Joining the community for some fun can be difficult for families with children on the autism spectrum. Gulf Coast News is getting an inside look at a new opportunity for families at the end of February in Lee County.
“We couldn't go out in public. It was challenging for me,” explained Samantha Begle. She and her children live in Cape Coral. She said three out of four of her children are on the autism spectrum. “They want to be part of the community just like anybody else.”
Begle explained that overstimulation is something she always has to keep in mind.
“They just don't know how to, I guess, function, especially younger (children) to be able to put down those feelings of, like, the lights, the smells, the sounds and everything," she said.
Begle has been working with the Family Initiative in Cape Coral for the last several years to help her kids adapt to the world around them.
“Eight years ago we couldn't go out and do anything,” Begle added. “It was a challenge just packing my kids up to get into the car to get to the place. Now we can go, enjoy, and everybody's happy when we leave.”
The Family Initiative is working to extend that inclusivity to other families along the Gulf Coast.
“We are so excited for the opportunity to partner with Lee County for the Southwest Florida Ag Expo to have a sensory night,” explained Anjali Van Drie. She is co-founder and vice president of Family Initiative. The initiative is a nonprofit that works to help families like Begle’s feel safe and comfortable going out into the community.
"When we started Family Initiative, it was about 10 years ago,” Van Drie said. “The prevalence of autism was 1 in 101. In 2023, the CDC came out and said the prevalence is 1 in 36.”
A report in the National Library of Medicine ranked Florida among the top four states for adults on the autism spectrum at 329,131. California was No. 1 on that list, with 701,669.
“This area is growing at a tremendous rate, and it's really important to the county that we see that and that we see the needs of this community,” added Miriam Dotson, an Ag Expo spokesperson.
The Gulf Coast’s growing population is one reason Dotson said Lee County is working with Family Initiative. The Ag Expo’s sensory hours will dim the lights and tone down the noise for people who are sensitive.
“It's going to be a little more subdued,” Dotson said. “You can still enjoy all the great food and all that it has to offer before it really gets a little bit too, maybe, intimidating or something that would maybe make them not want to go to an event like this.”
The Southwest Florida Ag Expo celebrates the Gulf Coast’s agricultural heritage. This year’s sensory night is designed to make sure families like Begle’s get to take part in that celebration.
“We're definitely, as a community, growing. We're definitely getting more opportunities,” Begle concluded.
The Southwest Florida Ag Expo kicks off Thursday, Feb. 27. Sensory night is Friday , Feb. 28. Sensory hours are 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets for sensory hours are free. The Expo itself runs through March 9.