UCLA Tarjan Center

BIG NEWS!! Pathway at UCLA Extension just announced their very first Pathway Summer Experience!

Hosted on the iconic UCLA campus, the Pathway Summer Experience is an overnight residential program designed for neurodivergent adults ages 18-26. Throughout the program, participants will engage in a dynamic mix of recreational activities and seminar style workshops focused on independence, self-advocacy, and college readiness.

Whether you’re exploring higher education for the first time or looking to build the skills needed to thrive in an inclusive college environment, Pathway offers a supportive, structured space to grow.

When: Sunday August 2nd - Friday August 7th 2026
Where: UCLA Campus
Cost: $1750

Applications are due by June 30th!

For more information visit UCLA Pathway or copy the link below to apply now!

https://forms.gle/iQ4p469mwAvbjMw89

🎙️ We’re on the Autism Weekly Podcast!

Episode #232 of Autism Weekly features our very own Dr. Brandon Ito, Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at the UCLA Tarjan Center, exploring the intersection of autism, sexuality, gender identity, and mental health.

🎧 Search “Autism Weekly” on any podcast app

📢 Researchers at UCLA are recruiting families for the PROMISE Study, which is exploring early infant development to help improve the early identification of autism and other developmental differences.

Families may be eligible if they:
✔️ Live in the Greater Los Angeles area
✔️ Are pregnant or have an infant under 9 months old
✔️ Have at least one older child with a confirmed autism diagnosis

Participants can complete some visits remotely from home and receive compensation for each study visit, along with developmental feedback throughout the study.

Interested in learning more? Contact the study team at [email protected] or (424) 518-1612.

In Case You Missed It!

Our recent Distinguished Lecture Series featured Dr. Yue Yu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UC Davis and a faculty member at the MIND Institute. Dr. Yu presented on how mobile programs can support caregiver engagement in early autism intervention.

If you couldn’t join us live, you can stream the full recording and listen to the podcast episode! Scan the QR code or visit: teams.semel.ucla.edu/tarjan/lecture-series

📣 NEW PUBLICATION from the UCLA Tarjan Center

“I Belong Here”: The UCLA Leadership Academy for Emerging Disability Rights Leaders is now published in the Developmental Disabilities Network Journal.

This paper shares what we learned from two cohorts of the Leadership Academy, a program that helps disabled adults build advocacy, storytelling, and leadership skills.

Key findings:
✅ 90% of participants completed the program
✅ 100% reported growth in advocacy knowledge and skills
✅ Graduates who returned as mentors described lasting gains in confidence, career direction, and sense of belonging

The Leadership Academy is a model for what’s possible when disabled people are centered, not just as participants, but as leaders.

🔗 Read the full article: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/ddnj/vol5/iss2/21

Join the UCLA PEERS® Clinic as a Career Coach!

We’re seeking motivated undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate students to support autistic young adults in our PEERS® for Careers program, an evidence-based social skills intervention focused on workplace success.

Career Coaches work one-on-one with participants, attend weekly Zoom sessions, receive supervision from PEERS® clinicians, and gain valuable experience working with autistic adults. Upon completion, coaches may attend a PEERS® Certified Training Seminar at no cost ($500 value).

🗓️June-September 2026 (~10 hrs/week)
💻Tuesdays, 4:00-7:30 PM PT via Zoom
📧To apply, send your CV/resume and cover letter to
[email protected]

We hope that you will join us for the upcoming
UCLA Tarjan Center Distinguished Lecture Series.

EXPLORING THE ROLE OF SIBLINGS IN AUTISM

Speaker: Nicole Rosen, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior
Date: Monday, June 8, 2026
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM PDT
Location: Free and live on Zoom

Link to register in the bio!

Researchers at UCLA are conducting a study to better understand how parents use (or do not use) health information when making decisions related to general health, sexual health, and vaccinations for their children with IDD.

Who can participate?
✔ Parents of children ages 12–22 with IDD
✔ Participation includes a Zoom interview and brief questionnaire
✔ Participants receive a $75 digital gift card

Scan the QR code or use the link in the flyer to learn more and determine eligibility. Please feel free to share with families or networks who may be interested!

Our recent Distinguished Lecture Series featured Dr. Ifunanya Nweke, Founder and Executive Director of who presented on the power of performance-based music education for autistic learners. If you couldn’t join us live, you can now stream the full recording and listen to the podcast episode! Scan the QR code or visit: https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/tarjan/lecture-series for the lecture or https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/tarjan/other-words for the podcast. Our next lecture will be Monday, June 8 from 12-1 pm PST. E hope you’ll join us.

Are you an autistic adult looking to build confidence in the workplace?

The UCLA PEERS Clinic is excited to partner with the California Department of Rehabilitation to launch PEERS® for Careers — a 16-week evidence-based program focused on helping autistic adults obtain and maintain meaningful employment 🤝

For more information about the program and enrollment, contact the PEERS Clinic at (310) 267-3377 or [email protected].