On Thursday, March 6, SARRC held the grand opening of its new Kathryn G. Bosco Campus, now open at Power and McKellips Roads in Mesa. The opening of the new campus is a major step in providing evidence-based programs that support individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from childhood to adulthood statewide, ensuring that impactful services are accessible to every resident of Arizona.
SARRC has been at the forefront of autism research, education and community support in Arizona for nearly three decades. With the rapidly growing need for effective autism services, the organization set an ambitious strategic plan: to become a statewide organization that puts these services within reach of every Arizona by 2030.
The new Mesa campus plays a crucial role in achieving that vision. As the first Autism-Certified City in the U.S., Mesa makes a natural choice for SARRC’s newest campus.
“Mesa continues to set a national standard for inclusivity, ensuring people of all abilities feel welcomed and supported,” said Dr. Daniel Openden, president & CEO of SARRC. “We are excited to build on that legacy—creating new opportunities for all Mesa and East Valley residents and exemplifying what it means to be a truly inclusive and supportive community.”
“A significant percentage of people in our communities, like myself, have autism or a connection to someone who does,” said Kathy Bosco, capital campaign co-chair of SARRC. “In Arizona, 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with ASD —a rate that has nearly doubled since 2014. This campus is more than just an organizational milestone—it’s a significant step forward for Arizona as a whole. When every individual has the support they need to live independently and joyfully, our entire community thrives.”
The new campus will offer a range of innovative programs, including:
- SARRC’s fourth Community School, an innovative preschool that blends high-quality early education with specialized programming for children with autism. The school’s small class sizes, 4:1 student-teacher ratio, and play-based curriculum foster an engaging social environment where all students—both neurotypical and those with autism—can develop essential social, emotional, and academic skills in preparation for kindergarten.
- Community-based programming for children, teens, and adults, with additional services set to launch throughout the year.
“We’re excited to open SARRC’s fifth campus in the East Valley, extending our reach and increasing accessibility to our state-of-the-art programs and services,” said Dr. Openden. “We are currently in the midst of a $13 million capital campaign to establish four additional campuses across the state, including the West Valley, Tucson, Flagstaff/Prescott, and North Phoenix/North Scottsdale. We’ve successfully raised $12 million, and now we need our incredible community’s support to secure the final $1 million to reach our goal. And thanks to a generous donor, we’re thrilled to announce a $50,000 matching challenge starting today—every dollar donated will be doubled, maximizing the impact of each contribution.”
Learn more about SARRC’s statewide expansion and donate to bring essential support within reach of all Arizonans at autismcenter.org/AtoZ.