Sean Neely is currently a second-year Master’s of Social Work student at Saint Joseph’s University. He is working towards an LSW and eventually an LCSW, hoping to specialize in helping people who are neurodivergent, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sean is originally from St. Louis, MO, and received his Bachelor’s of Arts in music with a minor in disability studies at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. 

Sean was diagnosed with autism at a young age, as well as other conditions that fall under the neurodivergent umbrella later in life, and he has always been passionate about helping people who may be neurodivergent or have a developmental disability. In high school, he participated in Best Buddies and volunteered with Special Olympics. While in his final years of undergraduate, he worked as a direct support professional for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a first-year graduate student, he also worked at the ASPIRE program through the Kinney Center for Autism Education at Saint Joseph’s University as a graduate assistant. These experiences, as well as his own experience as a multiply neurodivergent adult, led him down the path of SJU’s MSW program, which focuses on caring for people through a holistic lens, as well as advocating for social justice.

Sean has done a lot of research and self-advocacy regarding autism. Ever since 2017, he has been an outspoken self-advocate, giving presentations about autism to a variety of audiences, from elementary schoolers to music educators. His most recent project was research on emotional regulation and quality of life for autistic people. He has also done research projects on improving quality of life for college students on the autism spectrum, as well as how to make percussion education more inclusive and accessible for autistic students. He has presented the latter project, Teaching Percussion to Students on the Autism Spectrum, for various college and university percussion studios, as well as at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in November 2024.

Sean’s practice philosophy has always taken a person-centered approach, encouraging self-advocacy skills, as well as being outspoken in favor of radical compassion and empathy. One of Sean’s biggest role models is Pittsburgh native Fred Rogers, who helped foster tolerance and compassion in children across generations. 

When not working, you can find Sean at home, usually listening to music and making crafts, attending sports games and other events, or wandering the aisles of antique malls or sports card stores.