Mission schedules third annual autism awareness event at Lions Park Saturday

Judith Garcia, the city’s media relations representative, and Councilman Beto Bella invited Mission residents to the third annual autism awareness event Saturday at the all‑inclusive Lions Park, Garcia said.

Why it matters: Organizers said the event is intended to highlight people with autism and others with special needs, and to celebrate the city’s new all‑inclusive playground facilities.

Garcia opened the announcement by locating the event "out here at the all inclusive Lions Park here in the city of Mission," and she confirmed that Councilman Beto Bella was joining the announcement. Bella invited the public to attend and framed the event in personal terms: "I just wanna invite everybody to come out and join us and celebrate the autism awareness event. It's very special for for me personally because my son has autism, and I just wanna highlight everyone with autism and everyone that that has special needs and know that everybody is unique and has their own, capabilities," he said.

Bella and Garcia highlighted the setting and timing: Garcia said the event will be at the "all inclusive Lions Park," and Bella said, "Come on and join us. It starts at 11." Organizers encouraged broad attendance, with Bella adding, "Don't miss out. Let's fill up this place and make it a new record of the amount of people that come come to the event." The speakers did not provide details about admission, scheduled activities beyond general celebration, or whether registration is required.

No formal actions or votes were recorded during the announcement. Admission, parking and accessibility details were not specified in the remarks.

Organizers described this as the third annual autism awareness event and emphasized community support for people with autism and other special needs.