Autism Tree Q3 Newsletter
HIGHLIGHTS | EVENTS | PHOTOS
August 25, 2026
Celebrating A Summer of Connection, Growth, and Shared Joy
Happy Q3! As we look back on a vibrant summer, we are filled with immense gratitude for the extraordinary strength and spirit of our Autism Tree community. This summer has been defined by incredible milestones, deep collaboration, and heartwarming memories across all our programs.
From hosting INSAR President Dr. Brian Boyd at our office headquarters to bridge neuroscience with lived experience and bring autism researchers closer to our families, to celebrating cherished community traditions like our annual 1K Fun Run, Q3 has shown what is possible when we come together. Whether we were catching waves with the San Diego Junior Lifeguards, celebrating the inspiring achievements of our autistic self-advocates, or gathering on the field for our 18th year with the USD Football team, every moment this quarter was built on our four core values: Embrace, Connect, Empower, and Create.
As we celebrate one year in our new office home and look ahead to our 2027 Global Neurodiversity Conference, thank you for standing alongside us to ensure every child, adult, and family in our community feels seen, valued, and fully supported.
With gratitude,
The Autism Tree Team
| | Bridging World-Class Science to Our Families: Autism Tree Committee Drives Strategic 2027 Conference Planning with INSAR President & Autism Tree Moderator Dr. Brian Boyd | | Our Autism Tree 2027 Global Neurodiversity Conference Committee was deeply blessed to host Dr. Brian Boyd. As Moderator of our past two conferences and current President of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR), Dr. Boyd brought incredible insight, experience, and leadership to a series of strategic planning sessions this month. | |
His visit kicked off on Thursday, August 13, with an evening of reflection on the evolution of Dr. Michael Levy and Otto Lana’s Autism, Art & Humanities Panel, which has featured multi-modality communicators and award-winning authors.
On Friday, August 14, the committee toured the UC San Diego VERGE Center labs led by Conference Co-Chairs Dr. Jonathan Sebat and Dr. Lilia Iakoucheva. Following the tour, we gathered for a discussion to plan our new Autism & Mental Health Panel alongside Board Members Alexandra Taccone and Michelle Rowley, as well as Autism Tree mother Natalia Martens.
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We wrapped up on Monday, August 17 at Autism Tree's office headquarters, hosting Archie McArthur, Executive Director of New Vista, and dedicated father Brad Benter to outline our Autism & Supported Housing Panel.
Thank you Dr. Boyd - we are so grateful for your heart, your dedication to our families and Board, and your partnership in advancing autism research!
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Mark Your Calendars for Friday, April 9, 2027
Mark your calendars for our 12th Annual Autism Tree Global Neurodiversity Conference on Friday, April 9, 2027! This hybrid event will take place live at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine in La Jolla and stream worldwide on the University of California Television (UCTV), featuring keynote speaker Dr. Shafali Jeste from the University of California Los Angeles. Registration is offered at no charge; seats in the Roth auditorium are first come, first served.
Want to catch up on Autism Tree's latest conference insights? New videos from our 2025 Global Neurodiversity Conference are now live on UCTV - click on the videos below to tune in!
| | The Rescue Film Panel: Centering Autistic Voices in Film | | Dr. Giorgia Quadrato (USC) - Early Roles of SYNGAP1 in Neurodevelopment: Insights from a Top Autism Risk Gene | | Global Reach & Representation: Autism Tree at the 25th Anniversary INSAR Meeting in Prague | |
- This past quarter, Autism Tree traveled to Prague, Czech Republic, to represent our community at the 25th Anniversary INSAR Annual Meeting and the Baby Siblings Research Consortium (BSRC) Meeting.
Our team spent the week bridging world-class science directly back to our families:
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Global Pioneers: We celebrated Dr. Brian Boyd guiding over 2,400 global researchers from 75 countries as INSAR President, reconnected with 2021 Autism Tree Keynote Speaker Sir Simon Baron-Cohen (University of Cambridge), and cheered on 2017 Keynote Speaker Dr. David Amaral (UC Davis MIND Institute) as he received the prestigious INSAR Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by 2024 Distinguished Speaker Dr. Christine Nordahl (UC Davis MIND Institute). We were also honored to attend a historic INSAR Past Presidents Panel featuring Dr. Boyd, Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, and Dr. Amaral.
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Cutting-Edge Research & Lived Experience: After being invited to the BSRC meeting by Dr. Nicole McDonald (UCLA), we re-engaged with rising autistic self-advocate Dr. Zack Williams (UCLA) on his research regarding camouflaging and mental health, Dr. Shulamite Green (UCLA) on the brain mechanisms behind Sensory Over-Responsivity (SOR) in autistic youth and individuals with anxiety, and early-intervention expert Dr. Giacomo Vivanti (Drexel University) on therapy intensity. Finally, we reconnected with Autism Tree Conference Co-Chair Dr. Jonathan Sebat and met self-advocate Dr. Dena Gassner (Drexel University), researcher Dr. Alice Zhang (University of Kansas), and UCLA Chair of Pediatrics Dr. Shafali Jeste, a pioneering behavioral child neurologist advancing precision health and early biomarkers for genetic neurodevelopmental conditions.
| | | | David Amaral, Ph.D. and Christine Wu Nordahl, Ph.D. | | | Thank You to Our Autism Tree Bay Area Team: 10th Annual Cars & Caffeine Fundraiser | | Major Milestone: Annual 1K Fun Run Surpasses $100,000 Lifetime Impact! | | You're Invited: Autism Tree Office 1-Year Anniversary Party! | | Autism Tree Awarded $10,000 by the County of San Diego | | Thank You, Point Loma Charity Club! Autism Tree Named 24th Annual Golf Classic Benefactor | | Changing the Narrative: Autism Tree Featured on Screen at the San Diego International Film Festival Insider Series | | Championing Neurodivergent Authors: Autism Tree Book Club Celebrates Jeffrey Snyder's First Book Launch | |
Community Partner Spotlights:
18 Years Partnering with the University of San Diego (USD) Football Team
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High energy and community spirit were on full display for our 18th Annual Autism Tree-University of San Diego Football Player Mentor Meet & Greet this year!
As one of our longest-running and most cherished community partners, USD Athletics has partnered with Autism Tree since 2008, serving over a thousand children and families through the power of sports, mentorship, and inclusion.
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During this year's landmark event, new families met their student-athlete mentors for the first time, while returning families reconnected for another season of friendship.
After coloring personalized jersey posters and showing off their moves on the field, everyone wrapped up the day with popsicles courtesy of USD Athletics!
A huge thank you to NCL San Dieguito and MADCAPS for volunteering, to Jon Hickey (Program Director for the Autism Tree USD Athletics Mentorship Programs), and to all of our incredible USD football mentors.
For nearly two decades, this incredible program has created unforgettable memories for our youth while fostering lifelong empathy and leadership in USD student-athletes.
Thank you, USD Football, for 18 years of unwavering dedication to our families!
| | Altrusa International San Diego | We had an incredible time hosting the members of Altrusa International of San Diego at the Autism Tree office for two high-impact volunteer workdays! | | Special thanks to Autism Tree Volunteer Sylvia Gallardo and the entire Altrusa team for rolling up their sleeves to cut materials, sort supplies, and assemble an incredible total of 287 sensory kits (95 during their first visit and 192 during their second!). These kits will provide vital comfort and regulation for children in our community. Thank you, Altrusa, for your hands-on care and partnership! | |
Volunteer & Intern Highlight: 12th Annual Bridge to the Beach Program Volunteers | That’s a wrap on our 12th annual summer of the Autism Tree Bridge to the Beach Program! We kicked off this year with two family days Mission Beach, where over 200 children and their families enjoyed beach games, sandcastles, and water safety practice alongside teem volunteers from the National Charity League (Del Sol, San Diego, and San Dieguito), MADCAPS, TVIA SD4, Boys Team Charity, and National League of Young Men. | | |
Special thanks to GL Pools for their generous $1,000 contribution, presented by Tarah Mecucci, CEO Austin Gardiner, and CFO Kyle Lobe. We also deeply appreciate Bob Feinberg and the Prevent Drowning Foundation San Diego for their ongoing partnership and dedication to keeping our children safe in the water!
We ended the summer with our 12th Annual Bridge to the Beach Week Long Camp. We extend our sincere gratitude to the San Diego Junior Lifeguard team—especially Program Manager Heather Rabe Worms and Junior Lifeguard Interns Bridget Brown and Andy Hyde—along with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Lifeguard Division.
Thanks to their patience, water-safety expertise, and enthusiasm, over 50 autistic children built ocean confidence and unforgettable summer memories in a safe, supportive environment.
| | QUICK LINKS + JOIN OUR COMMUNITY | | Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for up-to-date event announcements! | | |
AUTISM TREE
Office: (619) 222-4465
4747 Morena Blvd, Suite 355
San Diego, CA 92117
Questions? Call, text or email our team at 619-222-4465 or email info@autismtree.org.
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