- April 11, 2025
Your free article limit has been reached this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited digital access to our award-winning local news.
Erica Flores, the founder and executive director of Vincent's Clubhouse, hosted the third annual Autism Awareness Festival. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Lacy McKampson and Cindy Guldenschuh. Lacy is participating in the Flagler Playhouse Penguin Project production of "Aladdin Jr." to be presented June 6-8 at Bunnell Elementary School. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Stephanie Abrantes and her sons Seth (left) and Ethan helped run the information table at the entrance to the Autism Awareness Festival hosted by Vincent's Clubhouse at the European Village in Palm Coast. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Drew, Jennifer, Lauren and Jay with the Funcoast Down Syndrome Association. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Three girls wearing Flagler Playhouse's Penguin Project T-shirts sift through the prize bins at the Able Academics table. The Flagler Playhouse's Penguin Project production of "Aladdin Jr." will be presented June 6-8 at Bunnell Elementary School. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Paula Wilburn, the executive director and founder of the Fun Coast Down Syndrome Association, with her son Keaton. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Shayna "Shana" Stipakov with her mom, Bella. Shana has non-speaking autism but has written four books, including a book of poetry by pointing to letters in an alphabet stencil. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Ozzie Dillon plays with the water table at the Flagler Schools booth. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler Schools' Suzanne Davis (Indian Trails Middle School ESE staffing specialist), Ebru Snodgrass (transition specialist), Dr. Kim Halliday (district ESE director), Abra Seay (Rymfire Elementary assistant principal/ESE administrator), Travis Lee (Rymfire Elementary principal. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler Palm Coast High School's Friends For All Abilities club: Sebastian Chavez-Salazar, Hannah Zoblionis, Violet Radoncipi, Aleiya Lalaram (club president), Ava Hughes, Aliya Washington and club sponsor Zach Lavigne. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Brielle Goldberg, president of Water Safe. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Gavin, Jazz and Amelia check out the marine life at the Coastal Speech and Language Center table. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Anna Machiz-Dillon, community outreach coordinator for the Therapeutic Learning Center at The Arc of the St. Johns. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Renae Williams, clinical supervisor of Florida Autism Center in Palm Coast, and Emma Diaz, registered behavior technician. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Andrea Ramirez of Tender Care PPEC medical daycare. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Jennifer Duckworth, owner of the Coastal Speech and Language Center in Palm Coast. Photo by Brent Woronoff
While vendors were showcasing their services at the third annual Autism Awareness Festival in Palm Coast, an author who has nonspeaking autism presented her published books at the Vincent's Clubhouse Enrichment Center.
Shayna “Shana” Stipakov and her mother, Bella Stipakov, sat next to a table displaying Shayna’s books — three children’s books and her poetry book: “A Chance To Spread My Wings: Poetry and Philosophy of Autism.
The Stipakovs live in Palm Coast. Shana was diagnosed with severe autism at age 2. Bella helps Shana put sentences on a page through a painstaking process in which Shana forms words by pointing to letters on an alphabet stencil. “A Chance to Spread My Wings” took a couple of years to write, Bella said. She doesn’t even know how Shana learned how to read, though she has always read to her.
“I have no idea how she learned, but she can (read),” Bella Stipakov said. “She uses words (in her writing) that I have to look up.”
Erica Flores, the executive director of festival sponsor Vincent’s Clubhouse, said Shana “can show people that anybody can accomplish anything.”
The Autism Awareness Festival was held on Saturday, April 5, at the European Village, site of the Vincent’s Clubhouse Enrichment Center, which opened in November.
The festival included a performance from the Downright Dancers of the Funcoast Down Syndrome Association of Palm Coast and the signature Penguin Project performance to the song, “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
The Flagler Playhouse will present the Penguin Project production of “Aladdin Jr.” on June 6-8 at Bunnell Elementary School.
Vendors at the festival provided information on services for families. Vendors included the Funcoast Down Syndrome Association; Able Academics; Florida Autism Center — Palm Coast; Flagler Schools Exceptional Student Education; the Family Life Center; the Therapeutic Learning Center at The Arc of the St. Johns; SkillSprouts OT; Easter Seals Northeast Central Florida; the Braille and Talking Books Library; Positive Behavior Supports Corporation of North Florida; the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office; the Florida Department of Education; The Joy Advantage; Water Safe; Coastal Speech and Language Center; Tender Care PPEC medical daycare; and the Flagler Palm Coast High Schools’ Friends For All Abilities club.
Anna Machiz-Dillon, the community outreach coordinator for the Therapeutic Learning Center at The Arc of the St. Johns, said with parents’ advocacy great strides have been made for people with special needs in Florida.
“This year 68 bills have been introduced in the state legislature (helping people with disabilities),” she said. “Not all them have made it through, but we’re making progress through parents sharing their stories.”
Email brent@observerlocalnews.com
Your free article limit has been reached this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited digital access to our award-winning local news.