Anna has been advocating for families with autism since her daughter, Ava, was diagnosed with autism at the age of two-and-a-half. Anna became a driving force behind “Ava’s Law,” which was passed by the Georgia Legislature in 2015 and requires insurance companies to cover evidence-based treatment for autism. The following year, she partnered with families and Autism Speaks to secure $30 million in the state Medicaid budget for autism services. In 2018, Anna championed the removal of unnecessary age caps for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatment in Georgia. She has also succeeded in earning school district contracts for ABA in underserved areas.
Prior to joining ChanceLight, Anna worked as Director of Family Connections, a statewide network dedicated to empowering communities to provide services for families and children in need. She has served on numerous committees and study groups to develop policies related to services for autism, and in 2015, Anna was awarded the National “Speak Out” award from Bob and Suzanne Wright, founders of Autism Speaks, for her advocacy efforts.