Morgan Autism Center plans major San Jose campus expansion

Morgan Autism Center will announce a new property purchase and campus expansion on July 30 in San Jose to add space for students and adults with profound autism as demand continues to rise. The plan includes the Bay Area center’s first inclusive playground partnership with Magical Bridge Foundation and a 31,000-square-foot elevated park.

Why it matters: - Morgan Autism Center is expanding because its current campus is full while regional autism rates have doubled since the site opened nine years ago. - The plan is meant to add capacity for school and adult programs and create more intentional learning and therapeutic spaces. - The expansion also brings San Jose its first inclusive playground from Magical Bridge Foundation, adding a high-profile accessible recreation space to the campus.

What happened: - Morgan Autism Center will announce the property acquisition and campus expansion on Thursday, July 30, 2026, in San Jose. - The center acquired a 1.86-acre property at 1470 McKinley Avenue, across the street from its current campus. - The expansion plan is called “Dream Campus 2.0.” - The media is invited to a kick-off celebration from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 1470 McKinley Ave., San Jose, CA 95126.

The details: - Morgan Autism Center serves people with profound autism and developmental disabilities across the Bay Area. - The organization has operated since 1969 and moved to its current campus, the former St. Elizabeth’s Day School, in 2017. - The current campus serves students ages 5 to 21 and adults ages 22 and older. - MAC currently serves 65 students from 24 school districts and 56 adults in its Adult Program. - The oldest client is 66 years old. - The new campus plan includes four state-of-the-art school spaces and a dedicated Adult Program facility. - The broader campus upgrades will include universally accessible, therapeutic spaces and a 31,000-square-foot elevated park on the current campus. - Magical Bridge Foundation will design the outdoor campus to fit the physical, social and sensory needs of the autistic community. - The new playground is expected to be the first of its kind in San Jose and among the first in the nation. - Available for interviews are Josh Drake, MAC executive director; Olenka Villarreal, Magical Bridge Foundation founder and CEO; San Jose City Council Member Michael Mulcahy; and parent Paula Silver, who speaks English and Spanish. - Visuals planned for the event include design displays, the Vision 2030 and Dream Campus 2.0 presentation, and clients, students, parents, supporters, staff and teachers. - Morgan Autism Center’s social channels listed in the release include LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Between the lines: - The expansion is as much a capacity fix as a signal of ambition, with MAC aiming to become a model for serving people with significant autism. - The partnership with Magical Bridge adds public-facing visibility and may help broaden community support for the project. - San Jose’s District 9 Councilmember Michael Mulcahy framed the project as an investment in autistic individuals, families and inclusion in the city.

What's next: - Morgan Autism Center will use the new property and campus upgrades to expand enrollment and improve program space for school and adult services. - The organization is positioning the project as a community effort that will need public support to bring the vision to life. - Construction timing was not included in the release, but the announcement marks the first step in the expansion rollout.