We discuss her work with the Citizen's Police Academy of which she is a graduate and its alumni group of which she is a Board Secretary and the positive relationship she has developed with the police department and the inclusive community through her sensory kits.

How does the upcoming Island Autism Gala on June 19th aid in providing services to its autism community, including day and residual programing?

Find out on this episode of the Breaking the Ice Lets Talk Inclusion podcast.

Joining host Steve Nearman are his guests:

Brooke Avakian, Board Chair, Island Autism

Kate DeVane, Executive Director, Island Autism

Jen Woods, Special Education and Transitions teacher, Martha's Vineyard High School

In addition to talking about the fundraiser, we also discuss the symbiotic relationship between Martha's Vineyard schools and Island Autism, including students making dog treats, working with horses and hanging out with chickens!

It's no secret that people in the medical community don't always get it right.

They told the parents of Andrew Roberts when he was a baby that he would never speak.

On this episode of the Breaking The Ice - Let’s Talk Inclusion podcast, host Steve Nearman discusses Andrew's recent graduation from Ithaca College's Sport Media program.

He received an autism diagnosis shortly before his second birthday and is the first and youngest Flutie Foundation Fellow, only 14 years of age when he started with the organization.

As a junior announcer for the Boston Red Sox, Andrew’s fandom grew over the years, and when he was 10 years old, (after borrowing a book at the library called “How to Start a Blog”), he started his own sports website, bostonsportsmania. com. It now has over 750 posts.

On the podcast, Andrew discusses his time at Ithaca and his incredible depth of sports media work in just 22 years of life.