Autism Tree upcoming events

Parent Mentor Night (06/09/2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 01:30:00 GMT

Join us for a evening created especially for parents and caregivers of children on the spectrum. In a welcoming, relaxed setting, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with others, share stories, and feel supported by people who truly understand your journey.

Enjoy dinner together as we build a community rooted in connection, encouragement, and self-care. With the support of experienced parent mentors, we’ll learn from one another and uplift each other through both the challenges and the beautiful moments of raising and educating our children.

This is a caregiver-focused event for adults only.

Join our parent group chat here: https://groupme.com/join_group/113978350/Mdzd1UpG

Please note: Because many of our events have waitlists, we will send confirmation text messages to all registered attendees a day or two before the event. If we do not receive a reply within 24 hours, we will assume you are unable to attend, and your spot will be offered to another family.

If you need to cancel your registration, we kindly ask that you notify our staff and volunteer team as soon as possible—ideally at least 24 hours in advance. You can reach us by email at info@autismtree.org or by text at 619-222-4465.

Providing advance notice allows us to better plan and helps us honor the time, effort, and dedication of our incredible volunteers and community partners who make these events possible. Thank you so much for your understanding and support.

In the rare case that a cancellation is not communicated and a participant does not attend, we may need to pause registration privileges for three months. You can learn more about our No Show/No Call Policy under the “FAQ’s About Autism Tree” here: https://www.autismtreeproject.org/faqs.

Thank you for helping us extend these no cost opportunities to as many families as possible!

Autism Tree Volunteer Orientation (06/19/2026)

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 01:00:00 GMT

ATTENTION ALL VOLUNTEERS & FUTURE VOLUNTEERS

We’re excited to share that Core Team meetings are back, and this time we’re bringing a fresh twist to volunteer orientation as well! This gathering is about reconnecting, reimagining how we serve, and setting the tone for an exciting season ahead.

Expect meaningful conversation, renewed vision, and building skills on how to best serve our families. Whether you’re a returning volunteer or stepping into this space with fresh energy, your leadership and insight matter.

We’re grateful for each of you and can’t wait to grow together—stronger, more connected, and more intentional than ever.

Thank you for helping us extend these no cost opportunities to as many families as possible!

A Bad Case of Stripes: The Musical Sensory-Friendly Performance (07/11/2026)

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 18:00:00 GMT

We have the opportunity to partner with SD Jr Theater who is donating 300 FREE tickets for our families to attend A Bad Case of Stripes: The Musical Sensory Friendly Performance at Casa Del Prado Theater in Balboa Park!

NOTE: Please contact our staff and volunteer team ASAP (ideally 24 hours prior) if you need to cancel your registration. Out of respect for our incredible volunteers and community partners who dedicate countless hours to lead our program events, failure to contact our team with a cancellation prior to the event AND no showing at the event will result in the immediate removal of your registration from any AT program events for three months from the date of the no show. Learn more about our No Show/No Call Policy under the "FAQ's About Autism Tree" here: https://www.autismtreeproject.org/faqs.

Please Note: Due to high demand, we often have waitlists for our events. We send out confirmation text messages a day or two prior to the events to all registered attendees. If we do not receive a text or email confirmation from you, we will assume you're unable to attend and will offer your spot to another family.

Thank you for your understanding and for supporting our amazing volunteer leaders. Your timely responses help us offer the free event to as many families as possible.

Spectrum Socials: Tennis Clinic (07/18/2026)

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Introducing Spectrum Socials: A Place to Connect, Chill, and Have Fun!

We’re excited to introduce Spectrum Socials, a welcoming and inclusive space where teens and young adults on the autism spectrum can hang out, connect, and interact in a way that feels natural and comfortable. Whether you’re looking to make new friends, explore shared interests, or just enjoy a judgment-free social setting, Spectrum Socials is designed just for you!

With fun activities, engaging conversations, and a supportive atmosphere, Spectrum Socials offers a chance to build friendships and confidence while having a great time. Come as you are, and let’s create a community where everyone feels valued and included!

Must be 13+ years old

Thank you for helping us extend these no cost opportunities to as many families as possible!

Virtual Book Club with Author Jeff Snyder (07/23/2026)

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 01:30:00 GMT

The Virtual Book Club encourages members to read, emphasizing inclusion and welcoming people who use all mediums of communication.

Founded by Autism Tree Volunteer Danielle Levy and Co-Hosted with Autism Tree Spokesperson Otto Lana, this book club encourages members to read, gives neurodiverse, multi-modality communicators the opportunity to hone their communication skills beyond their wants and needs, and allows everyone a path to the richness of friendships and human connectedness through literacy.

About the Author:

Jeffrey "Jeff" Snyder is an autism/neurodiversity self-advocate, writer, and public speaker based in Southern New England. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Jeff was diagnosed with autism in December of 1990 and was unable to speak until the age of four. Despite these early challenges, he went on to become the first student with autism to be fully educated within the Seekonk Public Schools in Seekonk, Massachusetts. Today, he uses his lived experience and the power of storytelling to educate, inspire, and challenge expectations surrounding neurodiversity.

Through his personal platform, Going the Distance—which serves as his main hub for writing and speaking—Jeff works to empower families, educators, and professionals. Beyond his own platform, he drives impact across multiple organizations nationwide as a fellow for the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism in Waltham, Massachusetts, an advisory board member for an autism organization in Johnston, Rhode Island, a core team leader for Autism Tree Foundation in San Diego, California, and a co-founder of the Boca School for Autism, a school for students with behavioral and developmental differences in Boca Raton, Florida.

In addition to his advocacy work, Jeff is the author of The Neurodivergent Owl: Alarms, Assemblies and Accommodations. This book shares his firsthand experiences as a neurodivergent student while offering practical insights and support strategies for parents and educators navigating the school system.

Finishing the book is not required - anyone is welcome to listen, learn, and reflect with us!

Thank you for helping us extend these no cost opportunities to as many families as possible!

2027 Global Neurodiversity Conference: A Hybrid Event (04/09/2027)

Fri, 09 Apr 2027 15:00:00 GMT

THIS CONFERENCE IS FREE TO ATTEND BUT YOU MUST REGISTER ONLINE

Please save the date and join us for our Autism Tree 12th Annual Hybrid Global Neurodiversity Conference at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine in La Jolla, CA on Friday, April 9, 2027!

The Autism Tree Annual Neurodiversity (formerly Neuroscience) Conference is a day-long collaboration that showcases cutting-edge findings and innovations in the field of Neuroscience and Neurodiversity, including Autism. This conference brings light to new groundbreaking research on the science of neurodiversity with the intention to foster collaborations and new ideas and create a heart connection between the global neuroscience community and families living with a neurodiverse or autistic loved one, including a panel discussion on neurodiversity from adults on the autism spectrum living successful lives.

When Autism Tree created this event in 2015, we designed it to not be your ordinary scientific meeting, but rather an encounter of people with various backgrounds and open-minds who care about autistic individuals and the neurodiverse community. We are interested in different global perspectives, so the meeting is attended by top scientists, researchers, families, foundations, donors, local media and therapists.

The Autism Tree Annual Neurodiversity Conference is chaired by Alysson Muotri, Ph.D. of the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine. It will be livestreamed on Zoom and recorded by the University of California Television (UCTV).