ROCKVILLE, MD – February 12, 2026 – The Autism Society of America has named the Autism Society Nassau/Suffolk as its 2025 Affiliate of the Year. Autism Society President and CEO Joe Joyce presented the award to the Long Island-based team during the February Affiliate Directors meeting, citing the Affiliate’s exceptional growth and commitment to replicable, high-impact programming.

A Year of Expansion and Impact

Under the leadership of Executive Director Michele Iallonardi and Board President Alison Tawil, the Nassau/Suffolk Affiliate experienced a landmark year. In less than 12 months, the Affiliate increased its family membership by 25%, welcoming over 1,500 new members, and held the widely attended 2nd Annual Linking Long Island event with the Long Island Nets. Additionally, the team hosted over 200 programs free of charge and successfully delivered the Safety on the Spectrum™ First Responder training program to local agencies.

“2025 was a year of tremendous growth for our Affiliate,” said Michele Iallonardi, Executive Director. “We are extremely proud of our ability to create innovative ways to meet the needs of our community while ensuring our programs remain accessible to everyone.”

Strategic Growth and Sustainability

Veronica Garcia, Director of Development, highlighted key fundraising initiatives that fueled this success, including the 2025 Autism Acceptance Month campaign. These efforts provided the vital funding necessary to expand programming and increase staffing. This local impact was further solidified by a formal proclamation from Suffolk County recognizing the Affiliate’s contributions.

Looking Ahead

The Autism Society Nassau/Suffolk invites the community to join them for their next major milestone: the First Annual Long Island Autism Walk on May 3, 2026, at Sunken Meadow Park.

For more information on programs and upcoming events in Nassau/Suffolk, please visit nsasa.org/events/. See below for a video of the team in action!

About the Autism Society of America

The Autism Society of America is the country’s oldest and largest grassroots Autism organization. It seeks to improve the lives of all affected by Autism through advocacy, education, information and referral, support, and community at national, state, and local levels.