Autism Festival
To many, Autism is not a fully understood condition. The festival held at the F.W. Springstead High School football field on Saturday intended to bring awareness and provide educational information for parents of autistic children.
The festival started five years ago by a student Danish Hasan who at that time was a Junior at Springstead High School. This was a project for IB requirements credits. “He put together Autism Fest because his father was a doctor and he knew that there needed to be awareness and parents needed to know what was available for them,” said Jason Rhodes, Chairman of The Inspire Foundation.
The Inspire Foundation was founded by Jason and his wife Christine, for these parents know those puzzles of Autism. Their son is autistic. When their son stopped talking at the age of 2, the Rhodes incorporated music and arts into their son’s life.
“My wife and I taught music our whole lives and worked with kids with autism, and we just saw a need. We wanted to be the part that says it’s okay to be different, it’s okay to go out there and have fun and it doesn’t matter your ability level. Come and play music and do some art with us, that is the part we wanted to do,” Rhodes said.
When college was just around the corner for Danish Hasan, the members that were still involved in the festival contacted Rhodes for help.
Rhodes had been vendoring at the event for the first three years and took over the event last year. “We took over last year. My wife and I, The Inspired Foundation is running everything this year.”
There was a wide variety of vendors curving along the track, exhibiting their organizations and educational information.
Nydia Caraman is an avid photographer and artist who designs t-shirts along with her husband K.C. “I call this Different View… because my son sees the world differently.”
“People say Autism Awareness and I think it is more understanding; I would like people to just be more understanding and more patient. Understanding is a different thing,” Caraman said. “He changed my life and made me see the world differently. He’s taught me more than I taught me. I wish people open themselves up to that, just getting to know somebody, with any disabilities for that matter because they are still people.”
The festival was not only to meet others and share information and stories but also offered great live entertainment. Nikki Dermott started the show on stage and Hope Darling followed.
Next up was James Durbin, a featured singer in American Idol season 10 and a top four finalist.
“I don’t feel autism awareness should be dwindled down to one month,” Durbin said. ‘It should be noticed and recognized. There is a difference with how people with autism learn and people with autism handle things and handle situations.”
The festival ended with good support as well as new ideas for next year’s festival.
“Starting last year and fading into this year we are making more of a family music fest with the proceeds going to Autism programs and different charities,” Rhodes explained.
Inspire Foundation 17815 Hunting Bow Cir Lutz, FL.. (352) 410-3332 http://www.theinspirefoundationfl.org/