Families Region 7 director asks Minden to back April 18 autism acceptance walk

Chanel Jackson, executive director of Families Region 7, told the Minden council that her nonprofit serves nine parishes across northwest Louisiana and logged roughly 6,200 contacts last year, about 500 of them from Minden. She said the center connects families to local and state resources and runs free trainings on special education and disability supports.

Jackson asked the council to help publicize and support an autism “acceptance walk” scheduled for April 18 at Miller Course Court from 9 a.m. to noon. "We want you in this community, and we see your family," Jackson said, describing the event as free for families and vendors with local resource tables from Shreveport, Bossier and other parishes.

Jackson said Families Region 7 grew out of a statewide movement to keep people with disabilities in their homes and communities and that everyone who works at the center has lived experience caring for someone with a disability. She described the center as an information and referral hub and encouraged council members to place a link or contact on the city website so residents can easily find services.

Council members asked how residents can access the center’s resources; Jackson pointed to the contact information in the meeting packet and offered to provide follow‑up materials and speak to local groups. The presentation closed with a request for volunteers, in‑kind donations (snacks, equipment such as bounce houses) and financial sponsorships to remove barriers to participation.

Next steps: Jackson said she will share materials with city staff and follow up on website links and volunteer opportunities.