STEVENSVILLE — The Kinera Foundation welcomed the community for a day of resource support, networking and fun during its first Disability and Autism Awareness Day at the Kent Island American Legion Post 278 April 20.
As the month of April is Autism Awareness Month and April 20 is Disability Awareness Day, it seemed an appropriate time to reach out to the community for a day of awareness and education about local resources, Julie Vallecillo, parent navigator of the Kinera Foundation said.
Kinera helps individuals with disabilities and special health care needs and their families by providing resources to support, inform and connect them with services and opportunities that will enhance their quality of life, she said.
The free event welcomed families and community members for a day of fun and education as crafts, games, activities and plenty of information filled the American Legion. The event highlighted both visible and invisible disabilities and the resources available throughout the community for assistance.
It was important that families could ask questions in a fun, engaging environment, find programs in the community and just understand they are not alone, especially those with a recent diagnosis, Vallecillo said.
“Education is a huge component of it. Events like these help children feel a part of the community,” she said.
Dina Scalia, organizer of Put the Pieces Together of Kent Island helped facilitate the event.
“Our purpose is to give support, resources and friendship to fellow autism families in the community. We are here to bring the county together,” she said.
Education resources included early childhood services, special education programs, social services, and tutoring.
Among the participating representatives were various emergency services agencies from across the country with information and fun activities for all ages about what to do in an emergency.
Particularly for those with autism, knowing what to do when faced with a sudden change outside of routine is essential, according to Debra Hopkins of the Department of Emergency Services.
Providing proactive information in an engaging way helps empower and build confidence in times of emergency for all ages, she said.
A teddy bear clinic led participants in the basics of first aid and what they can expect in situations if an ambulance shows up.
“We want people to know us before they need us,” Hopkins said.
Outside enjoying the spring day, Talisman Therapeutic Riding of Grasonville welcomed everyone to meet little Skye the therapeutic horse.
Horses can provide a wonderful experience for any age and are particularly good at helping riders focus and stay in the moment, Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor Valentine Galasso said.
“Horses are not interested about yesterday or tomorrow, they only think about the right now. It gives us a reality check,” she said.
Local disability resources have certainly grown over the years in the area, but they are still not as robust as they need to be to serve the community, Vallecillo said.
The intention is to grow the event and continually raise awareness to meet the needs of families with loved ones on the spectrum, she said.
More information about the Kinera Foundation can be found at https://www.kinera.org.
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