Celebrate and Support Autism Acceptance Month in the Coastal Bend
Guest Post written by Marissa Alonzo-Ackerman
Autism Acceptance & Awareness Month begins in the month of April with World Autism Day on April 2nd kicking it off. Many organizations and groups around our area have began the annual planning of supporting this important time. Autism spectrum disorder, which affects 1 in 36 children currently, has risen across the globe and the impact it has directly with our local community is evident.
My son Jacob, whose autism diagnosis journey has been featured before here on the blog and on stories covered by KRIS 6 and Telemundo, is one of many individuals in our area that have autism spectrum disorder and with the number growing I wanted to shed light on what resources there are not only for the month, but at all times.
Autism Supportive Groups
South Texas Neurodiversity Association (Facebook)
Beginning on an autism diagnosis journey can be very difficult and hard on parents and caregivers. That is why our local facebook group South Texas Neurodiversity Association continues to grow as parents, caregivers, grandparents, and other supportive individuals as a place to commune and share our stories. Many times you will see posts asking the most burning of questions that many may have already answered or experienced or be a place to simply vent and discuss situations that only others on the journey would know. Join us today and also be part of our meetup events.
Austism Specific Organizations & Medical Recommendations
A child diagnosed with autism will most likely need to receive services either by early intervention or during the course of their adolescence into school years. Most of these services can be accessed early on through ECI, a government lead program, and into Pathways depending on qualification. Once a child ages out at three years old it is often hard on parents to figure out the best options. Although our city currently does not have a special needs specific school, there are preschool alternatives such as The Rise School, and other outside service providers for occupational, physical, speech, and applied behavioral therapy (ABA). Outside of this you may find yourself struggling to find the best places to take your child for dental cleanings or routine pediatric visits. Recommendations from the community for Pediatrix, Aventura, and Kennedy Dental have come from our area support group and Driscoll has been top of mind for many including the following items below.
Occupational and Physical
Center for Autism and Related Disorders
Speech Therapy
Driscoll Health
Pediatric Therapy Associates
Center for Autism and Related Disorders
Applied Behavioral Therapy
Center for Autism and Related Disorders
Religion and Faith
At times it can be stressful figuring out autism and what that means for your family. Two specific churches in the area have special needs ministries. St. Joseph Catholic Church, and New Life Church, which has a new sensory friendly room for their special patrons as well as special ministry.
Family Fun
If you are looking for places to go that may have sensory friendly hours, lighting, or supportive individuals look no further than the following places. A huge supporter in the area is the Texas State Aquarium, who has many events throughout the year, Hurricane Alley, and Chuck E Cheese, who will have Sensory Sensitive Sundays all through the month of April to raise funds for Autism Speaks. If you are looking for local businesses, check out Jubilee Indoor Playground in London Square or La Retama Library’s sensory exploring room.
Outdoor Recreation and Sports
Many of our special needs friends enjoy the outdoors and sports. Luckily our area has many special needs leagues and opportunities such as the Challenger League, a t-ball/baseball opportunity in which the players get to play on a real baseball field and partner with members of the other teams, Miracle League who offers different sports throughout the year that include tennis, baseball, kickball, bocce ball, and more, and Champions League in Portland. Individuals who have an interest in learning Jiu Jitsu can find time to try it in a sensory friendly atmosphere on sensory nights at Strong Arm Jiu Jitsu in Annaville. If you have a child who has been interested in learning how to surf, Waves of Impact offers a chance to do this for the special needs community a few times a year. Lastly, if you are a local runner who is looking to support or join with your child a group that is growing inclusivity for individuals with special needs, look no further than Wings of Texas. If joining a sports team is not on the agenda, you can always find open opportunities for fun at our area splash pads and parks and connect with our local parents in the area.
Adult Specific Services
The journey for a child with Autism can be long and often times us caregivers find ourselves asking what will happen to my child? What will their adulthood look like? It can be overwhelming, but at Choice Living Community providing exceptional support and a community for adults with disabilities has been the goal as the organization grows each year.
I am so grateful to our community for growing and being open to learning more about autism and related disorders. I welcome all businesses to support Autism Acceptance and Awareness month by providing a welcoming atmosphere and having open minds. Supporting area businesses that are already doing this, such as Giovanni’s Sensory Creations, or events such as the upcoming Autism Acceptance 5K Color Run on April 12th at West Haven Park, can do wonders to show your commitment for a more inclusive place for our children and community to thrive.
