SAN ANTONIO \u2013 What started as a gathering of 200 people in 2003 has grown into one of San Antonio\u2019s most powerful community celebrations \u2014 and this year, the ABC of Southwest Texas Walk for Autism is bigger than ever.<\/p>\n
The annual event, held under this year\u2019s \u201cFiesta Together\u201d theme, has outgrown multiple venues over the years \u2014 from Traders Village to Palo Alto College to the Frost Bank Center. <\/p>\n
This year, the walk moves to Retama Park, with overflow parking available at IKEA and River City Church. Accessible shuttles will also be on-site. <\/p>\n
The event kicks off at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 18. <\/p>\n
A space made by the community, for the community<\/p>\n
For Percy De La Luna, community engagement manager for ABC of Southwest Texas, the Walk for Autism is personal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI myself am on the autism spectrum, and there is nothing quite like getting to love my community every day,\u201d De La Luna said.<\/p>\n
Having been diagnosed later in life, De La Luna had never experienced an event like this growing up, and attending for the first time was emotional.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t grow up getting to go to these walks,\u201d De La Luna said. \u201cI got diagnosed much later on in life. And so there was like a 10-year-old me partying alongside the other 10 year olds.\u201d<\/p>\n
One moment from the event stuck with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got to talk to a mom and she said that this was one of those events where her kid was the normal one because everyone\u2019s kid was just like hers,\u201d he said. \u201cThis was a space made by this community for this community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chelsea Steele, with ABC of Southwest Texas, said the event is open to everyone, not just families with a direct connection to autism.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur walk for autism is aimed to get in front of parents, caretakers, grandparents, anyone that has somebody that\u2019s on the spectrum or has a diagnosis or, you know, suspected diagnosis, but it can be for anybody that feels like they want to be part of a community,\u201d Steele said. \u201cSo I think that\u2019s what ABC celebrates and represents \u2014 that every child is unique and different and we\u2019re going to celebrate that child.”<\/p>\n
\u2018Little posses,\u2019 big love<\/p>\n
One of the most visible \u2014 and heartwarming \u2014 sights at the walk is the sea of custom shirts families wear to honor their loved ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are families that are all wearing these incredible shirts with their loved one\u2019s face on it and I call them little posses because you see the child who inspired it all and just a whole family of neighbors, teachers, of their friends, all decked out just for them. What a beautiful way to say I love you,\u201d De La Luna said.<\/p>\n
Steele said that visible show of solidarity is at the heart of what the walk represents.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the beauty in it is that it\u2019s not just families that have a child that is on the spectrum or has a diagnosis,\u201d Steele said. \u201cIt\u2019s everybody in the community showing up. It\u2019s very symbolic saying, \u2018Hey, you\u2019re not walking alone. We\u2019re walking right there with you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
A national anthem, a moment of inspiration<\/p>\n
For Jonathan Cazares, the walk is where his two worlds \u2014 family and friends \u2014 come together in the most unexpected, meaningful way.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving my family and friends meet at my walk is really crazy thinking that they would never meet and that they would never ever wear a shirt I made for them and it\u2019s just awesome. It\u2019s a really special feeling,\u201d Cazares said.<\/p>\n
Cazares, who is on the autism spectrum, also performs the national anthem to kick off the event each year \u2014 a moment that inspires others in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey get to look at Jonathan singing and go, \u2018Well, if he can do that, I can do it,\u2019\u201d De La Luna said. \u201cIt is truly an inspiration.\u201d <\/p>\n
Even after years of performing, the nerves don\u2019t fully go away.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still get really nervous to this day,\u201d Cazares said. \u201cBut I also pretend that there\u2019s just a little bit of people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, 12,000 people attended the walk.<\/p>\n
Free programs, funded by the community<\/p>\n
Beyond the celebration, the walk serves a critical purpose: keeping ABC of Southwest Texas\u2019 programs running \u2014 all of which are free to families.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t ever charge any money. All of our programs are free,\u201d Steele said. \u201cSo that\u2019s how we keep our programs alive is through events like our walk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donations and participation fund a wide range of services, including an autism support program, bereavement care and support groups, home fire safety programs, toilet training classes and case management connecting families to resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they have a child that has a suspected diagnosis or they\u2019ve been diagnosed with something on the spectrum, we can help them break down disabilities, how to navigate life with that,\u201d Steele said.<\/p>\n
The organization also provides support for families who have lost a child.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny family that\u2019s lost a child, zero to 17, we could help them with counseling,\u201d Steele said. \u201cWe could help with cremation, burial plots, all of that stuff, and that\u2019s free, of course.\u201d <\/p>\n
Party with a purpose<\/p>\n
De La Luna puts it simply: this event is about fun, family and leaving with more than you came with.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know the phrase is party with a purpose \u2014 come party with a purpose,\u201c he said. \u201dThis is a space for families to create a community like no other.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe goal is for families to leave this space with a pretzel in hand and flyers of all these incredible resources for their families and a smile on their face,\u201d De La Luna said.<\/p>\n
How to support ABC of Southwest Texas\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f April 18, 2026\ud83d\udccdRetama Park\ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f Free admission<\/p>\n
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