Aired April 12, 2026: Lisa Foxx interviews Dr. Paula Pompa-Craven, Chief Clinical Officer, Autism Services, Easterseals Southern California, about Autism Acceptance Month as they launch of the Every1 With Autism Belongs PSA campaign in SoCal. 

April is Autism Acceptance Month & Easterseals Challenges SoCal to Create a New Dialog Around Autism and Belonging   California Has One of the Highest Rates of Autism in the U.S.   View the Campaign & Join Our Social Movement: EastersealsAutism.com   

Easterseals Southern California (ESSC)—one of the largest providers of autism therapy services in the nation—is once again initiating a brash dialogue around disability acceptance with a new campaign, Every1 With Autism Belongs. One to tell us more is Dr. Paula Pompa-Craven, Chief Clinical Officer and Psychologist, Autism Therapy Services, ESSC... 

One in 31 children in the U.S. is diagnosed on the autism spectrum with a higher prevalence in California, diagnosing one in 19 with autism. ESSC provides services to more than 29,000 people with autism and other disabilities and their families in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Imperial, Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura counties.

Created collaboratively with people with autism and the parents of children with autism, the campaign features four SoCal residents with varying levels of autism who portray what belonging should look like at school, in the community, at work and at home.

ESSC’s Every1 With Autism Belongs campaign celebrates inclusion and individuality by reminding the world that it’s not one-size-fits-all for people with autism and that Every1 is unique.

At EastersealsAutism.com, people will find easy, everyday ways we all can help make spaces more inclusive—whether at home, work, school or in the community. From listening with empathy to inviting people into the conversation, visitors can explore practical tips, conversation starters and resources that inspire action. The site also offers factual information about autism and other resources.