About Us

Established in 2006, Autism By the Sea (A B Sea) is an Orange County community resource for families with children on the Autism Spectrum.   Located in Newport Beach, CA, Autism By the Sea partners with other not for profit organizations to provide education, support, and Autism awareness programs for families with Autistic children throughout Orange County.

We began in 2006 as a small discussion group of moms meeting over coffee to find answers and compare strategies and have grown to over 100 families exchanging ideas on managing Autism and receiving the support that is created by connecting with others. Our programs have ranged from holistic speakers, behavioral interventionists, to elementary school Autism Awareness workshops.

There is a vast amount of information in the world of Autism. Through this group we are learning about it one day at a time as we support each other, and make positive changes in our children's lives - all the while encouraging compassion within our community. 

Our Mission

Our Mission is to provide SUPPORT to families affected by Autism in positive and encouraging ways; to help EDUCATE those families and members in their community about the complicated field of Autism; and to provide AWARENESS campaigns that can be tailored for local organizations upon request.

Our Board Members

Debbie Painter - President and Co-Founder

Forbes Painter - Speaker and Co-Founder

Elisa Steingruebner – Vice President and Co-Founder

Emily Norton - Community Outreach Programming

Angela York - Secretary

Heather Sheward - Inclusion Specialist

Lynette Bennett - Director of Marketing