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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
Summer at ANNA
As the school year wraps up and summer begins, you may be thinking about how to support your child(ren) through schedule changes and less structured days. At ANNA, we continue to offer developmental evaluations and center-based services throughout the summer just as we do during the school year.
If you are already receiving services with us, feel free to ask any questions you may have about navigating summer transitions. If you are new to ANNA and interested in learning more about what support could look like for your child, give us a call at (617) 693-5767 – we are here to help!
Local Events
We are happy to highlight local sensory-friendly and inclusive events across eastern Massachusetts:
🦁 Movie at the Mall: Madagascar | Wednesday, June 17th | 4:30–6pm
Autism Welcoming Center at the Natick Mall
Autism Alliance is kicking off a summer Madagascar-themed drop-in movie series at the Autism Welcoming Center. Families can enjoy the movie, snacks and drinks, hands-on crafts, drawing contests, animal mask-making, and other jungle- and zoo-themed activities. The space will include sensory equipment, room to move, and opportunities to take breaks as needed. No registration is required: Learn more here!
🏛️ Eveningstar Access | Friday, June 19th | 5–7pm
Boston Children’s Museum, Boston, MA
Children with special or medical needs are invited to enjoy Boston Children’s Museum during a quieter, less crowded evening visit. This is a mask-optional event, meaning masks are recommended but not required for visitors, and museum staff will wear masks when interacting with guests. Admission is half-price for general admission and free for museum members, with other discounts potentially available (such as EBT/WIC discount). Pre-registration is required: Register here!
🎤 Leading from Lived Experience | Friday, June 26th | 12:30pm
Virtual through the Massachusetts’ DDS Autism Team’s Neurodiversity Series
Author, educator, and autistic self-advocate Gyasi Burks-Abbott will discuss disability advocacy, leadership, and the importance of lived experience. He will share his journey from relying on his mother’s advocacy to advocating for himself and others. Participants will also hear about how personal stories can help people better understand disability, identity, and systems change. Registration is required: Register here!
🌙 Inclusive Evening at Discovery Museum | Saturday, June 27th | 5–8pm
Discovery Museum, Acton, MA
Children and adults with disabilities or sensory sensitivities are invited to enjoy a free, limited-capacity evening at Discovery Museum. Families can explore the accessible museum and Discovery Woods, try hands-on activities, and spend time in a calmer environment while the museum is closed to the general public. Dinner will be provided, including a gluten-free option, and families may request ASL interpretation in advance. A medical diagnosis is not necessary, and advance registration is required: Register 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 autistic burnout and the importance of rest, regulation, and recovery.
Autistic Burnout and Recovery
Children with autism often work extremely hard to navigate the world. On any given day, they may be asked to cope with a combination of bright lights, loud sounds, transitions, social expectations, communication demands, and changes in routine. Over time, this can cause some children can become worn down from too much stress and/or not enough recovery time. Many autistic adults describe this as burnout, and it’s an important thing to be aware of when caring for an autistic child as well.
A young child experiencing burnout might not be able to say that directly, but they may seem more tired, withdrawn, or easily overwhelmed than usual. They could have more meltdowns, appear “stuck” on repeating the same activity (this is often an attempt to regulate and feel safe), avoid things they usually enjoy, or need more help with routines they had before. These changes can indicate that their body and brain need more support.
When this happens, caregivers can help the child recover by lowering expectations for awhile. This might look like building in more breaks and quiet time, sticking with simple plans, and offering calming or familiar activities. Things like movement, sensory input, deep pressure, and outdoor play may help some children as well. By honoring a child’s genuine need for rest and regulation, we help them feel safer and give them an opportunity to recover.
Support Your Child’s Development
With the arrival of warmer weather, now is a good time to revisit the topic of water safety – something that is particularly important for families of autistic children. Many children with autism are drawn to water, but may not recognize danger or respond to their name in an emergency. This combination can increase the risk of accidents, so extra precautions are essential.
Be sure to always closely supervise your child whenever they are near water, no matter how shallow or familiar the area may seem. Even a few inches of water can be dangerous. Taking steps such as fencing pools, installing door alarms, and using safety covers can help prevent unsupervised access. Early swim lessons tailored to your child’s needs can also build confidence and essential water skills, but this should never replace close supervision.
If your child has a tendency to wander, it’s a good idea to share water safety information with neighbors and caregivers and to include water hazards in your family’s emergency plan. These strategies work together to create an environment where your child can enjoy water, while you have peace of mind that they can do so safely.
For more information, here is a helpful resource from the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services – Autism, Wandering, and Water Safety: Information for Caregivers.
Staff Spotlight
Meet Arif Kassam, Massachusetts Market Executive Director!
ANNA welcomes Arif Kassam as Market Executive Director for Massachusetts. Arif brings deep experience in senior leadership, guiding interdisciplinary teams caring for vulnerable patient populations. Arif’s north star is work that matters, with people who mean it — and is truly excited by the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of families navigating autism services and supports.
Arif moved to Massachusetts in 2018 from the West Coast. His wife is a physician, and his daughter, a budding neuroscientist, is a sophomore at Tufts. In his spare time, Arif loves to ride his bike, read, listen to music and hang out with his source of support, his family.
Featured Resource
Autism Alliance
Autism Alliance is the Metrowest region’s Autism Support Center, and provides a wide range of opportunities for families of children, teens, and adults with autism. From a comprehensive directory of resources to support groups and sensory-friendly events, the Autism Alliance is a wonderful source of support for families and a leader in promoting inclusivity and accessibility in the community. Their Autism Welcoming initiative has helped numerous local business learn how best to welcome and include autistic individuals and their families.
We are so grateful for the Autism Alliance’s amazing work in MetroWest, and encourage you to learn more at autismalliance.org!
Recommended Reading
Love You to Pieces: Creative Writers on Raising a Child with Special Needs, written by Various, edited by Suzanne Kamata
Love You to Pieces is a collection of literary writing about parenting children with developmental differences such as autism, deafness, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, and more. Through poetry, memoir, and fiction, writers offer honest and moving portraits of family life, care, connection, and the complex emotions that can arise in parent-child relationships. The collection explores the many ways children communicate – whether through speech, sign, movement, behavior, or their own unique forms of expression – and the deep love of the families who seek to understand and support them.
Caregiver Affirmation
“My child doesn’t need to be busy to be growing.”
As we approach summer, it sometimes feels like expectations (whether externally- or self-imposed) increase for creating fun and memorable experiences for our children. Even if you know that your child truly needs more quiet and familiar routines and activities, it’s natural to also feel like you want to give them all the opportunities other children get and make sure they don’t “miss out.” Add the pressure of wanting your child to have as many learning opportunities as possible, and it can make this season feel heavy all the way around.
Try to remember that being responsive to your child’s unique needs, whatever they may be, is an incredibly meaningful way to support their growth. A child who feels safe, regulated, and understood is a child who is in the best position for learning. Give yourself and your child permission to slow down – you do not have to fill every hour with activity in order to have a summer rich in connection and growth!
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!
