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By: Amy Kenzer, BCBA-D, Director of Clinical Services, SARRC

World reknowned autism expert, Peter Gerhardt, Ed. D, spoke to more than a hundred autism providers and individuals and families impacted by autism on Friday at SARRC in Phoenix during a workshop titled, "Bridges to Adulthood: Sexuality and Relationships.  His overall message of the session: "All sexual behavior is social behavior."

Dr. Gerhardt informed the audience that when it comes to sexuality and autism, there is very little research, but what research we do have tells us two things:

Approximately 1,400 business and community leaders, individuals impacted by autism, and SARRC supporters attended the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center’s (SARRC) 17th Annual Community Breakfast on Friday, April 24, 2015 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix, Arizona.

Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center would like to give a green thumbs-up to the Boys Team Charity – Camelback League for preparing and planting the gardens for First Place Phoenix, a new housing endeavor for young adults who have autism.

Brad Herron, a program coordinator for SARRC, said Michelle Himmelberg led over 20 volunteers from Boys Team Charity (BTC) to ensure the garden at the site, 29 Palms, was properly completed. Teens and parents built wooden frames for the raised beds and prepped the soil over the course of two weekends.

For the first seven years of his life, Danny Portillo Jr. and his family lived in dischord. 


Danny couldn’t talk, frequently threw tantrums, and would harm himself. 
"It was frustrating, not knowing what he wanted," recalled his father, Danny Portillo Sr. "Danny was destroying the house."

On April 2, 2014, the Portillos realized that they were not alone. 

The Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center has been hosting trainings for Arizona dentists to learn best practices for assisting patients who have autism, thanks to a grant from the Delta Dental Foundation.

SARRC's hard work is already paying off. Recently, Dr. Rebecca Schaffer, a dentist and assistant professor from A.T. Still University, had the opportunity to apply what she learned in SARRC's statewide trainings while working in Guatemala on behalf of another nonprofit, Open Wide Foundation. 

The season of giving is in full swing, and we're rallying donations for the 13th annual Operation Santa Claus sponsored by Sanderson Ford,  Sanderson Lincoln, The UPS Store and ABC 15.

This annual donation drive provides needy families with toys, clothing, and food. It's a win-win for everyone. If you donate, you could be one of 15 finalists entered to win a new Ford F-150 Super Cre Ecoboost or an all new 2015 Lincoln MKZ. Each finalist receives a $100 Visa gift card and a key. The finalist with the key that starts the truck will win either the truck or the Lincoln MKZ.

This week, more than 830 people participated in our ThinkAsperger's live webinar for educators, "Identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder in School Age Children: Keeping Asperger’s from Slipping Through the Cracks." 

More than 1,800 of you signed up for the webinar, and some of you may have been unable to participate in the live discussion. We encourage you to watch the recording of the webinar on this link. 

Welcome to our Research Roundup! This new weekly feature highlights recent autism research news from around the globe:

Recently, SARRC researchers published results of a study that underscored the need to provide services for teens with autism as they transition into adulthood.

SARRC researcher Nicole Matthews, Ph.D., led the study, with help from her co-authors in research, Elena Pollard, Sharman Ober-Reynolds, Janet Kirwan, Amanda Malligo, and Christopher Smith. 

Matthews highlights key details of the study:

Parents are learning quickly how to prepare their children for school as our own Community School opened today (Monday) for the 2014-15 school year.

The SARRC Community School is inclusive and serves children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as well as non-ASD children 18 months to 5 years old.

Our friends at AutismSpeaks.org have prepared some tip sheets to help you prepare children with ASD for school.

Expert Dr. Peter Faustino., suggests that parents take time to: