NFAR CONNECT

NFAR Connect is a monthly recurring event that brings the parents of autistic individuals in San Diego together, in person or online.

These welcoming meetings create space for parents and others to connect, deepen understanding, and share resources that help build environments where autistic individuals can grow and thrive.

Events in May 2026

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April 26, 2026
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May 20, 2026(1 event)


May 20, 2026

NFAR CONNECT!
(formerly NFAR Parent Group)
Wednesday, May 20
6:30 - 7:30 pm 

**This Meeting is IN PERSON**

Meeting will be held at NFAR
9825 Businesspark Ave, San Diego, CA 92131

The group meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month. It's an opportunity to learn from guest speakers, share resources, and enjoy connecting with others about autism. All are welcome!

Schedule for Wed., May 20: 
6:15 - 6:30 PM: Visit and eat pizza - complimentary
6:30 –7:30 PM: Guest Speaker presentation

TOPIC: The Latest in Autism Research

Social affective and communication symptoms are central to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet their severity differs across toddlers: Some toddlers with ASD display improving abilities across early ages and develop good social and language skills, while other children with autism have persistently low social, language and cognitive skills and require lifelong care.

Come learn what breakthrough discoveries are being made by Dr Courchesne and his team that explain why there are these developmental differences, and how his team aims to identify targeted treatments for children with autism subtypes.

Guest Speaker:

Eric CourchesneProfessor, Department of Neurosciences in the School of Medicine at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and Co-Director of the UCSD Autism Center of Excellence (ACE)

Eric Courchesne is one of the world's leading experts on the neurobiology of autism. He is the overall director and principle investigator of the UCSD Autism Center of Excellence, and is also the co-director of the UCSD Autism Center on early social development in autism.

Dr Courchesne has introduced the concept of ASD Living Biology, a new approach for discovering fetal brain developmental origins and explanations of ASD in the individual child. His studies integrate clinical, behavioral, brain imaging, developmental, cellular, genetic, and genomic findings that lead to a better understanding of the prenatal origins of autism.

Dr. Courchesne is ranked in the top 10 autism researchers in the world among all 82,000 autism researchers by scholargps.com. He has published over 200 articles in major journals such as JAMA, Science, Neuron, Nature Neuroscience, Molecular Psychiatry, JAMA Psychiatry, Current Trends in Neuroscience, and the New England Journal of Medicine.

May 21, 2026
May 22, 2026
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June 6, 2026

NFAR Dad’s Meet & Greet

Alesmith Brewing Company
Thu., July 24 at 6:00 PM

Calling all Dads and those raising a loved one with special needs! Please join us for a casual meet & greet on Thursday, July 24 at 6pm. Pizza will be provided.

AleSmith Brewing Company
9990 AleSmith Court
San Diego 92126

Questions? 858-679-8800

FAQ

NFAR Connect is open to any parents of neurodivergent individuals in San Diego.

Our meetings take place either in person or online on the third Wednesday of each month. Please check the calendar above, and be sure to RSVP by the deadline listed on the event posting.

NFAR Connect session covers a wide variety of different topics each session that parents of autistic individuals in our community find helpful. For example, we have offered sessions focused on summer camps, activities, college programs, and more.

To learn more about NFAR and how we can help your family, read our story or explore our vocational programs for autistic adults in San Diego.

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