The Autism Advocate

Welcome to The Autism Advocate, ANNA’s monthly newsletter! We hope this will be a helpful source of information about upcoming events, tips for caregivers, community resources and more. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas for future editions!

ANNA Announcements

Important Dates and Upcoming Events

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Do you have something you’d like to ask the ANNA team? Please submit your question here and we will answer it in a future newsletter!

Let’s Talk About Neurodiversity

Here at ANNA, we are committed to delivering services and supports that are neurodiversity-affirming, and we recognize that this is a continuous process with lots of opportunities for learning! Welcome to our newest newsletter section, where we will explore and share concepts related to neurodiversity.

What is neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity is the idea that neurological differences such as autism are natural and value-neutral forms of human diversity, rather than disorders that need to be fixed or corrected. This perspective shifts the focus from trying to change autistic children to be more like their non-autistic peers, to genuinely understanding and supporting their unique strengths, needs, and ways of communicating and interacting with others and with the world.

What does it mean to be neurodiversity-affirming?

When services and supports embrace the idea of neurodiversity, they prioritize strategies that respect a child’s individuality rather than encouraging them to conform to neurotypical expectations. This approach is often described as being "neurodiversity-affirming" because it affirms, or supports, the child’s unique identity.

Neurodiversity-affirming services emphasize meeting sensory needs, ensuring autonomy, and supporting children in communicating and interacting in ways that work for them. When caregivers and professionals have a neurodiversity-affirming mindset and approach, children feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive as their authentic selves!

Support Your Child’s Development

While both adults and children experience big feelings, children are still learning to manage these feelings and benefit from seeing how adults manage theirs. As a caregiver, you can help your child learn how to cope by showing them how you do! You can do this by narrating your emotions using simple and clear language, such as “I feel frustrated, so I’m taking a deep breath.” You can also show them how you use calming strategies like squeezing a stress ball, taking slow breaths, or using a quiet corner.

It’s also important to validate emotions, both your own and your child’s, by saying things like, “It’s okay to feel mad.” Because many autistic children struggle with interoception (understanding internal body signals), seeing and hearing a caregiver describe emotions can help them increase awareness of their own. Consistently modeling emotional regulation creates a safe environment and, over time, helps children develop coping skills that they can use independently. Most importantly, it teaches them that all emotions are ok and that they are never alone in navigating them.

Staff Spotlight

Heather has been involved in the field of ABA since 2014, when she first began helping with the Special Olympics in her hometown. Heather was introduced to the role of Behavior Analyst and was inspired to set on the path to become a BCBA, working first as a behavior technician and registered behavior technician.

As a BCBA, Heather has experience working in schools, clinics, and in homes. Heather aims to deliver ABA services that help children and their families grow, learn, and feel supported. She is excited to have joined ANNA because of the opportunity it provides to deliver ABA services that are more naturalistic and enjoyable for clients!

A fun fact about Heather is that her dog allergies haven’t stopped her from having dogs who she loves to spend time with!

Featured Resource

Linclusion

Founded by the parents of a child with autism, Linclusion is an Ashland-based nonprofit focused on making summer camp accessible for children and teens with disabilities. Through a thoughtful and thorough process with plenty of caregiver input, they match the child with a dedicated one-to-one aide who supports them in attending a local summer camp.

Families pay for the camp itself, and Linclusion covers the cost of the one-to-one aide. They also provide quality training and support to the camp program to enhance inclusivity. Linclusion is currently accepting applications for summer 2025 and you can learn more here- https://www.linclusion.org/!

Recommended Reading

The Brain Forest

The Brain Forest by Sandhya Menon is a children's book that explores the concept of neurodiversity. The story follows a mother and her son as they journey through a metaphorical forest, discovering many different ways that brains can work. The story highlights a diverse range of brains, including those associated with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and intellectual disabilities.

Through child-friendly language and colorful illustrations, the book helps children understand that while brains may work differently, each has unique strengths to offer. The Brain Forest is an introduction to understanding and celebrating neurodiversity, and can help start conversations about creating a more inclusive world.

Caregiver Affirmation

“I don’t have to explain my parenting choices to others.”

As a caregiver, you are responsible for making decisions based on what you know is best for your child and family, and you don’t owe anyone an explanation for the decisions that you make. Others may not understand things like why you choose to participate in (or not participate in) certain services or therapies or why you respond the way you do to your child when they are distressed- but their opinions do not change what works for your child.

Well-intentioned friends, family, or even professionals might question your choices, but you are the expert on your child’s needs. It’s ok to set boundaries and say, “This is what works for us,” without feeling the need to justify yourself further. Parenting an autistic child often means making decisions that others may not understand, but that doesn’t make the decisions wrong. Trust yourself, trust your child, and remember that you are doing what’s right for your family!

How can we improve? Please share any feedback about our services, this newsletter or anything else you’d like us to know!