A'Nya Marshburn
Smart & Full of Heart for those with Autism
January 2025 Issue
by
Lesley Kyle
Photography by
Cassidy Dunn Photography
There’s more to A’Nya Marshburn’s life story than meets the eye.
A’Nya graduated from high school as salutatorian with a full-ride scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned two bachelor’s degrees in psychology and human development and family studies in three years and graduated from the honors college. She then earned her master’s degree in social work from Columbia University.
A’Nya Marshburn is a mere 23 years old.
Before COVID arrived, A’Nya trained and became a Certified Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Technician. ABA therapy is the gold standard of care and an evidence-based practice that targets children with autistic behaviors. She accepted an internship at Michael C. Riley Elementary School in Bluffton for one year and then a second-year internship with Beaufort County Services. A part-time community assistant position at Lowcountry Autism Foundation (LAF) was posted in December 2023. A’Nya got the job. She juggled the demands of school at night, her internship, and her LAF job during the day. Then she took the LmSW licensing exam this past May and began working full-time at LAF.
From a young age, A’Nya knew she wanted to work with special needs children. She began volunteering at Bluffton School of Dance’s “Dance Without Limits” program for special needs children. As her educational and professional pursuits evolved, A’Nya realized, “The special needs community keeps calling to me.”
Since everyone was home during COVID, A’Nya began noticing her godson, who was just a toddler, was demonstrating signs of autism. Through his diagnosis, A’Nya was introduced to the Lowcountry Autism Foundation. She was struck by how labor-intensive and complicated her godson’s path to a diagnosis and treatment was. She imagined how overwhelming the process could be for parents without her educational background, and she wanted to help. “I knew I didn’t want to go into private practice; I wanted to give back to the community and help families who don’t know where to begin,” she said. A’Nya’s godson is now six years old and just graduated from kindergarten. “It’s a full-circle moment for me to see how far he has come!”
“There’s a great need for information, and yet there are so few resources for people with autism and their families. Lowcountry Autism Foundation is uniquely positioned to provide those resources. We are the boots on the ground,” A’Nya said. Sophia Townes, LAF president and executive director, has two autistic children of her own. “Our personal experiences make us closer to the families we interact with,” A’Nya shared. “We don’t diagnose and say adios. We continue to be support systems for families to ensure they get everything they need.”
A’Nya’s busy workdays vary. Covering Beaufort County up to Charleston, there are days when her phone rings off the hook with calls from families from all walks of life who are dealing with all stages of diagnoses. A’Nya’s job is to point them in the right direction. She also manages LAF’s family respite care program, where three hours of supervised daycare gives parents a break to run errands.
LAF’s monthly “Pizza and Peers” social group fosters socialization for autistic young adults. A recent collaboration with Hilton Head Dance School resulted in a sensory-friendly performance of the Nutcracker back in November. “Families dealing with autism don’t get to experience the arts because the sensory assault can be difficult for autistics to navigate without stigma,” A’Nya explained. During that special performance, the children’s needs were put first so they wouldn’t feel uncomfortable or judged. They could just be kids.
A’Nya considers herself a hard-core empath. “Social workers have big hearts, and I’ve
learned to find a spot where I can make an impact, go home at the end of the day, and that’s enough,” she said. “I have to leave it at the office and take care of myself in order to take care of others.”
Working with autistic kids has taught A’Nya lessons about her own life, as well, such as being kinder to herself. “I would never speak to kids in the same way I sometimes speak to myself,” she admitted. “I choose to celebrate progress, not setbacks.”
Bright skies and many opportunities lie ahead for A’Nya and the families she and LAF aid. A support group for those newly diagnosed with autism begins this month. She eventually plans to pursue her Ph.D. Excited by the opportunities ahead, A’Nya has also considered opening a school here in the Lowcountry for autistic children. “The community has shown me what it has needed so far. I’m waiting for the community to reveal my next steps, as well.”
Up Close:
Hometown: Bluffton
Fun Fact: A’Nya danced competitively as a teenager!
Interesting Tidbit: She is self-taught and conversant in sign language.
Learn more about LAF: www.lafinc.org.