Enjoyable, Awareness, Data and Recreation Round Autism in Imperial

IMPERIAL — At Imperial’s Eager Park, the town of Imperial and Autism Support of Imperial County hosted the fifth annual Autism Awareness F.A.I.R. for the aim of bringing autism sources and a enjoyable time to Imperial Valley’s residents on Saturday, April 11.

The honest featured many sights equivalent to a petting zoo, a 5k race, an autism analysis van and dwell music, in addition to a dunk tank that Imperial’s mayor, Ida Obeso-Martinez, participated in.

Autism Support of Imperial County

Autism Support of Imperial County (ASIC) is an area non-profit group that gives info and help to folks and professionals on every part associated to the autism spectrum. 

They host group occasions, such because the Autism Awareness Fair, to unfold the phrase in regards to the completely different providers and sources obtainable to the group.

ASIC collaborates with the town of Imperial to host their gala’s, which have been rising greater yearly. The metropolis supplies the infrastructure and setup for gratis to the group, which permits extra of the honest’s revenue to be put towards ASIC’s applications.

“Originally, we were a parents support group designed to help provide guidance and education to parents through monthly meetings,” stated James Gonzalez, president of ASIC since 2009. “It’s now evolved into so much more … We have an autism fair, we have a mobile unit to do diagnosis throughout the county, and we have social events for our families.”

According to Gonzalez, by way of the assistance of the group and his fellow board members, ASIC is in a great place. They have lately obtained a brand new grant that can permit them to supply extra evaluations to the group’s youngsters, and are hoping to supply greater than 120 evaluations by the tip of 2028.

“The biggest issue that we’re seeing is the evaluations in Spanish — virtually nobody is doing evaluations in Spanish except for ourselves,” Gonzalez stated. “So, that’s another thing we’re trying to get going. (It’s) exciting, and we can’t wait to ramp that up even more because there’s so many kids that need the help.”

The F.A.I.R.

Standing for enjoyable, consciousness, info and recreation, the honest provided one thing for everybody to get pleasure from. 

Food vehicles lined one facet of Eager Park, whereas info and useful resource cubicles lined the others. There had been bouncy homes and carnival rides for the youngsters, in addition to carnival video games and a petting zoo that showcased llamas and goats.

At the middle of the park stood a stage the place performers, some on the autism spectrum, supplied uplifting dwell music to these in attendance.

One particular occasion that was featured on the honest was a 5k race, with proceeds benefitting ASIC and their applications. Participants ran by way of the streets of Imperial with the intention to lift consciousness and help for autism.

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Lucy Valdez, runner No. 67, loved taking part within the race. This is the second 5k she’s carried out, however the first 5k run for autism, so she was very excited that she signed up in time earlier than the cutoff. Valdez’s nephew is autistic, thus she ran with him in thoughts.

“I’ve been wanting to do it for years,” said Valdez. “It’s pretty cool because everybody gets to mingle and you get to meet runners and other autistic parents … I was lucky enough to sign up — it was pretty much for my nephew.”

Another occasion that was featured on the honest was a dunk tank, with particular group visitors because the “victims.”

“We tried to go with medical staff … So, we’re starting off with our mayor of the city of Imperial,” said Nancy Ampurano, Imperial’s particular occasion coordinator. “She’s also a doctor in Imperial Valley, so she fits right in … (We also) have a couple of people from AMR and Dr. Vo and his wife. We’re excited to see all the medical staff getting dunked today.”

By the water park space, Karen Cano and her son had been having fun with the environment. Cano and her son have attended each single Autism Fair, which they look ahead to yearly, and plan on returning sooner or later. 

“We love this event because we get to interact with other moms and other kids,” Cano said. “(My son) usually plays by himself, and right now he was enjoying playing with little kids … I’m involved in the field of ABA, so I get to experience it as a professional and as a mom — but to see my son being integrated and enjoying different things every year … I feel like (the fair) is just getting better.”