UESL Monthly Guide: October ‘26 IDD-Friendly Events + Activities
October has arrived—and with it comes another month of opportunities to get out, try something new, meet people, build friendships, and connect with the disability community throughout San Diego County + Imperial Valley.
From sensory-friendly museum mornings and swimming to self-advocacy, dancing, employment resources, and one of San Diego’s biggest annual celebrations of the Down syndrome community, October’s calendar offers something for a wide range of ages, interests, and support needs.
As always, event details can change. We recommend checking the linked event page and contacting the organizer directly with any questions about accessibility, accommodations, supervision, registration, or individual support needs before attending.
1. Sensory Friendly Mornings at Children’s Museum of Discovery
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
Time: 9:00–10:30 AM
Location: Children’s Museum of Discovery, 320 N. Broadway, Escondido, CA
Start October with a quieter morning of exploration at the Children’s Museum of Discovery.
Sensory Friendly Mornings are geared toward families with children on the autism spectrum or with sensory sensitivities. The program is a welcoming, comfortable opportunity for children and their families to experience the museum in a quieter, accepting environment.
For families who may find standard museum hours busy or overstimulating, dedicated sensory-friendly programming can offer another way to participate in a community experience at a pace that works better for them.
Event Information: Children’s Museum of Discovery Sensory Friendly Morning details
2. Jobtoberfest 2026
Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Balboa Park Club, San Diego
For people with disabilities interested in employment, October brings back Jobtoberfest.
Hosted by the San Diego Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, Jobtoberfest is an annual job fair designed specifically for people with disabilities seeking employment, although all job seekers are welcome. The event is free and does not require registration.
Employment can represent much more than a paycheck. It can provide opportunities to develop independence, confidence, workplace skills, routines + community connections. For IDD adults exploring employment possibilities, Jobtoberfest offers a chance to engage directly with employers and employment resources in an accessible community setting.
Event Information: Jobtoberfest 2026
3. Family Pool + Pizza Party
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Time: 2:00–4:00 PM
Location: Aqua Pros Swim School, San Diego
Sometimes community connection can be as simple as swimming, eating pizza + spending an afternoon around people who understand your family. The Autism Society San Diego’s monthly Family Pool + Pizza Party invites the entire family to enjoy an indoor heated pool along with pizza and drinks.
Lifeguards are provided, but please note that a responsible adult must be in the water with participants who do not know how to swim. Admission is free, with a suggested $5 donation per family.
Event Information: Family Pool + Pizza Party event details
4. Sensory Friendly Mornings at The New Children’s Museum
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Time: 9:00–11:00 AM
Location: The New Children’s Museum, 200 W. Island Ave., San Diego, CA
The New Children’s Museum is opening early for families who would benefit from a quieter museum experience.Its Sensory Friendly Morning provides an opportunity to explore with fewer guests and less stimulation than visitors typically encounter during general museum hours.
That can make a big difference for children who enjoy creative exploration but may become overwhelmed by crowds, noise, transitions, or other sensory input. Families can explore the museum’s interactive environment while taking advantage of a morning intentionally designed to reduce some of those barriers.
Event Information: Sensory Friendly Mornings at The New Children’s Museum
5. San Diego People First 31st Annual Self-Advocacy Conference: Wicked Smart Leaders
Dates: Friday, October 16 + Saturday, October 17, 2026
Location: Marriott Mission Valley Hotel, 8757 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, CA
This one deserves a place on the calendar for IDD adults interested in self-advocacy, leadership + connection. San Diego People First’s 31st Annual Self-Advocacy Conference is created by self-advocates for self-advocates.
The 2026 theme is “Wicked Smart Leaders: The Magic of Self-Advocacy.”
Programming includes workshops, speakers, a resource and micro-enterprise street fair, dinner, dancing + opportunities for community connection. Most importantly, the conference centers the voices and leadership of people with disabilities themselves—creating space for participants to learn, advocate, connect with one another + celebrate the disability community.
Event Information: San Diego People First 2026 Conference
6. Accessibility Morning at the Fleet Science Center
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time: 9:00–10:00 AM
Location: Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
Science exploration gets a sensory-friendly start during the Fleet Science Center’s monthly Accessibility Morning. On the third Saturday of each month, the Fleet opens one hour before its regular public opening to provide a sensory-friendly experience.
October’s program includes early access to the galleries and a 10:00 AM screening of Galapagos with the house lights on and soundtrack volume lowered. Noise-canceling headsets are also available.
Admission is free for the visitor participating in Accessibility Morning and one accompanying guest; standard admission applies to additional visitors. It’s a great opportunity for individuals who love science, technology + hands-on learning but may prefer a lower-stimulation environment.
Event Information: Fleet Science Center Accessibility Mornings
7. San Diego Buddy Walk
Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
Location: 3000 N. Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, making this an especially meaningful time for the San Diego Buddy Walk. Organized locally by the Down Syndrome Association of San Diego and listed through the National Down Syndrome Society, the San Diego Buddy Walk brings families, friends + community members together to promote inclusion and celebrate people with Down syndrome.
The 2026 event has a Toy Story theme and is expected to include music, dancing, games, a multisensory Toy Lab experience, refreshments + an easy walk around Mission Bay. It’s an opportunity to move, celebrate + connect while reinforcing a simple message: everyone belongs and everyone brings something valuable to their community.
Event Information: 2026 San Diego Buddy Walk
8. AWARE Autistic Adult Halloween Dance Party
Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
Time: 2:00–4:00 PM
Location: Dance Headquarters, 5035 Shawline Street, San Diego, CA
Halloween isn’t just for kids. Autism Society San Diego’s AWARE program—Adults With Autism Recreation Experience—is hosting a Halloween Dance Party specifically for autistic adults ages 18+.
Participants can enjoy dancing, DJ music, pizza, beverages + time with friends in a social environment created for the autistic adult community.
Admission is listed at $5 per participant, while a parent or caregiver can attend at no charge. Please note that a responsible parent or caretaker must remain on the premises for attendees who require support. For adults looking for more opportunities to socialize and participate in community recreation, events like AWARE can provide an important space to meet people + have fun.
Event Information + Tickets: AWARE Autistic Adult Halloween Dance Party
9. SDRC's 1st Annual Resource Fair – Imperial
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Location: Imperial Valley Fairgrounds, 200 E. 2nd Street, Imperial, CA
Imperial Valley families, this one is especially worth having on your radar. San Diego Regional Center has announced its first annual SDRC Resource Fair in Imperial.
SDRC coordinates services for eligible people with developmental disabilities throughout San Diego + Imperial Counties, making its resource events particularly relevant for individuals with IDD and the families who support them.
A resource fair can be a valuable opportunity to discover programs, ask questions, learn what support exists locally + make connections with organizations serving the Imperial Valley disability community.
Event Information: San Diego Regional Center Events
10. Fallbrook Halloween Festival – Sensory-Friendly Time
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 3:00–6:00 PM
Sensory-Friendly Time: 3:00–3:30 PM
Location: Fallbrook Community Center, 341 Heald Lane, Fallbrook, CA
Looking for a more sensory-conscious way to celebrate Halloween?
Fallbrook’s Halloween Festival begins with a dedicated sensory-friendly period from 3:00–3:30 PM, providing a quieter experience for individuals with sensory sensitivities before the larger festival continues. The full community event runs from 3:00–6:00 PM.
This is a particularly useful option for families who want to participate in a traditional community Halloween celebration but appreciate the opportunity to arrive during a designated lower-sensory period.
Event Information: Fallbrook Halloween Festival
Make October a Month for Connection
Whether it’s walking alongside hundreds of families at Mission Bay, exploring science before the crowds arrive, dancing with friends, discovering employment opportunities, finding new disability resources, or simply sharing pizza after an afternoon in the pool, community participation can take many different forms.
There is no single “right” way to connect. Find the environments that work for you or your loved one. Explore new interests. Revisit favorite activities. Meet another family. Say hello to someone new.
And if you're looking for another place where technology, friendships + personal growth come together, we’d love to introduce you to UNIFIED Esports League.
UNIFIED Esports League is a technology + life skills program providing social + emotional growth for the IDD community. Helping individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities build confidence, friendships, + real-world skills in a safe, coach supported environment.
Through UNIFIED Technology Centers across San Diego + Imperial Counties, clients ages 8 through adulthood explore technology, gaming + creative tools while working toward individualized goals with support from IDD-trained coaches.
And you can help another family discover UNIFIED.
Through our Referral Incentive Program, current UNIFIED families can earn a $100 Amazon gift card for every referred family who successfully enrolls.
If you know a parent, caregiver, friend, classmate, neighbor, service coordinator, or family who might benefit from UNIFIED, tell them about us.
Your recommendation could introduce someone to more than a technology program. It could help them find a team, build new skills, meet friends + discover another place where they belong.
Questions about enrollment or the referral program? Contact UNIFIED Client Services at services@unifiedesl.com.
Here’s to a month of getting out there, trying something new + finding your community. 💙
