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
Fall Fun at ANNA Foxborough!
Join us this Saturday, November 14th from 9-11am for a family-friendly open house at our Foxborough center! Families can enjoy sensory-friendly activities, crafts, playtime, story and song time, and a free fall-themed photo opportunity. Stop by, explore the center, meet members of our team, and enjoy a fun morning together at 225 Foxboro Blvd in Foxborough!
Local Events
We are happy to highlight local sensory-friendly and inclusive events across eastern Massachusetts:
🎁 Holiday Bazaar & Disability Resource Fair | Saturday, November 14th | 10am–2pm
Taunton Hotel & Conference Center, Taunton, MA
Join Community Autism Resources (CAR) for a welcoming holiday event connecting autistic individuals and families with local resources, service providers, and makers. Browse unique gifts, discover community supports, and meet other families while supporting CAR’s programs and services. Guests should park behind the hotel and enter through the rear conference entrance. Learn more here (opens in a new tab)!
📚 Sensory Storytime | Saturday, November 14th | 2–2:45pm
Brookline Village Library, Brookline, MA
Children ages 3–7 and their caregivers are invited to explore stories, music, and movement in a sensory-friendly setting. Accommodations include dimmed lighting, low music, sensory toys and fidgets, visual guides, and flexible seating. Space is limited and registration is required: Register here (opens in a new tab)!
🔎 Sensory-Friendly Afternoon | Tuesday, November 17th | 1:30–4:30pm
Discovery Museum, Acton, MA
Children and adults with disabilities or sensory sensitivities and their families are invited to enjoy a free afternoon exploring Discovery Museum and Discovery Woods. The museum remains open to the public, but no group visits are scheduled to help reduce crowding. Noise-reducing headphones, sensory maps, and a designated “Take a Break” space are available. A medical diagnosis is not necessary, and advance registration is required: Learn more and register here (opens in a new tab)!
🌆 Eveningstar Access | Friday, November 20th | 5–7pm
Boston Children’s Museum, Boston, MA
Children with disabilities or medical needs and their families 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 (opens in a new tab)!
🎅 Sensory Santa Experience | Saturday, November 21st | 10am–12pm & 1–3pm
Autism Welcoming Center at the Natick Mall, Natick, MA
Autism Alliance invites families to a relaxed holiday experience with Santa, offered in reserved 30-minute time slots to reduce crowding. Enjoy refreshments, holiday movies, crafts, and games, and choose the type of interaction with Santa that feels most comfortable for your child. Staff can help take photos using your camera. The event is currently full, but families can join the waitlist: Join the waitlist here (opens in a new tab)!
🩰 Sensory & Family-Friendly Nutcracker | Friday, November 27th | 1–2pm
Eleanor Welch Casey Theater, Regis College, Weston, MA
Commonwealth Ballet presents a shortened, one-hour performance of The Nutcracker suitable for children of all ages. Accommodations include softer music, partially raised theater lighting, less intense stage action, and a quiet space for breaks. Families can also arrive at noon for hands-on, behind-the-scenes activities in the Carney Gallery. Reduced-price tickets are available, and parking is free: Learn more and purchase tickets here (opens in a new tab)!
🔎 Sensory-Friendly Afternoon | Tuesday, December 1st | 1:30–4:30pm
Discovery Museum, Acton, MA
Children and adults with disabilities or sensory sensitivities and their families are invited to enjoy a free afternoon exploring Discovery Museum and Discovery Woods. The museum remains open to the public, but no group visits are scheduled to help reduce crowding. Noise-reducing headphones, sensory maps, and a designated “Take a Break” space are available. A medical diagnosis is not necessary, and advance registration is required: Learn more and register here (opens in a new tab)!
✨ Sensory-Friendly Lights | Thurs., December 3rd & Tues., December 8th | 4–7pm
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston, MA
Enjoy a festive walk through illuminated gardens during special sensory-friendly hours developed in partnership with Autism Resource Center. Attendance is reduced, music and ambient sounds are quieter, and there are no flashing or strobing lights. A quiet room with sensory toys is also available. This mostly outdoor experience requires advance tickets; member and eligible EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare discounts are available. Learn more and purchase tickets here (opens in a new tab)!
Ask ANNA
Do you have something you’d like to ask the ANNA team? Please submit your question here (opens in a new tab) 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 sensory differences and why understanding a child’s individual experience is an important part of neurodiversity-affirming care.
Same Environment, Different Experiences
We all experience the world through our senses, but people can experience the same sounds, lights, textures, movements, and other sensations very differently. For an autistic child with sensory processing differences, a noise that barely registers for someone else may feel overwhelming, or movement that seems excessive to another person may help them feel comfortable and regulated.
Because we cannot experience the world exactly as another person does, adults may sometimes underestimate how uncomfortable or important a sensory experience is for a child. A child who covers their ears, avoids a particular texture, seeks movement, or moves away from a busy space may be communicating something important about what their body needs. Paying attention to those responses can help adults understand the child’s experience without requiring them to tolerate discomfort simply because other people experience the environment differently. Neurodiversity-affirming care involves taking individual sensory experiences seriously and making room for people to meet their needs in different ways.
Support Your Child’s Development
Sensory Processing
The way people experience and respond to sensory input such as lights, sounds, tastes, smells, textures and movement is called sensory processing. Many autistic children have sensory processing differences, so this is an important thing for parents, caregivers and professionals to understand and support.
Some children will tend to seek out more sensory input than would typically be expected, showing high activity levels, challenges around personal space, making or seeking out loud noises, biting or chewing nonfood items, rough play, high pain tolerance and movements like jumping or spinning. Other children will try to minimize and avoid overwhelming sensory input, which can look like covering their ears or becoming distressed around loud noises, avoiding brightly lit rooms, refusing swings and slides, difficulty with certain clothing textures and avoiding getting messy. Some children display a mix of both sensory-seeking and sensory-avoidance.
Remember that while we certainly want to support a child in learning new skills, we should also be accommodating their needs. We don’t always need to try to change the way a child processes sensory information or teach them to accept things that are painful or uncomfortable for them. Simple accommodations such as noise-reducing headphones and sunglasses can reduce distress for sensory-avoidant children who might become overwhelmed by noises and lights. Increased opportunities for movement, weighted blankets, safe chewy toys and heavy work activities that engage their muscles can be helpful strategies to meet the needs of sensory-seeking children.
Incorporating sensory-rich activities into play can also enhance development by helping children process sensory information. This can include things like sensory bins, movement activities, fidget toys and bubbles, depending on your child’s interests and individual needs. By gaining an understanding of sensory processing and making it a regular part of play, you can support both your child's sensory development and their overall wellbeing!
Staff Spotlight
Meet Jiamin You, BCBA!
Jiamin is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at our Weston center. Jiamin received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Education Studies from Brandeis University in 2022. After graduating, Jiamin worked as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) in an ABA clinic, where she met an excellent supervisor whose passion for the field and dedication to helping families inspired Jiamin to also pursue a career in ABA.
In 2023, Jiamin began the Master of Science in ABA program at Regis College and became a BCBA upon graduation in June 2025. Jiamin’s experiences of providing ABA services in both clinic and home settings helped her to realize the importance of collaborating with caregivers to foster meaningful changes in clients’ lives. When she joined ANNA, Jiamin was excited that this personal value closely aligned with ANNA’s mission and approach!
Featured Resource
Haircuts by Brandi
Haircuts by Brandi offers in-home haircuts throughout the Metrowest area, and specializes in children who are diagnosed with autism or other disabilities. Brandi understands that haircuts can be a challenge for these children, and is sensitive to sensory and other needs. She is highly recommended by an ANNA team member!
Brandi can be reached by phone at (508) 308-2308, by email at brandimariemorgan@gmail.com or by Facebook message at https://www.facebook.com/haircutsbybrandi/ (opens in a new tab).
Recommended Reading
Perfectly Me (Autism Included), written by Reagan Bush
This autobiography, told from a 9 year old’s perspective, offers an opportunity for children and families to explore neurodiversity, celebrate differences, and reflect on the importance of accepting ourselves and others. A great starting point for conversations about identity, inclusion, and belonging!
Reagan is a local pop star, autism advocate, and author - check out her Instagram (opens in a new tab)!
Caregiver Affirmation
“I can learn and grow with my child.”
As parents and caregivers, we do everything we can to support our child’s development and still find ourselves questioning whether we are doing enough or doing the right things. Caring for any child is a journey with many ups and downs, and caring for a child with autism can present challenges and opportunities that you didn’t expect. You don’t have to know it all! You are already exactly who your child needs, and being willing to learn and adapt is one of the best things you can do for them.
Give yourself permission to grow and evolve along with your child. Just as they learn from you, you will learn so much from them. Thank you for letting us be a part of that journey!
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!