Commissioner Diaz to host Autism Awareness Month kickoff event

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY – Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz will kick off Autism Awareness Month on Tuesday, April 18 at 11:30 a.m. in the lobby of the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st St.

This year’s theme is “My Journey to Independence.” Keynote speaker Gabriel Alfonso, a student at Marino Campus Miami, will discuss achieving independence through employment, which will also be the focus of an interactive display produced by The Dan Marino Foundation and Marino Campus and featuring information on other organizations including Autism Speaks and South Florida Autism Charter School.

Commissioner Diaz sponsored the 2009 County Commission resolution declaring April as Autism Awareness Month in Miami-Dade County, and has been hosting the annual kickoff event every year. The specially designated month is designed to increase awareness about autism and treatment, as well as to encourage early testing for children. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that impairs communication skills and social abilities. There is no known cause or cure for autism, which is estimated to affect 1 out of every 68 children born in the United States.