Every April, Junipero Serra Elementary organizes Autism Awareness Week to help students gain a greater understanding of the condition that affects some of their classmates.
According to Principal Teresa Sampayan, the tradition dates back to 2017.
"We serve about 30 neuro diverse students and to honor diversity and to honor acceptance and inclusivity, we decided to educate the general education [ED] population about what autism is," said Sampayan. "The world is full of people with differences, and we do promote and embrace diversity here, and so it's important for everybody to understand that different people are okay, and different people can be played with, and different people can be loved just like ourselves."
To drive that point home, the entire school participates in what Sampayan calls an autism awareness or acceptance parade.
Second grader Mia Sanguino Belandria said she liked being in the parade, because it makes people happy.
"They [students with autism] have also feelings," said Mia. "I would say to them be happy and be safe."
After the parade, a field day event in the upper yard helps the school’s autistic students build character and confidence.
Fourth grader Virginia Delfino was helping to organize relay races.
"There's a scoop and a ball, and there's a bunch of hula hoops," said Virginia. "You have to hop into each one, and then at the end there's a jump rope. You have to jump over it, and then you go back the same way."
Virginia said she volunteered to help, because she wanted the students with autism to have a fun time.
"I think it's important for autism kids to have fun, because they have different minds-mindsets, and it's okay to let them have fun sometimes."