Campus School Conference

On March 13, 2012, Frates’ 27-year-old son, Peter, was diagnosed with ALS — Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The family’s world changed in a moment. The Frates family was told there was no treatment or cure for ALS. Since that day, Frates has immersed herself in the ALS community as an advocate and thought leader. She has traveled to the offices of CEOs; Senators; Congressmen; top doctors; and governmental authorities. She has testified on Capitol Hill; at the White House; to FDA panels. She has built strong relationships between the ALS Association and new strategic business partners — such as Facebook and Major League Baseball. In August 2014, Peter, along with family and supporters — better known as Team Frate Train — inspired the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to go viral — raising $220 million for the ALS Association and its global partners. Peter passed away on December 9, 2019, at the age of 34. Today, Nancy continues her late son’s mission through her passionate work for the Peter Frates Family Foundation, non-profit with the mission to assist ALS patients and their families with the overwhelming cost of home health care. She inspires others with her family’s story of resilience and determination, while continuing the momentum created for their cause — ALS.

Kathleen Huth, MD, MMSc, is an academic pediatrician in the Complex Care Service at Boston Children’s Hospital and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. She completed her pediatrics residency training in Ottawa, Canada, and obtained her masters in medical education through Harvard Medical School. Dr. Huth is Program Director of the Complex Care Fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital and serves as Medical Director of Professional Development for the BCH Center for Educational Excellence and Innovation. She is Past Chair of the Complex Care Committee of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, and Co-Chair of the Academic Pediatric Association Complex Care and Disability Special Interest Group. She is passionate about co-creating innovative educational interventions in complex care in partnership with patients and families.

Maura Sullivan is the Chief Executive Officer for The Arc of Massachusetts. She was appointed to this position by The Arc’s Board of Directors after a decade leading Government Affairs for The Arc.  She is also the Director of Operation House Call, a nationally recognized training program and partnership between The Arc and all major Massachusetts Medical Schools. 

Maura’s Government Affairs work includes leading the advocacy for the passage of several significant legislative achievements, including the passage of Nicky’s Law, Police Training in Autism, Operation House Call and most recently, Accessory Dwelling Units for people with disabilities. At the State House, Maura has been instrumental in securing increased funding for the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) budget, the direct support workforce, and MassHealth.

Beyond her legislative successes, Maura actively contributes to numerous state and national advisory boards and commissions. She collaborates with prestigious institutions such as Drexel University, the Institute for Exceptional Care, and Harvard Medical School. In addition, Maura directs the policy and advocacy of Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts.

A former LEND Fellow, Maura holds a master’s degree in public administration from Suffolk University. She is also a devoted mother of three, including two transition-age sons who have autism. 

Teresa Touhey Schirmer is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who has over 25 years of experience working with adolescents, adults and families. Throughout her career, she has worked with individuals who have struggled with addiction and major mental health issues in hospital settings and in the community. These experiences have provided a broad range of clinical expertise and has served as the foundation for her clinical practice. Teresa has a private therapy practice where she primarily focuses on Depression, Anxiety and Autism Spectrum Disorder with adolescents through a strengths based, and resilience focused approach. She has been an outspoken advocate and speaker for evidenced based interventions for children in school settings particularly those who have Dyslexia and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Teresa is currently an Associate Dean of Student Experience at the Boston College School of Social Work. She has taught a number of courses at Boston College; Basic Skills in Clinical Social Work, Diversity and Cross Cultural Issues and Adolescent Development as well as seminars for Field Instructors. Teresa earned her Bachelors of Arts from Boston College and her Masters in Social Work from Boston University.