, in her first year at the Center, Parrilla has built a strong executive leadership team, increased the number of referrals to the Center, and elevated the quality of the Center’s services. As Parrilla explains, “we’re always looking at how we can diversify our offerings. I like to see what’s out there, what the needs are in terms of our population.”
Parrilla has a particular focus on ensuring that employees enjoy their work at the Center. She says that recent employee satisfaction surveys have yielded “phenomenal” results. “I can look at multiple key performance indicators, but happiness in the workplace is my measure for success,” she says. “There are a lot of great initiatives around culture and a lot of great initiatives around making sure that employees are happy at the Price Center.”
Future changes at The Price Center will include creating a particularly important group home for an underserved population: individuals with IDD, including autism, who are turning 22 years old. At the age of 22, an individual’s support and resources from their school system begins to wane, leaving many families scrambling to find a “next step” for permanent housing and aid. The Price Center’s “Turning 22” group home aims to alleviate the fear and stress that comes with this transition – a time of uncertainty for families.
The Price Center intends to open two more group homes in the following year and two more in the year after that. Each of these homes will be designed with residents in mind, from the implementation of smart technology (ex. automatic heating and cooling systems, security cameras) to a resident-based personalized style. “If someone wants a pink room, they’ll get a pink room,” says Parrilla, underscoring the careful thought that goes into the design of each resident’s unique home.
Individuals served by The Price Center truly feel the passion and warmth of its employees—and bring this enthusiasm to the table as well. From the Drama Club’s presentation of Shakespeare vignettes this September to the Center’s annual Harvest Festival event, happiness and creativity are celebrated. “This is such a joyful place,” Parrilla emphasizes.
Chloe Carrano is a Fig City News summer intern and a rising sophomore at Newton South High School.
