21st Annual Autism Advocacy Day: Program

Jonathan Gardner

Jonathan Gardner is a dedicated state and national advocate, motivational speaker, and cancer survivor who happens to have autism. He serves as an Official Ambassador for Operation House Call through The Arc of Massachusetts and is a Flutie Fellow with the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. Jonathan also holds leadership and advisory roles as Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Supported Decision-Making Coalition and as a board or committee member with Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts, the Self-Determination Advisory Board, and the Department of Developmental Services Human Rights Advisory Committee.

A homeschool graduate and Ewing’s Sarcoma survivor, Jonathan draws on his lived experience to advance self-determination, equitable healthcare, disability rights, and cancer advocacy at both the state and national levels. Through public speaking, advocacy, and mentorship, he is committed to creating meaningful change and building a world where every voice is heard and every life is valued.

Heather Hegedus

Heather Hegedus joined Fidelity in 2023 as the on-air anchor for Market Sense, the Fidelity Viewpoints® flagship webcast. She’s also a key member of the Fidelity Thought Leadership Content team, where she creates educational content for wealth, brokerage, and workplace participants to help them make vital financial decisions.

Heather is dedicated to empowering people when it comes to their finances, especially working parents and special needs families. Her first child has autism and an intellectual disability, which has driven her to help other special needs families prepare for the future.

A seasoned interviewer and Emmy Award-winning journalist, Heather spent 23 years on TV in major U.S. cities, including New York and Washington DC. Most recently, she anchored a top-rated morning newscast in Boston, where, among other topics, she covered breaking financial news, including the impact of the pandemic on the economy, and global financial markets.

In her spare time, Heather sits on the board of the Profound Autism Alliance. She also volunteers with The New England Center for Children, The Arc, the Flutie Foundation, Autism Speaks, the Federation for Children with Special Needs, and Advocates for Autism. She is the mother to a 9-year-old who attends Nashoba Learning Group and a 5-year-old who is her brother’s greatest advocate.

Maura Sullivan

Maura K. Sullivan, MPA, is the Chief Executive Officer of The Arc of Massachusetts, where she leads statewide advocacy, coalition building, provider and family engagement, and policy change efforts to advance the rights and wellbeing of people with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The Arc represents more than 250,000 individuals and families across the Commonwealth.

Before becoming CEO, Maura spent a decade leading The Arc’s Government Affairs program. In this role, she led the successful passage of several major disability rights laws, including Nicky’s Law and Police Training in Autism, and secured substantial increases in the state budget for the Department of Developmental Services and community services.

Maura is also the longtime Director and principal instructor of Operation House Call, The Arc’s nationally recognized medical education program delivered in partnership with all major medical and nursing schools in Massachusetts. The program trains more than 1,300 medical and nursing students each year in patient-centered communication and healthcare access for individuals with autism and IDD.

Her leadership is shaped not only by her professional expertise, but by her lived experience as the mother of three children, including her two sons with autism, intellectual disabilities, and medical complexities. This personal commitment drives her belief in equity, dignity, and full inclusion for all people with disabilities and their families.

Katie Terino

Katie Terino is an innovator, a doer and a proactive communicator with a problem-solving mindset and a deep dedication to building an inclusive, supportive community for individuals with disabilities and their families. Her breadth of experiences infuse every aspect of her work at HOPe. She previously spent a decade in school administration, at organizations ranging from a small start-up elementary school to major universities, spanning areas from program development to marketing and fundraising to technology. Katie has also served on five nonprofit boards, including HOPe since 2016. She loves working with others who strive to understand the pain points for individuals and families who use disability services and identify unique and inspiring ways to solve them.

Katie’s tenure at HOPe followed the retirement of its founder, who led the organization since its founding in 2003. Since becoming Executive Director in April 2019, Katie grew its revenue from $1.7 million to $5.7 million; grew staffing from 36 to over 80 individuals; grew membership from 194 to over 300 children, teens and adults; added new programs – employment support, coaching and college navigation for young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, adult overnight respite, and a social enterprise at Boston Public Market called HOPe Unlimited; expanded HOPe’s footprint, adding a site in Boston, two additional sites in Easton, a site in Brockton, a 2,000-sq-ft open-air pavilion in Easton and a 15,000-sq-ft expansion in Easton; and helped to develop a long-standing services partnership with Jewish Vocational Services Boston.

Ashley and Alden Waring

Alden Waring is a 20-year-old student at Nashoba Learning Group (NLG), in Billerica, MA. He enjoys speaking engagements where he can share about himself and his interests, and has spoken at multiple NLG events. He is also a Co-teacher for Operation House Call, a program of The Arc of Massachusetts, and has taught at UMass Chan Medical School, Boston University School of Medicine, and Tufts University School of Medicine. He has many interests including music, taking videos and photos, drawing, exploring cities, and visiting playgrounds. 

Ashley Waring is the Family Engagement Director for Operation House Call (OHC), where she manages a network of over 250 families and coordinates with seven medical and nursing schools for OHC’s unique experiential learning component. She is also a Parent Instructor for OHC, and her family has been hosting medical and nursing students for the program since 2016. Ashley is a graduate of the Massachusetts Family Leadership Program, and serves on the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Statewide Family Support Council. 

Gyasi Burks-Abbott

Gyasi Burks-Abbott, MS, is on the faculty of the LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities) Program at Boston Children’s Hospital and UMass Boston’s Institute for Community Inclusion. He serves on the boards, committees, and commissions of many autism and disability organizations; and he’s written for several autism and disability-related publications. Gyasi graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN with a BA in English and psychology, and he has an M.S. in Library and Information Science from Simmons University in Boston. Gyasi tells the story of how he became an autism self-advocate in his autobiography/memoir titled My Mother’s Apprentice: An Autistic’s Rites of Passage. 

Senator Paul Feeney

Senator Paul Feeney represents the Bristol and Norfolk District in the Massachusetts Senate and is a strong legislative advocate for individuals with disabilities and their families. Throughout his time in the legislature, he has sponsored and championed legislation aimed at strengthening protections, expanding access to services, and promoting dignity for people with autism across the Commonwealth.  

Senator Feeney has supported efforts to strengthen Chapter 257 rates to ensure fair and sustainable wages for human service workers. He has also championed efforts to secure the future of Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children, advocating to maintain this critical resource for medically complex children who rely on its specialized care.  

Through his leadership on these issues, Senator Feeney has demonstrated a clear commitment to strengthening the disability service system in Massachusetts. His work reflects a deep understanding of the importance of stable funding and accessible, high-quality care for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Senator Vanna Howard

Vanna Howard represented the 17th Middlesex District, including Lowell and Tewksbury, in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2020. She recently won a special election for the Massachusetts Senate and was sworn in to represent the First Middlesex Senate District. During her time in the House, her work focused on advancing policies that promote equity, strengthen community supports, and expand opportunities for families across the Commonwealth. She also serves on the Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities, helping to shape statewide conversations around accessibility, inclusion, and meaningful community participation.  

Senator Howard has cosponsored and supported efforts to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities, including legislation to protect individuals in MassHealth day habilitation programs by increasing accountability, safety, and access to those services. She has also worked to advance accessibility and opportunity in areas like employment and education for people with autism. She has consistently stood with advocates to protect and improve community-based supports that are essential to independence and daily life. 

As a parent of a daughter with a disability, Senator Howard brings lived experience to her advocacy. She understands firsthand the importance of reliable services, inclusive policy, and strong investment in disability supports. Her partnership and commitment continue to make a meaningful difference for individuals with a disabilities and their families across Massachusetts. 

Jeremy Spittle

For nearly 20 years, Jeremy Spittle has been a champion for the autism, Down syndrome, and IDD community at the State House. Jeremy has been a key partner in the passing of every major piece of disability legislation over the last decade and a half.

Jeremy doesn’t just navigate policy; he lives it. With his 360-degree perspective, including his lived experience as a dad to two children – one with Down syndrome and one who is neurodivergent, he has been an essential bridge between community partners like The Arc, AFAM, MDSC, and the legislative process.

His efforts reflect collaborative successes like Nicky’s Law, the Commission on the History of State Institutions, and the landmark Inclusive Higher Education Access Law for Individuals with IDD. Beyond the bills and the budgets, Jeremy is a key communication partner who understands the human heart of every policy.