CLERMONT, Fla. — Many parents of special needs children find support with one another when there are barriers in rural areas, and one mother in Clermont has started her own network.

What You Need To Know

  • Clermont mom starts her own community for special needs families

  •  What started as a way to socialize turned into a resource hub for Lake County special needs families

  •  In the group, they put on family-friendly events, as well as advocate locally and statewide

Dr. AJ Marsden, a psychology expert from Beacon College who works with people whose brains process and learns differently from what’s considered typical, said social interaction within a special needs community is greatly important.

"Talking about it with other people, sharing what you’ve learned. Share statistics and information, whatever it might be. Share what works, what doesn’t work," Marsden said. "If we can talk about it comfortably and openly, it lessens the stigma and lessens discrimination."

After 14 years of her network, Wespeak, Kandi Alexander of Clermont has become a staple in autism advocacy for parents of special needs children in South Lake County and the state of Florida.

In life, coloring in the lines looks a bit different, depending on the child. Alexander's experience with her own son helped her know about the need.

"From birth, we knew Derek was premature," Alexander said. "I had a very difficult pregnancy. He was my third child. He was really unexpected."

Alexander has a son with autism, in addition to a number of physical disabilities. The four walls of a hospital soon became familiar. But unlike Alexander’s other children, her son Derek needed different resources to succeed. And so did she.

"We speak for our kids until they can speak for themselves. And we’ll always keep it that," Alexander said.

She realized she was not alone in parenting a special needs child.

"We’re not a nonprofit, we’re not a business, we’re not an unofficial organization," Alexander said. "Meaning I do not take money, I’ve volunteered all of my time for the last 14 years."

Within the group, parents can ask questions, share resources like doctors and teacher recommendations and socialize with other families.

Eventually, the group started doing advocacy work, too. Just like neurodivergence, it looked different depending on the family. Some families advocate for their child to get the right resources within the classroom, while others fight the stigma that comes with having a disability.

Alexander also volunteers with her local fire and police departments, helping them train on how to best help autistic people in emergency situations. She’s advocated for other agencies in Florida to do the same.

"It’s something we did advocacy on for other children. That was part of what Wespeak was all about," she said.

And advocacy runs in the family. Her son, Derek, traveled to Tallahassee for Autism Advocacy Day. When he is not speaking out for himself and his peers, he’s at home, playing computer games, just like any other 17-year-old boy.

From the games Derek plays and the decorations around his room, you can tell he loves space.

"I’ve always been fascinated with space ever since I was a young little kid," Derek Alexander said.

So much so he hopes to eventually make his way to the Space Coast to become an astrophysicist. But until then, he’s happy to make Clermont his home, changing the lives of others with autism.

As for his mother, she’s happy with how Wespeak is helping the Lake County community.

"All we’re doing is telling parents to feel empowered and show up and bring your kid," Alexander said.

If you’re in the Lake County area, have a special needs child and would like to join the group, visit the organization's Facebook page.