March was an eventful month for Easterseals Southern California, filled with community engagement, educational events, and inspiring moments. Here’s a look back at some of the key highlights that made this month special.

Read Across America Day with the Ontario Police Department

Easterseals Valley View Infant Center in Ontario was thrilled to invite the Ontario Police Department to celebrate Read Across America Day in early March! Officers joined the fun by reading books to our little ones, making this special day even more memorable. Thank you to our local police department for helping us foster a love of reading.

Abilities Expo 2025

Easterseals Southern California hosted a booth at the 2025 Abilities Expo from March 7-9, where we shared our mission, programs, and swag with hundreds of attendees. Our booth featured fun games, prizes, information about our services, and free “Disability is Not a Dirty Word” shirts for patrons. This annual event featured a wheelchair dance performance by the Rollettes, adaptive sports, informative workshops, group exercise, and vendors showing off the latest in disability technology and services.

San Diego Padres’ Preview Day

Easterseals Autism Services was invited to participate in the San Diego Padres’ annual “Preview Day,” which was a behind-the-scenes look at Petco Park’s sensory-friendly features. Families and staff from Easterseals Autism Services program in San Diego got a private tour of the stadium to experience the ballpark without the sensory overload of crowds. Features available to families include quiet spaces, a Sensory Activation Vehicle, sensory kits, and support from Guest Services. Watch the video below to learn more!

CalABA Conference 2025

Easterseals was honored to sponsor and attend CalABA’s 44^th annual Western Regional Conference on Behavior Analysis, where thought leaders in Behavior Analysis gathered to share innovative strategies and insights. A special thanks to the Easterseals presenters, who represented Easterseals across multiple sessions, each discussing unique topics. We also want to thank the Advisory Board members for leading engaging sessions on data collection methods and enhancing service delivery through diverse perspectives. Together, we’re turning inspiration into action and shaping the future of Behavior Analysis!

Thank You, Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions Foundation

Easterseals participants had a chance to thank the Vons, Albertsons, and Pavilions Foundation for supporting disability services during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! Throughout March, customers could make in-store donations at check-out to create a big impact. A special shoutout to the participants and staff from Easterseals Adult Day Services Pyott Center who created a heartfelt poster to say thank you to their local Albertsons, where they shop weekly, along with Vons and Pavilions.

Stay In the Know 

Learn more about what we’re doing at Easterseals on our website, and be sure to follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings across our service lines:  

• Facebook: @EastersealsSoCal 

• Instagram: @EastersealsSoCal 

• TikTok: @EastersealsSoCal 

• Bluesky: @eastersealssocal.bsky.social 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/easterseals-southern-california/ 

• YouTube: @EastersealsSouthernCalifornia 

Early intervention in autism can make a life-changing difference, but many families face delays in diagnosis and miss critical opportunities for support. Here at Easterseals Southern California, we talked to Crystal Leonard, Assessor, Applied Behavior Analysis, about the importance of early detection, key signs to watch for, and what to do about disparities in access.

Q: How prevalent is autism in America?

A: Approximately 1 in 36* children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in America. The numbers have been rising over the past few decades possibly due to increased awareness, broader diagnostic criteria, and improved screening methods. ​

Q: Why is early detection of autism important?

A: There are critical developmental windows when the brain has more neuroplasticity. If we can intervene in early childhood, we can see significant improvements in communication, social skills, and adaptive behaviors—and that can improve the child’s development and overall quality of life.

Q: When should a child be assessed for autism?

A: Young children can be reliably diagnosed with ASD as early as 18 months. Ideally, they will receive developmental screening tests at their 9-month, 18-month, and 24-month or 30-month well-child visits. If there are signs of developmental delays or atypical behaviors, a healthcare provider can conduct a more in-depth evaluation.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s development, please contact your pediatrician or, if you’re in California, you can also contact a local regional center.

Q: What are some signs of autism?

A: The signs can vary, but we often see:

• Delayed speech or language skills​
• Limited eye contact​
• Lack of interest in peer relationships​
• Repetitive behaviors, like hand-flapping or lining up toys
• Intense focus on specific interests​
• Sensitivity to sensory inputs like sounds or textures​

Again, these signs can vary widely among children. ​

Q: If signs of autism are present, what is a parent’s first step?

A: Parents can consult their pediatrician or a child development specialist. The healthcare provider can conduct an initial screening and, if necessary, refer the child for a comprehensive evaluation by specialists. In California, a local regional center can be another good starting point.    ​

Q: What are examples of how early intervention can make a difference in a child’s life?

A: Early intervention makes a difference and has been associated with significant improvements. For example, children who received early interventions like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and speech therapy have shown notable gains in language development, adaptive behaviors, and skill development compared to those who started interventions later.

Q: How does early intervention help foster autism acceptance?

A: Early intervention not only supports the child’s development, it also educates families and communities about autism. This increased awareness creates a more inclusive and accepting environment, which reduces stigma associated with autism.

Q: What about people who are diagnosed later in life? Can they still benefit from autism services?

A: Yes. Many people are diagnosed with autism later in life, and for these individuals, receiving a diagnosis can be a turning point. It can help them better understand themselves, connect with others in the autism community, and access resources that can improve their quality of life.

Services for older individuals can include finding the right workplace accommodations, developing social connections, or accessing mental health resources. Autism services are valuable no matter when someone is diagnosed.

Q: Historically, minority communities and those from a lower socioeconomic status are less likely to receive the same amount and quality of healthcare services as others. Why is that?

A: Yes, these communities are less likely to see the same amount of services as other communities. They also report lower quality of care.

The barriers may include:

• The stress of the diagnostic process.
• Lack of caregiver knowledge. This includes knowledge about autism, developmental milestones, and the medical system.
• Not having the ability to advocate for one’s child to receive a diagnosis.
• Limited access to healthcare.
• Prejudices and beliefs of the clinicians.
• The family’s interpretation of the child’s symptoms.
• Cultural beliefs.
• Stigma on mental health issues and not seeking treatment.

Q: What kind of impact is this having on the outcomes of children with autism?

A: Without early intervention, children may miss critical windows for developing essential skills, causing further delays. They also face more pronounced challenges in communication, social interactions, and behavior.​ In other words, a higher severity of symptoms.

All of this can lead to higher levels of family stress and challenges for the child later in life.

Q: What kind of change needs to happen for these families to access autism services?

A: There are several changes that can help address this need, including:

• Community Outreach: Targeted programs can raise awareness about autism and available services in these communities.​
• Cultural Competency Training: We need to educate healthcare providers to understand and respect cultural differences.​
• Policy Reforms: We need policies that address systemic barriers, such as reducing financial obstacles and making services more available in underserved areas.​
• Building the Workforce: We also need to encourage people from many different backgrounds to enter healthcare and educational fields. This will foster trust and relatability between providers and families.

Q: What is Easterseals Southern California doing in this area?

A:  Our organization is taking several steps to help address these issues.

• We provide direct services through diagnostic clinics. These clinics provide opportunities to access free or low-cost diagnostic assessments for low-income, minority families.
• We educate communities by providing training on how to honor neurodiversity, implement new practices, and show support to people with autism.
• We reach out to connect families to necessary services. We have a network of health and social care providers—for example, housing, financial, legal assistance, and more that helps families access necessary resources.
• Internally, we provide staff trainings, input on recruitment practices, and a mentorship program to increase cultural responsiveness of our clinicians.
• We also create affinity groups to provide spaces for people who have a shared interest or experience, so they can support and empower each other and develop resources for the community.

The barriers can feel daunting, but these actions make a difference—and we are seeing healthcare workers, policy makers and communities come together. We share a common goal: to help children thrive.

Q: What is a good resource for parents who want to learn more about their child’s development? 

A: Easterseals offers parents and caregivers free access to the confidential online Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition (ASQ-3). The ASQ-3 is a set of questionnaires that helps you track your child’s development from one month through age 5. This screening provides a quick look at how children are doing in important areas, such as communication, physical ability, social skills, and problem-solving skills.

To learn more about Easterseals Southern California’s Autism Services and how we support people with autism through ABA Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech and Language Therapy, visit our website. Easterseals also offers Enhanced Care Management and Severe Behavioral Services.

*More information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Marissa Bode, who stars as Nessarose in the hit movie “Wicked,” is breaking new ground for authentic disability representation across the entertainment industry. As a disabled actress, Bode’s vibrant, history-making portrayal of Nessarose has been the centerpiece of her growing platform to advocate and educate about disability.

In recognition of her powerful voice for change, Easterseals Southern California is honored to have partnered with PR Week to award Bode with a most prestigious honor: the 2025 Communicator of the Year.

A group of people smiling at a round dining table during a formal event, with plates, glasses, and smartphones visible on the table.

Presenting this award to Bode was truly exciting, as her work aligns with our ongoing efforts to shift the narrative about disability in the media. Recently, Bode participated in our collaboration with Variety, a leading entertainment industry outlet, as part of our multimedia report, Reimagining Hollywood: A New Lens on Disability Inclusion. You won’t want to miss the video with Bode alongside a group of powerhouse panelists chatting about how creatives with disabilities are building careers and changing the game industry-wide.

“Nobody knows us better than us,” Bode said during the panel, underscoring the fact that people with disabilities should be hired at every level of media production to ensure accurate representation and accessibility on set. She later added a reminder that disability is only one part of a person’s story: “Although I think our identities are of course important to our stories, that’s not all that we are. We’re so much more complex than…the boxes that we’re sometimes put into.”

Bode’s talents and the important insights she shares are indeed helping to bring the disability community outside of these narrow, limiting boxes. Members of the Easterseals team had the opportunity to celebrate Bode’s wise words and many accomplishments at the PR Week Awards event in New York City on March 13—a truly beautiful evening that shined a spotlight on the impact of the communications field.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Bode, and are so proud to support her journey as she continues to build momentum to create a more welcoming world for all.