The events listed on this page are sponsored by Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area. Learn more about autism-friendly events here. To keep up with our events, please join our AFBA Events Facebook group here.
Questions? Email us
Autism on Tap, 2022
Autism on Tap is an opportunity for parents, kids, sibs, and adults with autism to hang out together in a non-judgmental space, open to the whole autism community. Please note: Some AoTs are age-restricted.
Autism on Tap in San Francisco!
Sunday, August 21, 3-6pm
Pier 23 Restaurant, San Francisco, on the patio overlooking the bay
Join us at this historic restaurant, on the outdoor patio in back where we’ll have our own space. We provide finger foods, and please feel free to order your own drinks and meals. There are several parking lots in the vicinity.
Free to attend but we ask for pre-registration so we can plan table space and food orders.
Please register by emailing here, indicating how many are in your party.
This event is open to all ages but please note that the space may be challenging for young children or those prone to elopement.
Autism on Tap in Sunnyvale!
Sunday, September 4, 3.30-6.30pm
Old Greenwood BBQ at the Sunken Gardens Golf Course in Sunnyvale
1010 S. Wolfe Road, Sunnyvale, 94086 (your map may also show Sunken Gardens Road)
All ages are welcome, this event features live music - do you sing? Do you play an instrument? Bring it for our jam!
*Free to register but registration is required by emailing Jill.Escher@gmail.com so we can plan table space and food orders.*
Join us on the spacious patio overlooking the 7th green at the beautiful Sunken Gardens Golf Course. This wonderful BBQ restaurant is owned by friends of SFASA, parents of a 23 year-old man with autism.
We’ll provide finger foods and pitchers of drinks, and guests pay for their own dinners. Parking is available onsite.
Questions? Email Jill.escher@gmail.com. Sponsored by Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area
Summer Pool Parties, 2022
SFASA's summer pool parties are events where families can enjoy an afternoon at a pool with their children with special needs. Sibs are welcome too! The pool is mostly shallow and fairly warm. We typically provide snacks, music and extra pool toys. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited.
All 10 2022 SFASA Pool Parties take place on Sundays, and you can choose 1 of 2 sessions:
Session 1: 1-2.30pm [Important: If you would like to stay for Session 2 as well you must also register for that session, too.]
Session 2: 2:30-4pm [Feel free to arrive around 2.15pm to give yourself time to change and set up]
Location: AnT Swim School, 520 W Virginia St, San Jose, California 95125
Registration: Click on sessions below to register
Cost: $5 per person (swimming or not). You must pre-register; you do not need to bring a ticket, we will have your name at the gate.
Please note that this does not cover our costs so please consider donating to our #FedaFund (which helps fund SFASA events) here.
Remaining 2022 Dates (click on session to register):
July 24 Session 1
July 24 Session 2
July 31 Session 1
July 31 Session 2
August 7 Session 1
August 7 Session 2
August 14 Session 1
August 14 Session 2
Location details:
AnT Swim School
520 West Virginia Street
San Jose, CA 95125
Note: This address takes you to the Gardner Community Center, the pool is down the block toward the corner of Virginia and Delmas.
(Just off Hwy 280 and Bird, near Willow Glen)
Street parking is available —> PLEASE NOTE that sometimes the parking right around the pool is a bit scarce. Please be prepared to park a block or two away.
• Bathrooms onsite
• Public park with play equipment is adjacent
Please bring:
Swimsuits (all family members are welcome to swim)
Goggles, if needed
Sunscreen
Hats
Towels
Lounge chairs/beach chairs, if you would like
Drinks and snacks, if you would like
Pool toys, if you would like (though large rafts are usually fine some may not be allowed, at the discretion of the lifeguards)
Infants and toddlers who are not potty trained must wear the AntSwim approved swim diapers (from splashabout - 'Happy Nappyâ„¢ Swim Diaper', online or available at the swim school for $10). Older children and adults who are not potty trained may not use the pool.
Lifejackets for non-swimmers (the facility has youth sizes available to borrow)
Snacks and drinks (SFASA will not be providing toys, snacks or drinks this year to comply with health and safety rules)
Basic AnT Swim School Pool Rules
• At all times follow the instructions of the AnT Swim school lifeguard and supervising personnel.
• The use of AnT Swim school equipment is not permitted.
• Do not enter the pool if you suspect you have or have a communicable disease or an open cut or blister. Wear family appropriate and clean swim attire only.
• Shower before entering the pool or after use of toilet facilities.
• Infants and toddlers who are not potty trained must wear the AntSwim approved swim diapers (from splashabout - 'Happy Nappy™ Swim Diaper', online or available at the swim school for $10). Older children and adults who are not potty trained may not use the pool.
• Diving is prohibited.
• Spitting, spouting water from mouth or blowing the nose in the pool is prohibited.
• No extended breath-holding or hyperventilation.
• Only U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejackets and wearable foam flotation devices are allowed. Users must remain within arm’s reach of an adult.
• Do not run or engage in rough play in the pool area or bath rooms.
• Diaper changing in the pool area is prohibited.
• Do not bring animals into the pool area.
• Do not bring food, drink, gum or tobacco into the pool area. (concrete perimeter).
• Glass and shatterable items are prohibited anywhere in the facility.
• No alcohol.
• Toys, floating toys, water guns, etc… are allowed only at the discretion of the pool supervisor and lifeguard(s).
Additional Rules for SFASA Swim Parties
• An adult must always accompany a child or adult who may require assistance (either for his/her own or others’ safety) in the pool.
• Use of AnT Swim School Coast Guard-approved lifejackets is permitted and encouraged for those who might have trouble or cannot safely swim on their own. • These are child to teen size. Adults will need to provide their own.
• If an unsanitary condition occurs, the situation must be reported to a lifeguard or pool manager immediately so appropriate action can be taken to ensure safety. The family responsible for contamination may be accountable to pay for clean up and loss of pool use.
• Parents or caregivers must accompany children or disabled adults to the bathroom.
• No rough-housing or other behaviors that could endanger other participants.
SFASA Family Hikes!
To learn about our SFASA family hikes please sign up for our Facebook group here! Coming up:
Sunset Hike at Palo Alto Baylands
Sunday, September 18, 5-7pm
Please arrive 4:45 for parking. Meet at 5pm near the bathrooms at Byxbee Park. If parking near Byxbee is full there is more parking near the Duck Pond.
We will walk 1.5 miles south along the levee and then return along the same route. For those who don’t wish to walk 3 miles, please feel free to turn around at any point. Bring hats and jackets.
Getting there is easy: Take 101 to Embarcadero exit, headed East. Drive to the terminus of the road, turn right to the Byxbee lot. If Byxbee is full, turn north to the parking lot by the Duck Pond and walk the trail to Byxbee.
Free, as always.
Please RSVP, including your name and cell number (for texts) to jill.escher@gmail.com.
Rockaway Beach to Pacifica State Beach Walk, Pacifica
Sunday, July 24, 2022, 10 AM
Location: Meet at the Rockaway Beach parking lot bathrooms: From Route 1/Cabrillo Highway, take Rockaway Beach Ave. and an immediate left onto the narrow road that passes in front of the Fairfield Inn hotel, leading to the Rockaway Beach parking lot
Date/Time: Sunday, July 24, 2022, 10 AM
Description: Join Lisa Louis (of hikingautism.com) and family for a walk starting at Rockaway Beach and leading to Pacific State Beach. The path is paved, but there is some hill climbing. Visitors can enjoy two beaches in one outing!
• RSVP recommended but not required. E-mail Lisa at llouis@sonic.net
For more info on this walking area, visit:
https://www.hikingautism.com/rockaway-beach-to-pacifica-state-beach.html
Historic Batteries Marin Headlands Hike
Saturday, August 20, 2022, 10 AM
Location: Meet at the Battery Alexander parking lot/bathroom on Field Road (can be reached from Bunker Road or Conzelman Road) in the Marin Headlands. Note that there are some one-way road restrictions so keep an eye out for the Battery Alexander parking sign.
Date/Time: Saturday, August 20, 2022, 10 AM
Description: Join Lisa Louis (of hikingautism.com) and family for a walk starting at the Battery Alexander parking lot in the Marin Headlands. This is a relatively short hike but includes multiple historic batteries amidst beautiful scenery, with the option to take the short South Rodeo Beach Trail to the beach after the hike.
• RSVP recommended but not required. E-mail Lisa at llouis@sonic.net
For more info on this walking area, visit:
https://www.hikingautism.com/batteries-loop-trail-marin-headlands.html
Mark your calendars: SFASA-Stanford Adult Autism Conference October 15, 2022
Logo art by Cassie Searle
It's back!
And in-person (or at least we're planning it that way...)
Saturday, October 15, 9am-4.30pm
The SFASA-Stanford
Annual Adult Autism Conference
This conference is for parents, caregivers and professionals who have the responsibility to help plan for the care for late teens and adults with autism, intellectual disability and related developmental disabilities.
It will be held at Li Ka Shing Center, Stanford University.
If necessary, the conference will be moved online.
Details to come.
Recent Events: Azure Summer Concert at Stanford, July 2022
Recent Events: Autism on Ice, at Solar4America Ice in San Jose, July 2022
Okay, Everyone Wants Another Dance Party!
The Spring Zing was such a hit that requests are pouring in for Round Two
We hear you and will look to plan something for late summer 2022. Stay tuned.
In Memoriam
SFASA events are in part funded by the #FedaFund, created in honor of our late former VP Feda Almaliti and her son Mu, both of whom tragically perished in a house fire on September 26, 2020.
Feda was passionate supporter of SFASA events and co-founded our Pool Parties and Autism on Tap series. We miss them more than words can say.
To donate please visit sfautismsociety.org/donate.