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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
Andrew Arboe Presents: Special Interests and How They Shaped My Life – May 19, 2026 at 6pm
We are so excited to welcome Andrew Arboe – Autistic self-advocate, public speaker, and ANNA Community Advisory Board member – to our Woburn center to share his experiences and perspectives on special interests! Childcare will be available, as well as a virtual option for those unable to attend in person. Registration is required and can be completed at this link: Andrew Arboe Presentation at ANNA Woburn. Hope to see you there!
Local Events
We are happy to highlight local sensory-friendly and inclusive events across eastern Massachusetts:
🌿 Springtime Sensory Trail Event | Saturday, April 25th | 1–2pm
Mass Central Rail Trail–Sterling Spur, 25 Gates Rd, Sterling, MA
Join DCR for a guided, sensory-friendly walk designed to be accessible and welcoming for all ages and abilities. This slow-paced experience covers a short, mostly flat trail with benches available for breaks along the way. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome, and an ADA-accessible portable restroom is available at the trailhead. No dogs are allowed unless they are a service animal acting within their service capacity. Registration is not required. To check on hike status or for any questions, please call (617) 352-4044 or email [email protected].
🐮 Sensory-Friendly Morning at Drumlin Farm | Monday, April 27th | 10am–1pm
Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm, Lincoln, MA
Enjoy a quieter, lower-capacity visit to the sanctuary during dedicated sensory-friendly hours. With fewer visitors and a calmer environment, families can explore trails and connect with nature at their own pace. This event is designed for individuals with autism or sensory sensitivities, along with their families. Pre-registration is requested to help maintain a comfortable experience: Register here!
🏥 Healthcare Access for All: Improving Medical Experiences for Individuals with Autism and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities | Monday, April 27 | 1pm
Virtual, presented by the Lurie Center and the Arc
This webinar, hosted by the Lurie Center for Autism and The Arc of Massachusetts, focuses on practical ways to improve healthcare experiences. Participants will learn strategies such as using visual supports, social stories, and gradual desensitization to reduce anxiety around medical visits. The session also covers how to advocate effectively and collaborate with providers. Resources to support more positive and accessible healthcare experiences will be shared. Register here!
🌈 Natick Neurodiversity Fair | Thursday, April 30th | 6:30pm
Kennedy Middle School, Natick, MA
Natick Public Schools & the Special Education Parent Advisory Council invite all families to this event which features a panel about neurodiversity and neurodiversity-affirming practices, opportunities to share personal experiences, and a resource fair. Learn more here!
🚒 Marlborough Sensory-Friendly Touch-a-Truck | Saturday, May 2nd | 1–3pm
Kane Elementary School, 520 Farm Rd, Marlborough, MA
Families are invited to explore trucks and vehicles in a sensory-friendly, community-focused setting. The event includes hands-on activities, opportunities to meet local helpers, and access to community resources. A calm/quiet space will be available, along with arts and crafts, lawn games, and free food. This free event is hosted by Marlborough SEPAC with local community partners (come find us at the ANNA table). Learn more here or email [email protected]!
🎈 Low-Sensory Play Session | Saturday, May 2nd | 2–4pm
North Shore Children’s Museum, Peabody, MA
This special session offers a quieter museum experience with reduced lighting, lower noise levels, and limited capacity. Families can explore exhibits at their own pace in a more comfortable and supportive environment. Sensory tools such as noise-canceling headphones and sensory kits are available, along with additional staff support. Advance ticket purchase is recommended due to limited space. Purchase tickets here!
🚚 Southborough Touch-a-Truck (with Sensory-Friendly Time Included) | Sunday, May 3rd | 10am–12pm (sensory-friendly 10–10:30am)
Woodward School, 28 Cordaville Rd, Southborough, MA
Kick off the day with a sensory-friendly half hour before the full event begins. Families can explore a variety of trucks and vehicles while connecting with others in the community. This hands-on event is designed to be engaging and welcoming for young children and future vehicle enthusiasts. It’s a relaxed opportunity for learning, play, and connection. Learn more here!
🧸 Inclusive Afternoon | Tuesday, May 5th | 1:30–4:30pm
Discovery Museum in Acton
Enjoy a relaxed afternoon of play and exploration at the accessible, universally designed Discovery Museum and Discovery Woods. This free event is ideal for visitors who benefit from a more sensory-friendly, lower-capacity experience. The Museum remains open to the public, but no group visits are scheduled to help keep crowds manageable. Advance registration is required – register here!
🤝 The Science of Friendship — Practical Tools for Kids, Teens, and Adults | Tuesday, May 5th | 7pm
Virtual, presented by The Chris Walsh Center at Framingham State University
Hosted by the Chris Walsh Center, this webinar explores how to build and maintain meaningful relationships across the lifespan. The session addresses common social questions, including how to start conversations and deepen connections over time. Participants will leave with practical strategies, real-life examples, and tools to support social confidence. The presentation is grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience. Register here!
🌙 Inclusive Evening at Discovery Museum | Saturday, May 16th | 5–8pm
Discovery Museum, Acton, MA
This special evening offers a low-capacity, sensory-friendly museum experience for children and adults with disabilities or sensory sensitivities. Families can explore interactive exhibits in a calm, welcoming environment while connecting with others. Dinner will be provided, including a gluten-free option. Advance registration is required to help maintain a supportive and comfortable setting. Register here!
📚 Family Support Center Resource Fair | Saturday, May 30th | 12–2pm
1250 West Chestnut St, Brockton, MA
This resource fair brings together local organizations, service providers, and families to share information and build connections. Attendees can learn about a wide range of supports, including autism services, recreation programs, advocacy resources, and government agencies. It’s an opportunity to ask questions, explore options, and connect with others in the community. Families at all stages are welcome to attend. Learn more here!
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 responsive to the needs and perspectives of the autistic community. This month, we are exploring the “Double Empathy Problem,” which highlights one of the many misconceptions about autistic individuals.
Neurodiversity at ANNA: It Goes Both Ways
We often hear that autistic people struggle with social communication, but this mindset doesn’t consider that communication is a two-way process. The Double Empathy Problem is the idea that challenges in communication and perspective-taking between autistic and non-autistic individuals occur because people with different ways of thinking and experiencing the world can have trouble understanding each other. This means that the issue does not lie within the autistic individual, and that both parties have an equal responsibility for attempting to understand and accommodate the other.
The Double Empathy Problem is a great reminder that our children don’t have to change who they are. Just as we can support them in understanding and having empathy for others, we should expect others (including ourselves!) to put in the work to understand and empathize with them.
Support Your Child’s Development
We often feel compelled to respond quickly when a child does something that feels challenging or confusing. It’s very natural to want to step in and redirect them, fix the problem, stop the behavior, etc. Sometimes this is necessary, such as when safety is at risk. But in other situations, before jumping in, consider pausing and asking yourself what the behavior might mean.
You may have heard the phrase “behavior is communication,” and part of that concept is the need to slow down and truly understand what is behind the behaviors that you might be seeing. Maybe your child is expressing excitement, overwhelm, confusion, curiosity, or a need for connection or attention. If we respond only to the surface behavior, we can miss the opportunity to be responsive to what they really need in that moment.
A simple strategy is to pause before reacting, observe what’s happening (what is the environment like, is the child having a lot of demands placed on them, etc.), wonder what they might be needing or feeling, and finally respond in a way that supports the underlying need rather than just addresses the visible behavior. For example, instead of immediately redirecting a child who is leaving an activity they’ve been asked to complete, we can consider whether they need a break, more support in order to engage in the activity, or a different way to participate in it.
Staff Spotlight
Meet Rachel Barron, MS, BCBA, LABA – Clinical Director at ANNA Weston!
Rachel brings over a decade of experience delivering evidence-based services across residential, home-based, clinic, and school settings. She earned her Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western New England University and holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Hispanic Studies from Brandeis University. Rachel has supported individuals ranging from the early intervention age group through young adulthood and is known for her warm, grounded, and collaborative approach with children, families, and interdisciplinary teams.
Rachel was drawn to ANNA’s commitment to Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI), its emphasis on learning through engagement, and its focus on compassionate, child-centered care. These values and priorities align with Rachel’s own belief that a child’s progress is strongest when learning occurs through meaningful connection and engagement.
Outside of work, Rachel loves spending time with her family and her beloved dog, Bamba, who (in her completely unbiased opinion) is the sweetest dog in the world!
Featured Resource
Spectrum Solutions
Spectrum Solutions, founded and run by Katie Moore, MS, BCBA, LABA, is a consulting service that provides support for families and caregivers of children on the autism spectrum. Their goal is to help bridge the gap between diagnosis and progress by providing families with the tools, guidance, and confidence they need to support their child. Learn more here!
Recommended Reading
Always Bring Your Sunglasses: And Other Stories from a Life of Sensory and Social Invalidation, written by Becca Lory Hector
What does growing up with autism truly feel like, and how can a parent best support their Autistic child? “Always Bring Your Sunglasses” is a poignant, insightful guide written by Becca Lory Hector, aimed at providing neurotypical parents with a deeper understanding of the Autistic experience.
Caregiver Affirmation
“I am learning to see and support my child for who they are.”
This month, let’s acknowledge that understanding your child and knowing how best to support them is a continuous process. Caregivers often feel like we should have all the answers about what to do and how to respond in just the right way to everything our child does, but this expectation can lead to the belief that we aren’t doing enough – and you are doing so much!
An important part of learning how to support your child is learning who they truly are and what matters most to them. The patterns that you notice about what helps them feel safe and calm, what makes things harder for them, how they show that they’re getting overwhelmed, and so many other things, allow you to develop an understanding of how to help them. You might try something based on what you know, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. This is part of the process and doesn’t mean that you are doing something wrong. Nobody has everything figured out and you are doing great!
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!
