Rady Children’s Hospital Autism Discovery Institute

Obesity Control Center donates 3% of every surgery fee to the Rady Children’s Hospital Autism Discovery Institute.

The understanding and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder is rapidly evolving. To keep pace with this rapid evolution and provide patients and families with a central location for evaluation, treatment and ongoing guidance, Rady Children's Hospital has made a commitment to our community.

This commitment is the Autism Discovery Institute.

- New facility including the Autism Diagnostic & Treatment Center and the expanded Toddler School.

- The central location and expanded services will help us to serve approximately four times the number of families.

Alexa's Story

In the 2006 Fall Issue of Rady Children's Magazine, we introduced you to 2-year-old Alexa Ortiz, diagnosed with autism at 14 months and attending Rady Children's Toddler School. Her father, Dr. Ariel Ortiz, and mother, Cynthia (shown here with Alexa in October), tell of their family's journey:

"We were chosen to have a special child with special needs. How and where would we meet those needs? What would be the outcome? We asked these questions as we held hands and prayed. The response to our prayers was almost immediate, as we received a call from the Toddler School at Rady Children's. The first few weeks were tough, but a couple of months passed, and we got to know the whole staff - warm and compassionate experts teaching our child to learn."

"Rady Children's has not only touched us; it has profoundly changed our lives forever. It has opened our minds to fulfill our duty to serve and our spiritual need to give, thereby fulfilling one of God's most important rules: Love others as you love yourself."

"For Alexa, we are proud to say that she has graduated Toddler School, acing every test and exceeding every expectation...even ours."

The Ortiz's were so touched by their experience with Rady Children's that they have become members of the Children's Circle of Care, ensuring that other children will always have access to the same level of care.