At Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting, McFarland proclaimed April 2026 as Autism Acceptance Month, a proclamation that was first brought to the council’s attention by parents advocating for inclusive events not just for their children but for the special needs community of McFarland as a whole.
“They deserve the same experience and joy in learning and the sense of community as all their other peers. We are asking for children to be treated not just equally but to be seen, heard, and celebrated for who they are,” continued Leslie Arias, one of the parents who advocated for the changes.
As Mayor Saul Ayon introduced the proclamation, he noted the importance of creating an environment accepting of all backgrounds. According to the National Autism Association, autism affects one in 31 children.
“Autism Spectrum Disorder affects individuals of all backgrounds, and this month provides an opportunity to increase understanding, promote acceptance, and support those living with autism and their families,” said Ayon.
Arias brought the proclamation to the city council and emphasized the necessity of this recognition.
“For families like ours, autism awareness isn’t just a few weeks or once a year or even one time in the month. We live with it every single day. I stand here not only as a mother of a non-verbal child with autism but as a voice for many families in our community. McFarland is known for its strong sense of community and pride, yet our special needs families often face limited opportunities right here at home for our children to participate, grow, and connect,” said Arias.
Arias also mentioned that she proposed including an adaptive run for people with disabilities in the 9th annual McFarland USA 5K and 10K run, which is the first of its kind in the city of McFarland, allowing inclusion for people with disabilities.
“Last year, I attended a run called Autism on the Run in Bakersfield,” said Arias. “That was actually the run where I noticed a lot of families from McFarland. So, because of that run, I got the idea to pitch the inclusive run that’s included with the McFarland USA run to Mayor Saul, Megan, and Mr. White… We really don’t know how big the special needs community in McFarland is.”
In addition to the adaptive one-mile run, Diaz has introduced a sports league tailored for special needs children, named “The Challengers.”
“Until recently, we didn’t have any local sports for special needs here in McFarland. So, I started putting a team together named the Challengers, which includes children ranging from ages 4 to 22. With great support from families, we have managed to bring 34 families together who wanted their kids to join and gave these kids the chance to be included and part of the team for the very first time,” said Maria Diaz, another parent and advocate for the special needs community.
As part of Autism Awareness Month, Adrian Olmos, McFarland’s Chief of Police, and Megan Snyder, Community Development Director, highlighted the Special Needs Emergency Information Program, in which police officers and dispatch personnel have confidential information in the event police are dispatched to a home housing anyone in the special needs community. A form is available that asks for details such as mental health conditions, communication methods, triggers, and reactions.
“Officers are expected to assess the totality of the circumstances and adjust their responses accordingly. Our goal is to mitigate these situations, not escalate. Autism Awareness Month is a reminder that effective policing requires not just enforcement but empathy, judgment, and adaptability. Our department remains committed to serving all members of our community with professionalism and compassion,” said Olmos.
Snyder noted that this initiative is an effort to assist the special needs community.
Snyder recognizes the different health or cognitive difficulties community members of McFarland face, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and autism, and acknowledged that those members of the community need to be protected as well.
“We want to ensure that we identify those triggers so we can best address their needs individually and support vulnerable populations within our community,” said Snyder. “The more inclusivity that we can continue to foster, the better our outcomes will continue to be.”
