RBAF Celebrates Stars in the Autism Community

 RBAF Celebrates Stars in the Autism Community

This past Sunday, October 27, Knights of Columbus was awash with a sea of smiling faces at Rockaway Beach Autism Families first-ever “Community Appreciation Awards Ceremony and Luncheon.” RBAF celebrated the many organizations, businesses and volunteers, who have supported RBAF since its inception in 2016, plus honored autistic stars in the community.

Amongst the awardees were: Richie Knott and Owen Loof, Knights of Columbus Rockaway Council 2672; Tiffany Turchi, Rockaway Beach Dance Company; ROCKAWAY W.I.S.H.; The Rockaway Times; Kevin Boyle and Katie McFadden of The Rockaway Times; Joe Cruz, REVIVED Residential; Mary Glynn, Rewired For Autism; Joe Featherston, Rockaway Special Olympics; Jacob Zuniga, Empanada On The Rise; ABA Tree; RBAF board members: Venus Ramos; Patricia Harvey; Matthew Wolf; Jeremy Bucaria; Rado F. Rafiringa; Christine Dydzuhn; Rojo Rasaori; Katie Larkin; Ryngin Garcia; Ariel Randall; Jeanette Marie Peña; and volunteers: Theresa Reyes; Cheyenne Rodriguez; Wilma Moodie, and “Rockaway Autism Stars”: Soanirina Alicia Rafiringa; James Lewter; Jason Esposito; William Hernandez; Patrick Dydzuhn Jr. and Michael Wolf.

Awardees and guests were treated to a lunch catered by Kimo’s Kitchen and La Playa Restaurant. Guests also watched, “This Business of Autism,” a documentary spotlighting Spectrum Designs, a Long Island-based custom apparel and promotional products company in which 50% of its workforce is on the autism spectrum.

For RBAF Founder Kami-Leigh Agard, this awards ceremony was long overdue. “There are so many entities and people that have supported RBAF since our humble beginnings in 2016. What started as me just writing a column about parenting a child on the autism spectrum, grew to starting a monthly family support group, hosting other resource and recreational events, and meeting so many families and individuals touched by autism. It’s been a truly amazing journey and I’m so grateful to the Rockaway community,” she said. “There’s still so much I’d love to see RBAF achieve for our autistic loved ones. This is why we screened the documentary about Spectrum Designs. Our working-age children on the spectrum direly need employment, and the dream is to open a business right here in Rockaway for not just autistic locals, but those residing in surrounding neighborhoods. God’s will, it will happen.”

Founded in 2016, Rockaway Beach Autism Families is a 501C3 organization advocating for acceptance, inclusion, education, employment and mental health supports for autistic individuals and their families. The organization hosts monthly family support group meetings with guest speakers providing information about a variety of resources and services. RBAF also hosts recreational activities on the boardwalk, including their annual Walk For Autism, Dance Out Under The Stars, Fall Beach Treasure Hunt, summer barbecue and end-of-year holiday party at Knights of Columbus. Also, this year as part of Autism Acceptance Month, the organization hosted its inaugural, “Free Haircuts for Autism” at new local barbershop/beauty salon, His & Hers.

For more information about RBAF and upcoming events, visit: rockawaybeachautismfamilies.org or Rockaway Beach Autism Families on Facebook/Instagram.

Photos by Katie McFadden and Rojo Rasaori.

Related post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *