About Us

How we got here.

Tonya Newberry is the founder and President of Autism Branches that was created as a support for families and communities in South Fulton, GA and surrounding areas. As a parent of a once non-verbal child, we understand the challenges and hardships that many families encounter while raising a child from toddlerhood to young adolescence.

This comes while encountering various sensory and comprehension challenges that come with a child being on the autism spectrum. Therefore, we decided to implement a chain of events that will bring the entire community together for encouragement, resources and activities that are lacking for children that need adaptable and inclusive activities in the southernmost area of Atlanta, GA. To gain more insight regarding autism and intellectual challenges, please go to our partnering company. (www.sparkforautism.org)

Goals and Purpose

Over the years, we have accomplished important milestones in our mission to support those on the spectrum, including expanding autism and mental health awareness. We are increasing accessibility to therapy resources throughout all of Georgia through yearly inclusive events creating a safe haven space for all sensory sensitive children.

Our mission is to create a family friendly environment that's designed for children on the spectrum to have an opportunity to build their social skills, minimize sensory stimming while interacting with their peers in a neurotypical environment. We want more children to have the ability to display their genius skills in the school system and have more opportunities for better educational advancement.

We wish to accommodate the growing population of children being diagnosed on the spectrum and/or with a disability to have inclusive mentoring and interactive programs that will enable them to grow without feeling overwhelmed during a stimming reaction. During summer breaks, our volunteer educators and specialist will expand the learning growth of all participating children to prevent regression of the school break. We will create sensory camps every summer, implement annual interactive events allowing them to integrate their creative abilities openly with the help of onsite licensed professionals.

This can only happen if the public has more compassion and understanding of a child that has developmental challenges that requires more patience and training. With your help we can achieve our goals. As the founder, I've poured my motherhood life into helping my son who was non-verbal, as well as my team of professional mothers who also have children on the spectrum. Your support is imperative towards making sure no child, no matter their indifferences is left behind with the opportunity to self-sustain independently as an adult. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization RESERVED 88-1363202 in Atlanta, GA helping create more opportunities for children like ours to thrive independently.

Our Vision

At Autism Branches, our vision is to create a community whereas children on any level of the spectrum is a top priority! We promote access to the resources they need to receive optimal therapy and educational opportunities by hosting quarterly events and programs. These program's include inclusive camp options and events that cater to children needing an area to interact amongst their peers.

Our Approach

We take a hands-on community approach while partnering with local corporations, enabling us the platform to serve everyone throughout South Fulton, Georgia and beyond. Continuously, we are encouraging research opportunities and early diagnosis for toddlers to have a better future. We support all families needing an outlet to communicate with parents that have navigated through the now and tomorrow. We have professionals that educate contributing factors that can ease stimming by demonstrating calming methods for those with sensory related issues and clinical professionals' referrals for speech, occupational, respite and behavioral management.

Clinical Resources in Georgia

What is Autism

Per Marcus Autism Center, Autism which is referred to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a child’s social skills, communication and behavior development. More simply put, it means that a child’s brain develops and works a little differently and can affect how a kid understands and relates to others. No two children on the autism spectrum are the same but may indeed have similar traits that can be professionally identified.

Marcus Autism Center/ www.marcus.org

As a group of advocates, we at Autism Branches all have children or know many families with children that have similar character traits. This allows us to embrace others through the learning curves from toddlerhood to adult adolescents.

Early signs of autism

Pay close attention to the early development of your child from 6 months to age 3. You will notice early signs in your child potentially showing some of the following:

1: Lack of eye-to-eye contact after 12 months to age 3

2: Minimum engagement with others

3: Minimum to no babbling, crying or mimicking

4: Repetitive movement: clapping, flapping hands, twirling, rocking back and forth

5: Constant screams without verbal pronunciation

6: Sleep deprivation, screams at night or never wants to nap

7: Lack in potty training, will not try to engage in potty training

8: Unwillingness to try different foods, play with food or use baby utensils

9: Doesn't play with typical children's toys

10: Most children wander or run from their care givers during their toddler years. It's the regular occurrence of this action that should enable you to be extremely protective and cautious of a child that can easily drift off from their care givers.

Most toddlers will exhibit some form of the above throughout their developmental years but it's very important you know your child's growth from infant stages to toddlerhood in effort to get a proper diagnosis. Every child is different on the spectrum, do not be offended or disturbed by the word Autism. Be proactive by getting your child professionally diagnosed so a clinical specialist can create a development plan to help your child meet those milestone goal in their early years to be great.

Our Programs

We offer a variety of events throughout the year, bringing the entire community together for updated resources, new laws in the State of Georgia that will benefits families with children on the autism spectrum, as well as building social inclusion. This summer in June & July we will be implementing a new ASD camp geared for speech, reading and writing as well as outdoor activities, summer carnivals, horse rides, sampling of new food and exploration of the great outdoors. Your generous support enables us to open doors of opportunity for children with learning disabilities to be a part of something created for that every neurodivergent child.

2026/2027 EVENT CALENDAR

December 12th, 2026: 3rd Annual Headphone Sensory Ball at the Best Western Event Hall 4:00 p.m. to 8

Join the Autism Branches community as we celebrate the end of the year by recognizing every child and adult with calming music, a catered dinner, specialty gifts and an enlightening experience amongst their peers. Tickets on sale thru Eventbrite.com

Febuary2027: Autism Branches Fundraiser

Location and Date Will be announced by November 10, 2026, an event for the entire community with all abilities included.

April 10, 2027: 6th Annual Autism Sensory Festival at Wilkerson Mill Park.

6th Annual Autism Sensory Festival

Join Autism Branches and its community of providers and businesses for the annual Autism Sensory Festival during Autism Awareness Month. This free all-day event is full of engaging activities for every child with and without sensory challenges. This enables every child an opportunity to participate in activities amongst a community children without stereotype. All caregivers gain up to date resources throughout all of Georgia.

May 24th - May 28th 2027

Camp training for Spectrum Explorers and Volunteer registration. Camp Spectrum Explorers in partnership with the City of South Fulton serves as a summer enrichment and cultural experience for children throughout the southernmost area of Atlanta, GA. Registration for camp begins during the A.S Festival on April 10th or earlier.

May 31st - June 18th & June 28th - July 16th 2027

Start for Camp Spectrum Explorers. This inclusive camp is specifically designed for neurodivergent children with IEP's or 504 plans as well as their sibling within the age requirements, Registration is with the City of South Fulton Parks and Recreation Department per child, per Session.