Tampa Councilman Luis Viera To Join Autism Committee

TAMPA, FL — Councilman Luis Viera of District 7 will join the Autism-Friendly Tampa Advisory Committee, which works to make the city more welcoming to people with special needs, he announced Monday.

Viera thanked Mayor Bob Buckhorn on Facebook for appointing him to the committee.

"We will work together to make sure that our City's Autism Friendly Tampa Initiative is fully implemented and that Tampa is a truly welcoming and affirming City for all persons, including those persons with Autism and their families and loved ones," Viera said.

He continued: "I also look forward to continuing to work with the many families raising children with Autism and special needs and stakeholders in our community on this important moral issue."

“As Mayor, I am committed to making our public spaces, city facilities, parks, and programs more friendly for those touched by Autism and related disabilities,” Buckhorn said when the committee was formed in April.

He noted that families of people with special needs can sometimes struggle with simple outings like a trip to the pool or finding an appropriate summer program. The Autism-Friendly Tampa Advisory Committee aims to find solutions for these families "in an effort to make Tampa one of America's most inclusive cities."

Photo credit: Pixabay