The Autism Advocate

October 2024

October 18, 2024

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

Thank you for attending our Open House!

We had a great time with so many of you during our first Open House last month! It was wonderful to see families connecting with one another and children enjoying the music and activities. We look forward to hosting more events for families both at our center and in the community!

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

Consistent routines are incredibly important for children, and particularly for autistic children. Developing and repeating these routines can support skill development by providing a sense of structure and predictability for your child, which in turn helps to reduce anxiety and to make an often chaotic and unpredictable world feel more manageable. When daily activities follow a familiar pattern, it maximizes your child’s opportunities to practice important skills and to feel safe in doing so. With consistency, your child will become more confident over time as they anticipate what’s coming next and how they can participate. Keeping routines steady, while remaining flexible enough for gradual change in response to your child’s development and needs, will help nurture their growth in a supportive, calm environment.

Staff Spotlight

Meet Emily O’Brien, Board Certified Behavior Analyst!

Emily has served as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in the Boston area since 2022, after gaining hands-on experience as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) across a variety of settings including in-home, clinic, school, daycare and as a social skills group facilitator. Before joining ANNA, Emily worked as the Clinical Supervisor and BCBA at the Regis Autism Center, where she combined her passion for teaching, supervising and curriculum development with her knowledge and experience of applying naturalistic ABA practices to young learners. Emily enjoys embedding learning targets into everyday creative play opportunities based on each child’s interests. She loves singing, reading, arts and crafts and any form of pretend or imaginary play with kiddos!

Outside of work Emily enjoys snowboarding in Vermont with her family, playing in an intramural kickball league, snuggling up on the couch with a good book and beating her family and friends in fantasy football!

Chris Walsh Center at FSU

The Chris Walsh Center at Framingham State University serves as a resource for the community by providing information and support around meeting the needs of students with disabilities and students who are gifted. The center offers workshops and presentations, conducts research and professional development and provides support and guidance to families and educators. Archived presentations on their website include topics such as Autism & Intersectionality, ADHD, Social-Emotional Learning, Sibling Support and Advocating for Your Child. You can find these and more at https://www.chriswalshcenter.org/.

Bitsy Bat, School Star, written and illustrated by Kaz Windness

Bitsy Bat, School Star by Autistic author Kaz Windness is a heartwarming children's book about Bitsy, a young bat who feels out of place at school because she's different from her classmates. Bitsy has her own way of seeing and interacting with the world, which leads to struggles with fitting in. Throughout the story, she faces challenges with things like participating in class and understanding social cues. With the support of a teacher and by embracing her unique talents, Bitsy learns that her differences are what make her special! In the end, she shines as a "school star" by being herself, teaching readers an important lesson about self acceptance, friendship and celebrating diversity.

Caregiver Affirmation

“I know my child best.”

As a parent or caregiver, no one understands your child better than you do. You may have many professionals involved with your child and family, and they may bring important perspectives and expertise, but none more important than the insights you have gained by caring for your child and watching them grow. Always trust your instincts when you receive recommendations for strategies or services, and remember that no professional knows more about what’s right for your child and family than you do. Feel confident in speaking up, asking questions and even saying no when you need to- your deep connection with your child is irreplaceable and you are their very best, and most informed, teacher and advocate.

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