Fostering Communication and Understanding
by Laura Breen Galante
On April 26, thousands of local residents and supporters gathered at Reiter Park for the City of Longwood’s third annual Walk for Autism Awareness & Inclusion.
Longwood Commissioner Matt Morgan and his wife Larissa created this unique event to build unity among families who have a family member on the autism spectrum and the community at large. For the Morgans, this is a cause near and dear to their hearts because their son Jackson is autistic.
“Once your child is diagnosed,” says Matt, “you notice a lot of families in the same space as you, looking for services to help their child.”
The event is the only one of its kind in Seminole County, and all the vendors – nearly 60 – offer services specifically for the autistic community. After 11 years of searching for help for Jackson, the Morgans were inspired to share their knowledge and showcase local businesses that are autism-friendly. The resources that are highlighted at the walk can be especially beneficial for the many families facing a new diagnosis or for those who have recently moved to Seminole County.
Solidarity for the Spectrum
“The walk is important, to be there in solidarity for neurotypical and neurodiverse folks,” says Matt. “But the main reason we want to do this is to get a bevy of different providers out there to introduce their services to these families.”
Adds Larissa, “On top of that, we wanted a celebration in Seminole County because April is Autism Awareness Month. A lot of events focus on Orlando, and we wanted something for us here.”
Similar events often charge a fee for guests or vendors to participate, says Matt, but the Longwood walk is free to all and uses no taxpayer dollars, thanks to the title sponsors he secures every year.
The Walk for Autism Awareness & Inclusion was a success right out of the gate in 2023, with more than 3,500 people attending, according to Larissa. More than 1,500 of those attendees took part in the actual walk around Reiter Park. Since then, the event’s popularity has continued to grow.
This year, in addition to the walk, the event included sensory-friendly activities such as a petting zoo with rabbits and miniature horses and cows, games, free food, therapy animals, face painting, vendors, and comic book and cartoon characters who interacted with the kids.
Attendees received free T-shirts and free noise-cancelling headphones, and children had fun playing in bounce houses and at the park’s splash pad. The Morgans are always mindful about keeping the event’s size, scope, and sensory aspects manageable for those on the spectrum.
Discovering Valuable Resources
One of the walk’s sponsors is Nancy Johnston, owner of Central Florida Therapy Solutions, which offers pediatric speech, occupational, and physical therapy.
“The event is about making connections – for vendors as well as families – and finding resources,” says Nancy. “Families don’t always know what services are available. Matt and Larissa are amazing for the things that they do for our community and for our kids with autism.”
Leslie Kirschenbaum, a Longwood resident and mother of four children, agrees. Her youngest child, six-year-old Liam, is autistic. The Kirschenbaums are thankful for the event and have attended every year.
“For me, the walk means that we’re bringing more awareness to our local community,” says Leslie, who helps the Morgans organize the event. “It’s about inclusion, and it’s bringing a community together to learn more about autism. And Matt and Larissa are leading the way.”
Matt, who notes that autism diagnoses are on the rise, believes it’s best for everyone – the neurotypical and the neurodiverse – if we learn how to better interact with each other.
“We may communicate differently,” he says, “but it’s all love, and we absolutely can communicate.”