- May 1, 2024
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Mason Sousa of Palm Coast plays with the water table at the Flagler Schools' Exceptional Student Education booth. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Erica Flores, president and founder of Vincent's Clubhouse, with Michelle Lang. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Eddie Lang, the director of philanthropy for Vincent's Clubhouse, rocks to the music played by DJ Personal. His shirt reads: "Autism Dad (noun) 1. Same as a regular dad just much cooler." Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly poses with Emma Tilstra, baby Selena and Lisa Sifonte of Palm Coast. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Anthony Marchetta, who is blind and autistic, creates key chains. "I look at my disability as a different ability," he said. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Caution, Hammer, Miss Piggy and Zort of Bikers against Child Abuse. "We work with children who have been abused, so we do not reveal our names," Zort said. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The Down Right Dancers perform. The troupe is from the Fun Coast Down Syndrome Association in Palm Coast. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Kids enjoy the bounce house village at the Autism Awareness Festival and Resource Fair. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Florida Autism Center employees at their booth. Florida Autism Center — Palm Coast, 515 Palm Coast Parkway SW, is one of 32 Florida Autism Centers in the state. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mason Sousa has fun with the water table at the Flagler Schools' Exceptional Student Education booth. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Kimberli Halliday, Flagler Schools' director of Exceptional Student Education, provided information about ESE and transition programs. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Tabitha Hosler and Kelsie Hosler hold up a sample of Kelsie's artwork. For more information email [email protected]. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Janice Morello, Kurt Morello and Luke Morello (front) from Palm Coast. "We just stopped by for a beautiful day," Janice said. "The food trucks are alluring." Photo by Brent Woronoff
Alex Ellis, Asher Ellis, Brenda Roberson, Ava Ellis, Addie Ellis and Evie Ellis. "There's a lot of information here for help and support," Evie said. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Tiffany Grimes, Vincent Sullivan and Lacy Martin of Chiumento Law who spoke to festival goers about specific laws affecting the special needs community. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Kids jump in a bounce house at the bounce house village. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Lynn Kulka. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Back: Gail Gammon with Jude Steinmetz, Brailee Steinmetz. Front: Logan Steinmetz. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Back row: Vincent's Clubhouse Camp Director Bill Bianco, volunteer Hannah Zublionis of Flagler Palm Coast High School. Front row: Fund Development Coordinator Yvonne Bianco, volunteer Olivia Rabbat of Matanzas High. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Dozens of families with autistic children toured the 40 resource vendors at the second annual Autism Awareness Festival and Resource Fair presented by Vincent’s Clubhouse on Saturday, April 6, at Central Park in Town Center.
Others were there just to enjoy the fun on a sunny day.
The event, which is held during National Autism Acceptance Month, included a bounce house village, a sensory friendly kids zone, the Fun Coast Down Syndrome Association’s Down Right Dancers, food trucks, music, games and activities, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Mobile Command Center and a Flagler County Fire Rescue engine.
“We have a lot of new vendors this year,” said Erica Flores, the president and founder of Vincent’s Clubhouse. “The Social Security Administration came from Daytona Beach and Sound Wave Music Therapy came from Jacksonville.”
Flagler Schools had information about its Exceptional Student Education and transition programs. Dr. Kimberli Halliday, the school district’s director of ESE, and her team answered questions and handed out pamphlets.
Dr. Halliday said the most popular question asked was, “My child was tested, what do I do next?”
Anthony Marchetta, who is blind and autistic, had a display of his Nitro’s Keychains. “I look at my disability as a different ability,” he said.
At the booth next door, Kelsie Hosler displayed her Kelsie’s Creations artwork.
The Bikers Against Child Abuse Daytona chapter — serving Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and southern St. Johns County — displayed a couple of motorcycles next to their booth. The organization is in 47 states and 18 countries.
Flores founded Vincent’s Clubhouse in 2017 to host summer camps for children with autism and other sensory disorders.
She came up with the idea for the non-profit after her own son, Vincent, was unable to attend summer camp with his cousins because it was not equipped to meet the needs of children with autism.
Since hosting its first camp, Vincent’s Clubhouse has expanded to offer inclusive social events, support groups and advocacy programs.
“Currently we are working to raise enough money so we can have our own building to allow us to serve even more children and young adults with special needs in our community,” Flores says on the organization's website, vincentsclubhouse.org.
