By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Autism Awareness Day was held on Saturday at the Del Rio Civic Center, with three hours of
activities and amusement for youngsters and their parents.
Families brought their children to take part in painting, puzzles and various games provided by
local agencies. More than 20 agencies and organizations participated in the event.
2025 is the fourth year the Mexico Consul in Del Rio hosted the event, and Consul Paloma
Villasenor Vargas said the event is getting bigger every year with more organizations joining the
movement.
Heritage Academy students at the Austin Awareness Day event on Saturday. Leslie Soto,
teacher at Heritage Academy, said she brought students from her school to help children with
autism and learn to become leaders. (Photo by Louis Zylka)
“We must find resources for them in education, health, amusement and labor and to help the
families, because the kids need more than the average kid,” Vargas said.
The Mexican consulate provided snacks and drinks, including water, tea, apples and Julio’s
Chips, and music was provided by The Del Rio High School Orchestra band and Christopher
Ivan Vargas, with dance performances by the Queen City Belles.
Vargas said the goal of the event is to inspire more agencies to promote autism awareness.
Leslie Soto, teacher at Heritage Academy, said she brought her students to set up a booth for
activities including painting, making necklaces and creating toys with Play-Doh.
Members of the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Academy 2025 Cadet Class were present to give
away prizes and let children hit their punching bag used for training. Members of the Main Street
Program were also present to promote their organization and talk about the community events
they are involved in.
Mayor Al Arreola and city council members were also in attendance to present a proclamation
announcing April 2025 as Autism Awareness Month, and Sonia Moreno, a representative from
the office of State Rep. Eddie Morales, presented a statewide resolution announcing April 2 as
Autism Awareness Day.
Austin Awareness Day was held at the Del Rio Civic Center on Saturday with more than
20 agencies present to provide games, food and educational resources for families to learn
about. Paloma Villasenor Vargas, Consul of Mexico in Del Rio, said the event promotes autism
awareness and provides families with resources to use in health, education and labor. “They
need more than the regular child, and we want to help those families,” Vargas said. (Photo by
Louis Zylka)
20 agencies present to provide games, food and educational resources for families to learn
about. Paloma Villasenor Vargas, Consul of Mexico in Del Rio, said the event promotes autism
awareness and provides families with resources to use in health, education and labor. “They
need more than the regular child, and we want to help those families,” Vargas said. (Photo by
Louis Zylka)
