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Miami‑Dade commissioner presents NeuroInclusion Toolkit; Aventura proclaims April autism and Parkinson’s awareness months
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Summary
Commissioner Ricardo Gallardo presented the Florida NeuroInclusion Toolkit and Aventura proclaimed April 2026 Autism Awareness Month; the commission also recognized Rock Steady Boxing and declared April Parkinson’s Awareness Month after a presentation by Jennifer Insline.
Miami‑Dade County Commissioner Ricardo Gallardo presented the Florida NeuroInclusion Toolkit to the Aventura City Commission on April 7, 2026, describing county pilot programs and a ready‑to‑use appendix of legislative language and data that cities can adopt.
"The most valuable part of the toolkit is the appendix, which has all the legislation already drafted, all the data points," Gallardo said, outlining county efforts such as sunflower lanyards at transit stations and an autism‑focused police training program that trained more than 4,150 officers in Miami‑Dade County.
The commission read and adopted a proclamation declaring April 2026 Autism Awareness Month, citing national prevalence figures presented during the meeting and encouraging inclusion and sensory‑friendly accommodations at city events.
Later in the meeting, Jennifer Insline, director of Rock Steady Boxing at the Marjcc, described the nonprofit, noncontact boxing program she founded to help people with Parkinson’s disease and said the local affiliate has registered more than 300 participants attending free of charge. "We started this affiliate available free of charge with the goal of offering hope to Parkinson's patients," Insline said.
The commission read a proclamation declaring April Parkinson's Awareness Month and recognized Rock Steady Boxing's community efforts; commissioners and the mayor commended Insline and volunteers for their work and invited the public to an August anniversary event hosted at the Marjcc.
Why this matters: The toolkit offers a replicable set of policies and training examples local governments can adopt to make public spaces and services more accessible to neurodivergent residents. The park and program proclamations increase local visibility for neurodiversity and Parkinson’s support services.
What’s next: Gallardo invited local leaders to consult the toolkit (www.neuroinclusiontoolkit.com) and the city indicated interest in coordinating sensory‑friendly hours for community events; Rock Steady Boxing announced an August anniversary event with further outreach plans.
