Growing with Compassion: Ann’s Journey at SARRC’s Community School
While pregnant with her daughter Ann, Esther Mahony learned about SARRC’s Community School during a seminar for moms. A counselor shared her own positive experience with the preschool program and encouraged Esther to consider it when the time felt right. “She told me about the Community School and really promoted the program,” Esther says. “I […]
SARRC Programs to Launch in Tucson This Summer
Starting this summer, we’ll be offering JumpStart – our entry-level program designed to provide information, support, training and practical tools to parents and caregivers of children age 7 and younger. This program will be available in person. We’ll also be offering our Comprehensive Behavioral Program for children age 13 and younger, providing individualized, evidence-based support […]
SARRC Announces Last Phase Of “Game-Changing” Capital Campaign
Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) announced the final, public phase of its “A to Z and Everywhere in Between” capital campaign that will put effective autism services within reach of every Arizonan by 2030. The campaign has already raised 92% of the funding needed to open five brand-new support centers. “This campaign will […]
Power of Possibilities: SARRC Celebrates 27th Annual Community Breakfast
On Thursday, April 17, more than 1,500 community members gathered in the Frank Lloyd Wright Ballroom at the Arizona Biltmore Resort to celebrate SARRC’s 27th Annual Community Breakfast. This year’s theme, Power of Possibilities, showcased the limitless potential of individuals with autism and the transformative impact of a supportive community. As SARRC’s largest annual fundraiser, […]
CDC Releases New Autism Prevalence: 1 in 31 Children in the U.S. Identified with Autism
On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM) reporting that about 1 in 31 8-year-old children in the U.S. were identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2022. This new rate is up from the reported 2020 prevalence […]
A Day in the Life: Hanna Roen, Senior Clinical Supervisor
My name is Hanna Roen, and I am a Senior Clinical Supervisor in the Comprehensive Behavioral Program (CBP). I began my journey at SARRC as an intern in August 2010, as part of my master’s degree program, and was officially hired as a behavior therapist in January 2011. What drew you to SARRC? My first […]
More Than a Month: Continuing Awareness and Acceptance Beyond April
(From Left to Right: Joe Bradley, Lindsey Eaton and Amanda Patterson) Members of SARRC’s Self-Advocate Advisory Board share their unique perspectives on Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month, what it means to be an adult on the autism spectrum, and how our community can take meaningful, lasting action—emphasizing that awareness and acceptance should extend beyond just […]
SARRC and First Place AZ Announce New Specialty License Plate: “Driving Support for Autism”
SARRC and First Place® AZ have teamed up to introduce Arizona’s first specialty autism license plate: “Driving Support for Autism.” Designed to raise awareness and generate support for autism-related programs and services across Arizona, artwork for the license plate was created by Joe Bradley, an accomplished artist on the autism spectrum and a founding member […]
Swirl, Sip & Savor: An Evening of Elegance, Impact
Luxury met philanthropy as SARRC hosted its signature biennial event, Swirl, Sip & Savor, at the scenic Mountain Shadows Resort on Friday, March 21. The evening brought together fine wine, gourmet cuisine and charitable spirit, raising an impressive $600,000 in support of SARRC’s Think Autism program and other early intervention programs. Guests were treated to […]
SARRC Celebrates Grand Opening of Its Mesa Campus
L-R: Alicia Goforth, City of Mesa Councilmember; Chadwick Campbell, Board Chair of SARRC; James Murphy, CEO of Willmeng; Eric Sterner, Principal and Co-Founder of L A S T Architects; Brad Lang, Principal and Co-Founder of L A S T Architects; Mike and Kathy Bosco, Capital Campaign Co-chairs of SARRC; Daniel Openden, President & CEO of […]