By Emma Longwell, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
The City of Apopka officially proclaimed April 2025 as Autism Acceptance Month during a recent city council meeting, reinforcing its commitment to raising awareness and supporting individuals with autism.
Related: The financial cost of autism management: Navigating expenses and resources
Mayor Bryan Nelson read the proclamation, recognizing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a neurological and developmental condition that impacts communication, behavior, and social interaction.
PHOTO BY ISABEL LECOMPTE (@ISASBEL.LECOMPTE), INTERNING PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE APOPKA VOICE.
“Those with autism may have delayed language and may have restricted and repetitive behavior, and whereas autism impacts a person’s communication and interactions with others and how they learn, common symptoms that transcend the four categories are repetitive behaviors, avoidance of eye contact, change in voice, anxiety, learning disabilities, sensitivity to sound, and social interaction," he said from the proclamation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ASD affects approximately one in 36 children and one in 45 adults in the United States.
The meeting also focused on the Apopka Police Department’s Special Needs Registry Program, a key initiative to improve responses to calls involving residents with disabilities, including autism. Officer Emmanuel Sosa, who developed the program, explained that the registry allows families to voluntarily provide information about a loved one’s condition, which officers then access before they respond to calls. The registry currently includes over 50 participants, with decals available for vehicles and residences to notify officers of a person’s disability.
PHOTO BY ISABEL LECOMPTE (@ISASBEL.LECOMPTE), INTERNING PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE APOPKA VOICE.
“It just allows us to be more knowledgeable whenever we're responding to certain residences or maybe pulling over a vehicle or out with any vehicle that has that decal now, we're aware of what we're going to be going into so we can utilize our training and experience to better serve that community member,” said Sosa.
The proclamation and the Special Needs Registry highlight Apopka’s continued efforts to provide resources and improve communication for residents with autism and other disabilities. The city’s initiatives aim to create a safer, more informed environment for all residents.
