Northeast Arc Earns Ninth Straight Top 100 Spot
Families in Massachusetts seeking disability support can note that this provider ranked 55th on a list tracking organizational strength.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Special Needs
Northeast Arc, a not-for-profit that helps children and adults with disabilities or autism become full participants in the community, was named to The Women's Edge Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts list. The organization, led by Swampscott resident Jo Ann Simons, ranked 55th and marks its ninth consecutive year on the list.
Why it matters
Recognition on a list that weighs revenue or operating budget, in-state full-time employment, workplace and management diversity, and innovative projects signals sustained organizational capacity behind disability services. For families in Massachusetts navigating special needs support, it reflects a provider with a long track record of stable leadership and operations.
The ranking is an annual recognition list rather than a clinical study, scored on revenue or operating budget, number of full-time employees in the state, workplace and management diversity, and innovative projects. Northeast Arc's specific figures on those criteria were not provided in the source.
The players
Northeast Arc
A not-for-profit organization that supports children and adults with disabilities or autism to become full participants in the community.
Jo Ann Simons
Swampscott resident who leads Northeast Arc and has served on the Governor's Commission on Intellectual Disabilities since 2016.
The Women's Edge
A nonprofit that produces the annual Top 100 Women-Led Businesses list in partnership with the Boston Globe Magazine.
Boston Globe Magazine
The publication that partners with The Women's Edge to produce the annual Top 100 Women-Led Businesses list.
The details
The Women's Edge, a nonprofit, builds the Top 100 list each year by evaluating how businesses perform across financial scale, Massachusetts workforce size, diversity within leadership and staff, and creative programming. Northeast Arc serves children and adults with disabilities or autism, aiming to help them participate fully in their communities. Its selection reflects how the organization performs across those measures rather than any single program outcome.
Timeline
Simons began serving on the Governor's Commission on Intellectual Disabilities in 2016.
Northeast Arc has now been recognized on the Top 100 list for a ninth consecutive year.
The Top 100 Women-Led Businesses list is published annually.
Special Needs
Within the Massachusetts special needs services landscape, Northeast Arc's sustained presence on the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses list, now in its ninth straight year, shows a provider whose organizational health is being tracked alongside its mission. Its leadership's service on the Governor's Commission on Intellectual Disabilities since 2016 places the organization within the state's ongoing policy conversation about disability support.
For families in Massachusetts seeking disability or autism support, this recognition points to an established local provider with long-term organizational stability. It is worth asking any potential provider about its services, eligibility, and how it works with your child's or family member's care team.
The takeaway
Organizational stability and community participation are both worth considering when choosing disability support providers. Discuss service options and eligibility with your physician or care coordinator before making decisions.
Further reading
For more on the support systems available to families, explore our Special Needs coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Swampscott Tides.
