The Autism Advocate

🎈🎈 It’s Our Second ANNA-versary! 🎈🎈

Two years ago, we opened the doors of our first center with the belief that autistic children and their families deserve care that honors their individuality while providing them with meaningful support. We set out to show that families should be true partners in their child’s care, that high standards and deep humanity can coexist, and that neurodiversity-affirming practice expands our understanding of development and belonging.

In these past two years, we have learned that growth brings both opportunity and responsibility. We recognize that building something values-driven requires constant reflection, and we commit to continuous improvement through careful listening and responsiveness to the perspectives of those we serve.

Two years in, our commitment remains the same:

· To redefine autism care in partnership with families and communities

· To lead with inclusion, humility, and shared responsibility

· And to keep asking ourselves hard questions about what quality truly means

It is an immense privilege to be a part of the journeys of so many families and team members, and we send our deepest gratitude to every member of our ANNA community!

ANNA Announcements

Local Events

We are excited to highlight local sensory-friendly and inclusive events in the MetroWest area and slightly beyond:

✈ Wings for Autism, April 4th (register early!)

Wings for Autism (TM) is a free program specifically designed to support families of children with autism, creating a travel test run to help ease the stress of airline travel. By getting comfortable with the airport and flight experience (without actually leaving the airport), parents and their children with special needs can gain the familiarity and confidence they need to take future trips.

This event is free, but you must pre-register to participate. Registration will be opening for Wings for this event on Tuesday, February 24th and we strongly recommend registering early - these fill up fast!

♾ FCSN’s Visions of Community Conference, March 7th

The ANNA team will be exhibiting at the Federation for Children with Special Needs’ virtual Visions of Community Conference, and we’d love to see you there! This conference brings together parents, caregivers, educators, and professionals for an inspiring day of learning and connection. Click here to register or email Ashley at [email protected] to request a coupon code for free registration. 

🍿 Let’s Go to the Movies!, March 14th

Regal Theaters gives everyone the opportunity to experience a movie with the lights turned up and the volume turned down. This becomes a safe space where guests are free to express themselves by singing, crying, dancing, walking around, talking, or shouting while enjoying the latest films!

These showings will be the first show of the day on select Saturdays each month at participating locations. In March, you can see Hoppers at Regal Solomon Pond or Bellingham on the 14th!

🐰 A Special Visit with Caring Bunny, March 22nd

Caring Bunny® is a special, sensory-friendly Easter Bunny photo experience exclusively for children with special needs and their families. Registration is required!

Where: Chestnut Hill Mall, Burlington Mall, Northshore Mall, Auburn Mall

Ask ANNA

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 only possible if we truly listen to the perspectives of those we serve.

Neurodiversity at ANNA: What Quality Really Means

We recently asked our Community Advisory Board - a group of autistic adults, caregivers, and professionals - a simple but important question: What does quality of life really mean for autistic individuals and families?

Here’s what they shared:

Quality means autonomy: having a voice, being able to communicate wants, needs, and sensory experiences, and having those voices truly listened to

Quality means belonging: relationships where you are accepted as you are, opportunities to find “your people,” and spaces that prioritize safety and joy

Quality means supporting the whole person: not reducing someone to goals or productivity, but recognizing that connection, emotional wellbeing, and meaningful relationships matter just as much as skill development

Quality means partnership: families and individuals in the driver’s seat, not simply being told what services will look like

As we celebrate two years of ANNA, we are grateful for voices that ground us in lived experience and challenge us to learn and grow. Our commitment to neurodiversity-affirming care is strengthened by listening, and by allowing that listening to inform our next steps.

Support Your Child’s Development

When we sent our very first newsletter (to a grand total of nine subscribers who all worked at ANNA!), this was the developmental tip we shared. Two years later, it is a strategy that remains central to our clinical model and one that can be very accessible for families as well:

A simple and effective way to build skills with your child is to imitate them! Have you ever repeated an action your child did or a sound that they made? Or maybe you have thought about doing this but wondered if it was a good thing to do? After all, you want them to learn new things and expand their skills. How can this be possible by simply copying what they do?

Not only is it possible, but imitating your child can actually enhance their ability to learn new things. When you copy something your child does, they feel validated in their skills and interests. You are communicating to them that what they do is good and interesting enough for you to want to join in and do it too! This builds confidence in your child, which in turn helps them feel more comfortable continuing the interaction and maybe even trying something new.

Try imitating things your child does or says, and notice how they respond. If there are times when they continue what they are doing or saying in response to you copying them, keep up the exchange and then try introducing a slightly different action or sound. This is a great way to meet your child where they are while providing them with a low-stress opportunity to expand their skills.

Please keep in mind that no strategy can be a perfect match for every child and family. We are always here to partner with you to develop personalized approaches that take your child’s unique strengths, interests and preferences into account.

Staff Spotlight

Sergio joined the ANNA team in 2024, and his dedication to successful insurance authorizations is a critical component of allowing our families to access services!

Sergio brings his background as a Registered Nurse to his work at ANNA and shares: “Since beginning my tenure in 2024, I have had the opportunity to expand my medical knowledge beyond my original skillset, developing expertise in the field of behavioral health. What started as a focus on clinical and operational proficiency has grown into a deeper understanding of how behavioral health supports individuals and families.”

When asked what he enjoys about working at ANNA, Sergio says “Even if the focus of my work is on insurance matters, I know that I am helping ensure that families can get their loved ones the help they need without the unnecessary barriers. Every detail I manage is one more step toward making sure the children and their families focus on care.” We couldn’t agree more, and are so thankful to have Sergio on our team.

Outside of work, Sergio loves making music - his home office doubles as a recording studio!

Featured Resource

Massachusetts Advocates for Children

As children approach preschool or kindergarten, many families begin thinking about what school-based supports might look like. Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC) is a statewide nonprofit that helps families understand public school evaluations, special education eligibility, and the IEP process so that next steps feel more manageable.

MAC offers plain-language guides, free educational materials, and a helpline where families can ask questions specific to their child’s situation. We’re grateful for MAC’s work supporting families across Massachusetts, and encourage you to learn more at massadvocates.org!

Recommended Reading

Wish You Were Her

Our February Book Pick is a first for us: a fiction read, perfectly timed for Valentine’s month! 

Eighteen-year-old Allegra Brooks is an overnight TV sensation hiding a secret no one knows: she’s autistic. Craving a normal summer away from fame, she escapes to the quiet town of Lake Pristine for its annual Book Festival. But peace proves elusive when she clashes with Jonah Thorne, the prickly bookseller running the event. As small-town tensions spiral into public conflict, Allegra finds unexpected comfort in an anonymous email exchange with a charming bookseller—one who may not be as anonymous as he seems.

Caregiver Affirmation

“I can learn and grow with my child.”

This was the affirmation from our very first newsletter and, two years later, it feels worth repeating.

As parents and caregivers, we do everything we can to support our child’s development and still find ourselves questioning whether we are doing enough or doing the right things. Caring for any child is a journey with many ups and downs, and caring for a child with autism can present challenges and opportunities that you didn’t expect. You don’t have to know it all! You are already exactly who your child needs, and being willing to learn and adapt is one of the best things you can do for them.

Give yourself permission to grow and evolve along with your child. Just as they learn from you, you will learn so much from them. Thank you for letting us be a part of that journey!

We’d love to hear about your experiences with ANNA! Leaving a Google review is a great way to help other families learn about our services. If you have a moment, you can share your thoughts by clicking this button. Thank you for being part of our community!