Members and supporters of Family Initiative Inc. cut the ribbon to officially open the Family Initiative Lizbeth Benacquisto Autism Support Center in Cape Coral on Thursday morning. The 3,900-square-foot facility is the area’s first-of-its-kind hub for championing individuals with ASD and their families. It features three cutting-edge clinical rooms for direct, evidence-based assessment; therapeutic interventions, and advanced staff training not previously available anywhere in Southwest Florida. CJ HADDAD

With tears in their eyes, members and supporters of Family Initiative Inc. cut the ribbon to officially open a game-changing facility in Cape Coral that will assist local youth diagnosed as on the autism spectrum.

On Thursday morning, the Family Initiative Lizbeth Benacquisto Autism Support Center welcomed and thanked those who made the center possible, as well as the families they assist.

“Today is an overwhelming day for us and our families,” said Family Initiative President David Brown. “April being Autism Acceptance Month — this space has particular significance to us and everyone in the community, and we’re just ecstatic and thrilled to bring this resource to the community and to support families that have children on the autism spectrum.”

The 3,900-square-foot facility is the area’s first-of-its-kind hub for championing individuals with ASD and their families. It features three cutting-edge clinical rooms for direct, evidence-based assessment; therapeutic interventions, and advanced staff training not previously available anywhere in Southwest Florida.

“We’re honored by the outpouring of love and support from our community. From the businesses, from our families, from our neighbors, from everyone, for our families — to be here to support them and help them grow and thrive,” said Family Initiative Vice President Anjali Van Drie.

Funding for the $400,000 project was sourced through a mix of state and private funds. Former member of the Florida State Senate Lizbeth Benacquisto, for whom the building is named, championed efforts to secure project funding from the state. Dane Eagle, former member of the Florida House of Representatives, along with Benacquisto’s successor in the Florida State Senate, Ray Rodrigues, also worked to obtain state funds for the project.

“While the building might bear my name, it radiates the passion, the drive, the commitment, the love for the extraordinary children that spend their time here to grow, learn and prosper,” Benacquisto said. “There is nothing I wouldn’t have done for (Brown and Van Drie), and I can tell you there was nothing I wouldn’t have done for those kids.”

The need for a center of its kind not only in Southwest Florida, but also throughout the country has grown substantially in just a short amount of time. Brown said five years ago the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified that one in every 101 children in the United States was diagnosed as on the spectrum. Now, the CDC reports that one in 54 children will be diagnosed on the spectrum.

With the region’s population steadily growing (including many young families), the number of individuals seeking assistance continues to amplify.

“The capacity that’s needed is exponential to meet the demand and we’re thrilled that our community is skewing younger,” Brown said. “We have more and more families coming in with young children. It just demands that we build more capacity, and we’re more driven than ever to meet the need. We hope today is just a first step in a number of things that we need to do to meet the needs of autism families in Cape Coral.”

Family Initiative truly attempts to take the extra step beyond their walls when it comes to their reach.

“Whatever we can do not just to support that child or adolescent, but their families, their extended family, their community, their churches, their schools — all of that to help our youth be accepted and be themselves and be a part of Southwest Florida,” said Van Drie.

While taking the virtual route has been customary over the last year, Family Initiative families had the opportunity to see the new building up close and personal.

“It was just phenomenal to see them in here having a great time. They were thrilled,” Brown said. “The space is new and has state-of-the-art technology. They were jamming out to the new karaoke in here. It’s just been a wonderful thing.”

Van Drie added, “Our kids have watched this from the ground up, literally, and have asked us week after week, ‘Is our building ready?’ So to be able to have them in here and the joy that they experienced is why we do this every single day.”

Family Initiative Board of Directors member Amber Zollinger, who is also a parent to a child on the spectrum, praised the work of Brown and Van Drie for putting in the work to make the new facility possible.

“They are changing this community,” Zollinger said. “Being around them elevates your own happiness and passion. The best part of my life has been advocating beside them for our families. Like they said, we need it. The numbers are going up and there’s not a lot for these children.”

Zollinger said with Autism Acceptance Month happening, she’s been asked what autism acceptance means to her.

“For me, it’s all of the things (Brown and Van Drie) are putting in motion for our kids,” she said. “So they can do and be the people they want to be. So that people aren’t telling them ‘no.’ They’re saying, ‘go be what you want to be’ because the options are endless.”

Brown, Van Drie and Zollinger all thanked local community businesses, entities and individuals for playing a role in the center’s creation.

“This is not possible without the community, and the support we’ve received honestly has overwhelmed us,” Brown said. “I think it speaks a lot more about the need in the autism community than it does about Family Initiative. This is just the beginning. We’ve got a long journey ahead to really build the capacity that we need to support our families, but today’s a special day.”

Fort Myers-based Burt Hill/Pollock Krieg Architects provided design services, and Banks Engineering contributed site work at no cost. Mays Construction is the builder. The United Way is also funding special programs to be held at the facility in the future.

Established in 2015, Family Initiative, Inc. is a Southwest Florida-based 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to supporting children with autism and strengthening their families. Its team of clinicians serves children from a humanistic approach through Applied Behavior Analysis and Occupational Therapy services, and also offers autism playgroups, teen meetings, parent education and more. In addition, the organization provides child welfare caregiver training and support through its Family Impact Program.

The Family Initiative Lizbeth Benacquisto Autism Support Center is at 730 S.W. 4th St. Visit ww.fi-florida.org for more information.

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