Alyce Hatch Center to host autism awareness event April 17

Published 12:05 pm Wednesday, April 16, 2025

: Jacqueline Moran, early childhood special education specialist, interacts with a child in a special education class at the Alyce Hatch Center in Bend. Photo by Dean Guernsey.

The High Desert Education Service District early intervention and early childhood special education team is hosting an event focused on understanding autism in early childhood from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Alyce Hatch Center in Bend.

Families with young children who are curious about autism are welcome to attend. The event will include a parent panel of families who use the center’s services, as well as guest speaker Dr. Lark Huang-Storms from Seattle Children’s Hospital. The event will also feature information about autism services, strategies and community resources. The goal is to build a forum for information, conversation and community around autism in Central Oregon.

Childcare and snacks are provided. Registration is encouraged.

About Noemi Arellano-Summer

Noemi Arellano-Summer is schools, youth and families reporter at the Bulletin. She previously reported on homelessness and the 2020 eviction moratorium with the Howard Center of Investigative Journalism through Boston University. She was raised in Long Beach, California, where she started her journalism career reporting for her high school newspaper. In her free time, she can be found meandering through a bookstore or writing short stories.

She can be reached at noemi.arellano-summer@bendbulletin.com and 541-383-0325.