Lived experience shapes our work

Community Advisory board

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  Andrew Arboe

  Andrew Arboe

  Andrew is an autistic self-advocate and public speaker who works with schools, providers, and organizations to share practical, experience-based insights on autism.

  His speaking focuses on topics such as transition to adulthood, transportation, employment, and special education, all grounded in his own lived experience and professional journey. Andrew also provides consulting, resource development, and support to families and organizations.

  He is especially passionate about ensuring individuals and families know they are not alone in figuring out what comes next. Andrew brings a collaborative and nuanced perspective that bridges self-advocates, families, and professionals.

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  Madge Szulga

  MA, CCC-SLP

  Madge is an autistic speech-language pathologist and early intervention provider who supports young children and families as they navigate autism diagnoses and early developmental questions.

  Their work is grounded in a neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based approach, informed by both lived and professional experience. Madge is currently pursuing a clinical doctorate in speech-language pathology with a research focus in autism.

  They are especially passionate about ensuring families have access to balanced, accessible information and feel supported in making decisions that align with their values. Through their work, Madge brings a thoughtful and nuanced perspective to conversations with families about early supports.

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  KC Cottrell

  KC Cottrell

  KC is the parent of a young autistic child and has been the primary advocate in navigating his care, from early intervention and diagnosis through preschool and ongoing services.

  After relocating to Massachusetts, she experienced firsthand how overwhelming and isolating it can be to learn an entirely new system while supporting a child with complex needs.

  Her perspective is shaped by both deep personal experience and a professional background in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is especially passionate about centering families who are often left out of the conversation, and hopes to help make the process more navigable and ensure that all families have access to meaningful support.

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  Clementina Jose

  LMSW

  Clementina is an educator and mental health advocate whose work centers on promoting equity, emotional well-being, and access to care in educational and community spaces.

  She leads initiatives that support college students with disabilities in achieving academic and career success through a holistic, student-centered approach. Clementina is deeply committed to building systems that move beyond “fixing” and instead create spaces where everyone is understood, supported, and able to thrive.

  She is especially passionate about ensuring that programming reflects the diverse needs and voices of the communities it serves. Through her work, Clementina strives to create environments where neurodivergent individuals are seen, heard, and valued.

  
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  Christina GravinaM.Ed., BCBA

  Christina Gravina

  Christina is the CEO and Founder of Bridging Independent Living Together, Inc. (BILT), a Woburn-based nonprofit she launched in 2019 after years of working in adult services as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

  Her work is grounded in a commitment to autonomy and meaningful community inclusion, shaped by her experience advocating at both the individual and systems level. Christina is passionate about challenging compliance-driven models of care and creating services that are centered on what truly matters in a person’s life.

  Through her work and advocacy, she continues to push for more connected, accessible, and values-driven support systems for individuals and families.

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  Stephanie Bohler

  CCC-SLPD

  Stephanie is a speech-language pathologist and the founder of a private practice focused on supporting autistic children and their families.

  She specializes in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and is passionate about supporting multimodal communication in ways that are accessible, individualized, and neurodiversity-affirming.

  Stephanie also partners with providers to build more naturalistic, collaborative approaches and expand understanding of different communication modalities. She is especially committed to increasing access to AAC for multilingual communities and to continuing to learn from and alongside the families and professionals she serves.

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  Julie Bolduc DeFilippoPhD, MSW, LICSW

  Julie Bolduc DeFilippo

  Julie is a licensed independent clinical social worker, community advocate, and researcher.

  Her professional expertise, alongside her lived experience, informs her commitment to building more accessible, family-centered systems of care and education. Her work focuses on supporting children and families with complex neurological and psychiatric profiles, particularly those whose underlying neurological differences are often misunderstood or overlooked due to intersecting social inequities.

  Julie is deeply engaged in her community and passionately advances meaningful collaboration across disciplines. She is especially committed to centering the voices and experiences of families and ensuring that support systems respond to the full context of each child’s life.