Yuma groups, police expand autism acceptance outreach and support this month

More than 600 people joined Yuma’s walk for autism last year, and this spring Strong Beginnings and the Yuma Police Department are using Gateway Park and a separate April 25 outreach event to turn Autism Acceptance Month into practical support for families.

Walk 4 Autism 2026 took place Saturday at Gateway Park, with check-in starting at 8 a.m. and the walk beginning at 9 a.m. The event was hosted by The Strong Beginnings Project and Strong Beginnings, which has served Yuma since 2015 and says it uses a child-led, evidence-based Applied Behavioral Analysis approach for children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental delays. Berenice Diaz, founder of Strong Beginnings, said the month carries personal weight. “Autism Acceptance Month is very close to my heart. I have been working with children with special needs for over 20 years,” Diaz said.

Strong Beginnings has become one of the most visible local providers as Yuma’s network of services has grown. The organization says the walk helps raise funds so families can reach specialized care, including ABA and speech therapy. That matters in a county where demand is rising along with the national autism benchmark: the CDC’s latest estimate says about 1 in 31 children age 8 were identified with autism spectrum disorder, based on 2022 data.

The police department is also leaning into outreach. Sgt. Christina Fernandez said the effort is personal for members of the department. “This event is really important for us. Myself and Lt. Pino have children who are on the autism spectrum…so it’s really important for us to be able to bring this awareness to the community,” Fernandez said. YPD plans an Autism Awareness Community Event on April 25 to give officers and families a chance to connect in a setting designed to build trust before a stressful call ever happens.

That kind of familiarity can change outcomes when officers respond to someone who communicates differently, is overwhelmed by noise or lights, or needs extra time to process instructions. A City of Yuma release has also described Sgt. Pino as passionate about autism awareness and heavily involved in community events, underscoring that the outreach is not a one-off campaign.

Local advocates say the goal is bigger than awareness alone. The Yuma Autism Community Coalition, working with The Menta Group and other partners, says it is trying to build capacity and create more opportunities for people with autism in Yuma. With more ABA and speech therapy providers now available, the push this month is about making sure families can actually find them, use them and feel welcome doing it.