The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at USF (CARD-USF) played a prominent role in this year’s Tampa Bay ADA Celebration, highlighting its ongoing commitment to inclusion and community engagement beyond the award they received.
Dancers performed at the ADA Celebration. The Dancing for a Difference Studio is also a CARD-USF Autism Friendly Business.
Held July 24 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, the annual event marked 36 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act and recognized individuals and organizations that create inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities.
CARD-USF sponsored the event, was nominated for two awards, nominated a youth volunteer for recognition, and helped create a sensory-friendly experience for attendees. The organization provided sensory items for giveaway bags as well as Distract Paks, sensory toolkits, available by request for attendees.
The celebration is hosted annually by the Hillsborough County Alliance for Citizens with Disabilities and features special performances and awards.
CARD-USF won the Karen Jacobs-Accessibility for All: Outstanding Accessible Places Award for its Autism Friendly Business Initiative. The organization was nominated by Valerie Bailey, owner of We Rock the Spectrum – Tampa, a children's play gym that has received training and ongoing support from CARD-USF as an Autism Friendly Business.
Christine Rover (left) with Kameron Kendall. Rover nominated Kendall for the Outstanding Youth/Young Adult Service Award for his community outreach efforts with CARD and other organizations that serve individuals with disabilities.
For Christine Rover, CARD-USF assistant director, the nomination was meaningful because Bailey has experienced the organization’s work firsthand as a longtime CARD constituent family member, owner of a CARD-recognized Autism Friendly business and member of the CARD Advisory Board.
“CARD was honored to receive this nomination from Valerie,” Rover said. “Her unique perspective and years of involvement make this recognition especially meaningful to our organization.”
In attendance on behalf of CARD-USF were Beth Boone, PhD, executive director; Rover; Liz Burke, MS, autism friendly project lead; Christina Spencer, MEd, CARD consultant; and Valerie Bailey.
CARD-USF also was nominated for the Thomas “Tom” Ulvenes Outstanding Community Service Award for its work with local businesses and community organizations and the impact on families throughout the Tampa Bay area.
“CARD-USF is a local legend,” the nomination stated, noting that the organization is consistently involved when local organizations and public sites seek to become more inclusive.
“CARD's ability to make such an impact across so many professions and so many communities are simply beyond comparison,” the nomination stated.
Rover also used the celebration as an opportunity to recognize the contributions of others by nominating Kameron Kendall for the Outstanding Youth/Young Adult Service Award. Kendall regularly contributes to CARD-USF’s community outreach efforts and supports other organizations serving individuals with disabilities.
“I felt it was important to recognize the volunteer efforts of a young person who has supported CARD and embraces our mission of outreach and inclusion of individuals with autism in our programming and events,” Rover said. “Kameron was a natural pick for this nomination.”
CARD-USF’s participation in the celebration reflected its broader work to connect individuals with autism, families, businesses, and community organizations while expanding inclusive opportunities throughout the Tampa Bay area.