BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (WLOX) — A Mississippi Gulf Coast nonprofit is hosting its first signature autism awareness walk as part of an effort to bring more resources to families.
Caiden’s Corner will host the Autism Acceptance Walk & Community Celebration, an all-day event on Saturday, April 11, at the Bay St. Louis Train Depot. The walk is scheduled for 11 a.m., with activities running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We launched in June of last year, and many people know our story, but we’ve been looking for our big signature event that we’ll host every year during April, Autism Awareness Month,” said Alyece Smith, with Caiden’s Corner.
The event will include vendors, bounce houses, and sensory stations.
Smith founded Caiden’s Corner in 2019 while navigating Caiden’s autism diagnosis. She said the organization focuses on educating and empowering parents to provide support and resources while some children wait for services.
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“We know that a lot of children on the spectrum are on wait lists for six to 18 months, sometimes years,” Smith said.
She said Hancock County lacks resources for children on the spectrum.
“There’s just not enough providers,” Smith said. “And so getting more providers to this area, bringing that attention, getting companies that maybe have them in other locations to bring a location here, especially in Hancock County.”
Smith said the number of providers has grown since 2018, but not fast enough to meet demand.
“We know the first five, six years of a child’s life is when that brain is developing. That early intervention is key,” Smith said. “And that’s what we’re seeing is the biggest gap is that we’re on a wait list so long. We’re not getting in those very crucial years.”
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The organization is seeking vendors, teams, and sponsors for the April 11 event.
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