Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC)

06/12/2026

Tucson! Keep an eye out for our newly installed banner at our upcoming campus! 🎉

Progress is underway and we are so excited to expand to Tucson early 2027. But did you know we are currently offering these two core programs to Tucson residents?

💜 AIM ABA: Services brought directly to you and are designed to support the unique needs of individuals with autism and their families. Learn more at autismcenter.org/AIM-ABA.

💜 JumpStart: A six-week parent empowerment program that provides an introduction to autism for families with children ages 18 months-7 years old. Learn more at autismcenter.org/JumpStart.

To learn more about Tucson services, contact SARRC’s Family Resource Team at 602-606-9806 or [email protected].

06/12/2026

Did you know SARRC operates a preschool program — and it’s not just for children with autism? Our inclusive preschool program welcomes children with and without autism in a blended classroom setting designed to help every child grow, learn and thrive together!

Why families love the Community School:
🍎 4:1 student-to-teacher ratios
🍎Small class sizes
🍎Highly trained staff
🍎Play-based curriculum
🍎All-day care options

Now enrolling for the upcoming school year across our Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale and Mesa campuses for children ages 15 months to 5 years old! Learn more at CommunitySchoolAZ.org 🚌

06/11/2026

New Study Opportunity: Behavioral Determinants of Health (BDOH) Study

We are currently enrolling participants with a diagnosis of ASD in a questionnaire-based study to learn more about the behaviors, experiences and daily habits that shape health and well-being for autistic individuals.

You may be eligible to participate in this study if you:
▪ Are an adult with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis
▪ Are a parent of an individual with an ASD diagnosis
▪ Currently live in Arizona

This study involves a brief screening phone call and approximately 15 minutes to complete a single online questionnaire. Participants will receive $30 compensation for completing the questionnaire.

To learn more, contact Andrew Wachtel at 480.351.0534 or [email protected], or visit autismcenter.org/research.

06/10/2026

Thank you to Acuity Media Network for speaking with Daniel Openden, SARRC's President and CEO, about Arizona's current Medicaid ABA market and how SARRC does things differently, including:

🔹 Inclusive preschools where children with autism learn from and alongside children who are typically developing — because social skills develop through contact with social experts, not peers who share the same diagnosis
🔹 Pivotal Response Treatment built around each child's own motivations, not a standardized curriculum
🔹 36 BCBAs, most trained in-house through funded master's degrees
🔹 Adult services including a two-year residential transition program and an 86% competitive employment placement rate
🔹 A payer mix weighted toward commercial insurance — a deliberate choice that insulated SARRC from the managed care pressure that hit peers hard
🔹 A goal to reach every Arizonan by 2030, with a sixth campus planned for central Tucson in early 2027

Read the full article below.

Discover how Phoenix non-profit SARRC scales its inclusive preschool, Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), and adult autism programs despite massive state MCO cuts.

06/10/2026

AIM ABA partners with families to provide individualized ABA services in the home and community, helping individuals with autism grow, connect and thrive 🙌.

Backed by nearly 30 years of trusted experience from SARRC, we’re committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care for every family and meets your family where you are. As a nonprofit provider, we’re able to keep our focus where it belongs: on supporting families and creating lasting impact.

Learn more at autismcenter.org/AIM-ABA.

Individualized home- and community-based intervention designed to support the unique needs of individuals with autism and their families. AIM ABA offered by SARRC is available to support families throughout the […]

06/09/2026

⭐ Staff Spotlight ⭐: Riley Stark – Research Coordinator

After graduation, Riley was torn between gearing the start of her career towards medicine or research. With an interest in genetics and human development, Riley applied to SARRC in hopes of exploring a research focused career. Since joining SARRC, not only has Riley been able to explore research, she has received a tremendous amount of support and advice from her peers and supervisors regarding future steps in her career.

Fun fact about Riley:
Before I was introduced to the magical world of science, I wanted to be a chef! Bon appétit!

06/08/2026

If you are a teen or adult with autism and exploring employment options, join SARRC for a free online Employment Services Orientation! 🙌 This virtual session provides an overview of how SARRC supports individuals in developing career skills, finding meaningful employment, and achieving long-term workplace success.

Participants will learn more about:
✅ SARRC’s Employment Services and how they support individual career goals
✅ Funding options and eligibility for the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program offered through the Arizona Department of Economic Security
✅ The process for enrolling in Employment Services and what to expect from the program
✅ The variety of ways SARRC partners with employers and community organizations to create inclusive work opportunities

Our next session is Monday, June 15 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. via Zoom. ➡️ Sign up at bit.ly/EmployOrientation2026.

06/07/2026

One week away!🚨Join us next Saturday, June 13 for our Research Open House and Free Developmental Screening Event!

✅ If you are interested in participating in research:
Open House Tours are available to autistic individuals and their families.

✅ If you have concerns about your child’s development:
Free screenings and guidance on next steps for children ages 1 to 12.

✅ If you have autism and want to learn more about genetics:
Participate in SPARK, the largest autism research community – all ages are welcome!

The free event is from 10 a.m. to noon at SARRC’s 16th Street Campus: 2225 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006. Walk-ins are welcome, but signing up for specific time slots are recommended. 👉 Register at: https://sarrc.jotform.com/222545530086150

06/05/2026

On Thursday, June 4, we unveiled a new "Gamechanger Court" at our Phoenix campus thanks to a grant from the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury Foundation!

Former Suns player Mark West spoke, and the Suns' Gorilla and Mercury mascot Scorch made the ceremonial first shot on the new court 🏀.

The basketball court will serve children, teens and adults with autism who participate in programs at SARRC, providing a space for recreation, connection and community.

Thank you to our friends at the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury Foundation for selecting SARRC for this ✨slam dunk✨ for inclusion!

06/04/2026

When Brittany and Joshua Romero first connected with SARRC, it was for their oldest son, Zion, who had been diagnosed with autism during the pandemic.

After a valuable experience at SARRC’s Community School, the family planned on enrolling their younger son, Cruz, then 2, as a typically developing student. But as they moved through the enrollment process, the family was gently encouraged to explore a formal evaluation, which later resulted in an autism diagnosis for Cruz.

“It was overwhelming at first,” Brittany says. “But at the same time, it felt like we were exactly where we needed to be. The teachers and staff just understood what we were seeing, sometimes before we could even put it into words.”

At the Community School, Cruz quickly became part of a blended classroom of two-year-olds designed to support both children with autism and their neurotypical peers.

“You could see the changes happening little by little,” Brittany says. “He started to engage more, to connect. Not just with us, but with other kids. That was huge.”

Today, Cruz’s success in a general education kindergarten classroom reflects the impact of those early interventions and the skills and achievements he gained along the way.

Read the full inspiring story at https://autismcenter.org/finding-answers-early-cruz-romeros-journey-at-sarrcs-community-school.

Zion, Joshua and Cruz at his Community School graduation. When Brittany and Joshua Romero first connected with SARRC, it was for her oldest son, Zion, who had recently been diagnosed […]