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

ANNA will be closed on the following dates:

Thursday, November 28th - Friday, November 29th

Monday, December 23rd - Friday, December 27th

Wednesday, January 1st, 2025

Caregiver Connections

We are now offering virtual support groups for families, with both a daytime and evening option. This is an informal way to connect with other caregivers for emotional support, resource sharing or whatever you need! These groups will take place on Teams and you can request the link by emailing [email protected] or calling Ashley at (617) 307-3989.

Upcoming support groups:

Monday, November 18th from 6:30-7:30pm

Thursday, November 21st from 10-11am

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!

Support Your Child’s Development

Here at ANNA we celebrate learning through play, and we encourage you to do this at home as well! Play is the primary way that children explore, understand and engage with the world around them, and is a natural and engaging way to learn new things. Through fun activities that match their interests, children can safely practice new skills without the pressure of structured lessons or forced outcomes.

A great way to start is by observing what your child naturally enjoys. Consider which toys, movements, sounds or textures they gravitate towards, and incorporate those into activities. For example, if they enjoy stacking blocks this can be an opportunity to gently practice turn-taking, counting or exploring colors within the context of a calm, supportive and fun environment. This minimizes pressure and overstimulation while giving your child time to explore at their own pace.

You can join in on the play by following your child's cues and offering simple interactions that build connection. Through consistent and supportive play experiences, children grow their confidence and build a foundation for more complex skills- all while having fun and feeling safe!

Staff Spotlight

Kristen has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2023, supporting individuals with diverse needs. After completing her undergraduate degree, Kristen worked as a behavior technician in a preschool classroom while pursuing her master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). During this time, she developed a strong foundation in both ABA principles as well as in early childhood interventions.

Kristen is passionate about using evidence-based strategies to promote positive behavior and meaningful progress in her clients’ lives. She is particularly interested in helping children build their communication skills through multimodal approaches, empowering them to express themselves more effectively. Kristen is dedicated to collaborating with families, educators, and interdisciplinary teams to guide each child’s unique journey toward independence, and is excited to support children and families in her work at ANNA!

During the winter months, Kristen spends her downtime training her Tamaskan dog, Odin, to be a sled dog!

Featured Resource

Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PPAL)

The Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PPAL) is a grassroots organization dedicated to improving access to mental health services for children and families across Massachusetts. PPAL’s mission includes supporting families, fostering parent leadership and advocating for systemic change. As the only organization in the state focused exclusively on the needs of families with children experiencing mental health challenges, PPAL has been a key player in influencing policies and practices since its founding in 1991.

PPAL offers in-person, virtual and hybrid support groups, as well as a variety of trainings and other resources for families and caregivers. You can view their calendar of events at https://ppal.net/events/.

Recommended Reading

Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Behavioral Challenges

Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children's Behavioral Challenges by Dr. Mona Delahooke reexamines how we understand and approach challenging behaviors in children. Rather than focusing on simply managing or controlling behaviors, the reader is encouraged to look deeper into the underlying causes, particularly the child’s stress response and nervous system functioning. Rooted in neuroscience and developmental psychology, this approach emphasizes compassionate, individualized support rather than punitive measures.

Dr. Delahooke presents the idea that behaviors are a form of communication about unmet needs or overwhelming feelings, especially for neurodivergent children, and the importance of supporting emotional regulation through safety and connection. The book includes practical strategies for caregivers, educators and therapists to support children’s growth from a place of empathy and understanding. This approach seeks to empower children and create environments where they feel secure and understood, rather than punished for behaviors that are often out of their control.

Caregiver Affirmation

“Doing less does not mean I am not doing enough.”

Supporting your child’s growth and wellbeing doesn’t require constant activity, therapy sessions or structured interventions. Children, whether autistic or not, need time to play, relax and just be a kid! Likewise, caregivers benefit from slowing down and spending quality time with their child without the expectation of always working on building skills. Simple connection is an incredibly important foundation for learning and development, and should be prioritized as part of creating a safe, loving and responsive environment.

Allowing your child the time to rest, process their experiences and play on their own terms may feel like a lack of action, but it’s actually honoring their need for regulation and connection and it can be even more effective than filling every moment with structured activities. Trust that, in these moments of rest, you’re providing your child with the emotional support and security they need to thrive. Doing less doesn’t mean you’re doing nothing, it means that you’re creating space for what truly matters!

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