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 Announcements and Upcoming Events

Research Study Opportunity

UMass Chan Medical School is currently enrolling for a longitudinal research study for children who are 6-8 months old and are younger siblings of children with autism. Children participating in the study will receive language support sessions and developmental monitoring, while continuing to be eligible for services outside of the study. Participation can be done remotely or include home visits, and families will receive multiple gift cards throughout the study. Interested families can request more information by calling (774) 479-6025 or emailing [email protected].

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 a continuous process with lots of opportunities for learning! Last month we introduced the concept of neurodiversity, and explored what it means to be neurodiversity-affirming. This month, we would love to share a little bit about why we believe neurodiversity-affirming services are so important.

Why Does It Matter?

When service providers take a neurodiversity-affirming approach, they focus on supporting autistic children in ways that respect their needs, strengths, and self-identity, rather than on gaining compliance or encouraging them to mask (hide) their autistic traits. This approach allows children to feel safe and valued for who they are, which is so important for healthy emotional development. Conversely, when children receive the message – whether directly or indirectly – that their natural ways of communicating, moving, or engaging with the world are wrong, it can lead to distress. This distress often manifests as frustration, anxiety, and behavioral challenges, all of which could be avoided or minimized by taking a more affirming approach.

Neurodiversity-affirming services help children feel secure and understood, reducing stress and allowing them to participate more fully in learning and social interactions. When a child feels unconditionally accepted, they are more likely to explore, connect, and build the skills that support their growth in a way that aligns with their unique strengths. By prioritizing felt safety and authentic connection, neurodiversity-affirming services support a positive and empowering developmental journey.

Support Your Child’s Development

Self-advocacy – the ability to understand and communicate one’s own needs, preferences, and rights – is an incredibly important skill for all of us, and is something that we believe should be prioritized for autistic children. Caregivers can support children’s self-advocacy skills by offering the child choices throughout the day, such as choosing what they want for a snack or deciding what to wear. This teaches children that their preferences matter, and provides them with an opportunity to feel a sense of control.

Another important part of teaching and supporting self-advocacy is respecting the child’s communication style and being responsive to their communication attempts. Whether the child communicates using spoken words, gestures, signs, AAC devices, pictures, or their behavior, it is important to acknowledge and validate their communication.

Caregivers can also model self-advocacy by narrating their own needs and choices. For example, “I’m feeling overwhelmed, so I’m going to take a deep breath before we continue.” This shows the child that it’s ok to tell others what they need and how they feel, and helps them build the confidence to advocate for themselves now and in the future.

Staff Spotlight

Ashley is a passionate advocate for inclusion and accessibility who has spent the past 15 years supporting autistic children and their families, primarily within the early intervention system. She has particular interest in neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed practice, family support and preservation, special education advocacy, disability justice and centering the perspectives of those with lived experience.

In addition to her professional background, Ashley’s work is informed by her numerous personal experiences with neurodiversity and disability. She is excited and grateful to apply her experience and passion to her work at ANNA, supporting families and raising awareness in the community.

At home, Ashley enjoys playing with her son, answering his many questions, and watching the strangest documentaries she can find.

Featured Resource

Parent to Parent

Parent to Parent is a program of the Federation for Children with Special Needs, which directly connects volunteer support parents with caregivers seeking advice and support. Program staff facilitate matches based on specific diagnoses, needs, or situations. For example, a family whose child has recently been diagnosed with autism and is preparing to transition out of early intervention might request to be matched with a parent who has an older autistic child and has navigated this transition. The program would connect the two caregivers, who can then share experiences and advice.

In addition to being available to receive requests from caregivers seeking support, the Parent to Parent program is always looking for volunteer support parents. You can learn more about both at https://fcsn.org/p2p!

Recommended Reading

Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity

Unmasking Autism explores the concept of masking, where Autistic individuals hide their natural traits to fit into neurotypical society – often at a great personal cost. Dr. Devon Price draws from personal experience, research, and real-life stories to discuss how masking impacts mental health and identity. Many Autistic people spend years, or even decades, unaware of their true selves and navigating a world that overlooks their needs. This book shares insight into the societal pressures that encourage people to mask, as well as action steps for safely unmasking. Through strategies like embracing special interests, building connections with other Autistic individuals, and challenging stereotypes, Dr. Price empowers readers to reconnect with their authentic selves.

Caregiver Affirmation

“My mistakes help me learn and grow.”

Every caregiver makes mistakes, and caring for an autistic child comes with unique challenges that can make those feel even heavier. You might respond to your child’s distress in a way you later regret, choose services that don’t turn out to be the right fit, or wait longer than you wish you had to pursue an evaluation. These experiences are perfectly natural and are part of the learning process.

Remember that every decision you make is based on the information and resources you have at the time. What matters most is how you grow from these experiences, adjusting your approach with new insight and self-compassion. Your child doesn’t need perfection, they just need someone who is willing to reflect, learn, and keep showing up with love. Give yourself the same grace and patience you give your child, knowing that every choice, even the ones you later question, has brought you closer to the knowledge you have today.

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!