Lynnfield resident Terri Farrell was selected as a 2024 Commonwealth Heroine by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW).
Farrell was nominated by House Minority Leader Rep. Bradley Jones.
“Terri is the epitome of what it means to be a Commonwealth Heroine: someone who gives back to the community and is constantly working to help enrich the lives of others,” Jones said. “I was proud to nominate Terri as a 2024 Commonwealth Heroine, and I commend her on this well-deserved award.”
“This award came as a complete surprise. I had no idea that he had nominated me,” Farrell said. “I was gobsmacked … was so taken by surprise, but also honored.”
Farrell was among more than 125 award recipients from across the state, ranging in age from 18 to 90, to be honored at the MCSW’s 21st annual Commonwealth Heroines Celebration. The celebration was held in the State House’s Gardner Auditorium on June 14, with a reception following in the Great Hall of Flags.
“It was humbling to be among so many individuals doing so much — so many great things in the community,” she said.
Farrell moved to Lynnfield 26 years ago when she was pregnant with her first child and has been here ever since. Her son, who is now 25 years old, was diagnosed with autism after his second birthday, she said.
“What we didn’t know at the time was how critical it was that you moved to a school district that had a robust Special Education program,” Farrell said. “We were fortunate at the time, because the Linfield preschool really was ahead of the curve … as far as providing a really incredible preschool experience.”
Farrell said she was first introduced to Jones in 2009 when she became an advocate to pass autism insurance legislation.
She and Jones have worked together for the past 15 years to advocate for the needs of autistic individuals and their families.
Farrell currently serves as the Senior Project Director of the Insurance Resource Center for Autism and Behavioral Health at UMass Chan Medical School’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, which assists families, providers, and agencies with information related to both private and public insurance, including MassHealth.
In 2013, she was appointed as the chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM), the Commonwealth’s leading autism advocacy non-profit. As the event chair for AFAM’s annual Autism Awareness and Acceptance Day at the State House, Terri has worked to educate legislators about AFAM’s budgetary and legislative initiatives and has presented at local conferences focused on autism insurance, transition, and issues affecting homeless youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Farrell said, “As my son always says, ‘I want people to see me for what I can do, not for what I can’t do.’”
She said she hopes her recognition for this award will help “people continue to treat individuals with disabilities without bias, and treat them as humans and with the expectation that they want the highest quality of life, like everyone else.”
