SAN ANTONIO – A family picnic hosted by the Autism Society of Central Texas will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Rimkus Park.
One in four young adults with autism is socially isolated, and nearly the same number of young adults on the autism spectrum receive no services to help them with employment, continuing education or allowing them to live more independently, the Autism Society says.
The Autism Society of Central Texas works to create opportunities for not only those diagnosed with autism, but also for their families.
"Right now, we have over 4,100 school-aged students (with autism) in Bexar County alone, but we have thousands of adults in the whole state of Texas. Our kids-they, do grow up into adults, and we need to make sure we set them up for success," Lisa Owens, a volunteer for the Autism Society of Central Texas, said.
Owens said all parents want to see their children succeed. Of her three children, two have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
"There's a lot of struggles that go along with it, but at the same time there’s a lot of positive because you get to see a lot of the growth in each one of them," she said.
The Autism Society of Central Texas supports and helps families like Owens network with others, which she said is important because while it's not uncommon, little is known about autism and each case is different.
"Even if it’s not information that’s printed in a book, you get parent experiences, and that alone is just so valuable because you get to hear other people’s stories, what other parents have tried with their kids," Owens said.
Owens has been volunteering for the Autism Society for the last six years. She told KSAT12 News about her experiences, which she described as amazing and eye-opening.
“A few years ago, (they were children) still in school and now they’re adults and they are going to college," she said. "Seeing them grow, out and engaged in the community it gives you a lot of hope that hey, my kids can actually go beyond what is typically expected from someone with autism."
The first-ever picnic, which will include food, carnival games, a photo booth, face painting and other activities, is sponsored by Any Baby Can of San Antonio, Little Engine Home Care, Epic Pediatric Therapy and the Leon Valley Fire Department.
Rimkus Park is located at 6440 Evers Road.