TERRY BLACKWELL, BCBA, SAS, CAS.Following graduation from the University of Pennsylvania with an M.S. in counseling and psychological services, in 1980, Terry worked as a Direct Care Counselor for a large community residence in the field of developmental disabilities. After a promotion to clinical coordinator, Terry worked as a Behavior Specialist in 1985. During the next 3 years, Terry focused on developing adaptive solutions for integrating persons with DD and severe behaviors, into the community from the Developmental Centers where they lived for many years.
In 1988, Terry joined the Volunteers of America Greater NY as a Division Director. Comprised of an assembly of programs including Education, Early Intervention, Developmental Disabilities, alcoholism and substance abuse services, the Division grew 400% within 5 years. As a licensed school principal (SAS), Terry opened several handicapped pre-school programs under the authority of the NY State Education department, and expanded existing programs operated under SED and OMRDD throughout NYC. In 1992, as a participant in a U.S. State Department exchange for “Glasnost”, Terry hosted and subsequently visited the U.S.S.R., as a treatment expert of substance abuse disorders (CAS) and as a US Diplomat level II. In 1996, the Bronx Early Learning Center was one of two programs selected by NY State Education Department in NYC as a “model early child education center”, an accomplishment at a time when the south Bronx where the school was located, was known to be one of the most challenging neighborhoods in the country. The programs of the Division were credited with numerous awards during this time; including a prestigious “Boston Society of Architects – Award for Urban Innovation”. The award was for a playground designed entirely of recycled materials; funded through grants – to create an exterior play space modeled after a large “pirate ship” where children experience an array of sensory stimuli, beneficial for early childhood.
After a brief interim working with a major teaching hospital as a V. P. for Business; Terry developed a specialty consulting practice in 1997. From 1997–2009, Terry worked as a consultant in the area of health care, Medicaid reform (NJ), and early childhood education. In 2001, responding to the increased incidence of Autism and Spectrum disorders, Terry completed the work required for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and turned more of his attention and practice to that arena. In 2009, Terry joined a vocational rehabilitation agency, Fedcap, as the V. P. of Business and in addition to obtaining federal grants for Veterans services, spearheaded program expansion of $20 million dollars into Northern NJ, including an outpatient mental health program and approved private school funded through NJ Department of Ed.
Terry joined SUS Inc. in March 2011, as the VP of Strategic Initiatives and Service Innovation, bringing his years of experience in health care and innovative program design. He was soon promoted to the position of Executive Vice President.