If you made it to Key Biscayne this past Saturday, you already know: the Inclusion & Disability Symposium was an amazing day for everyone who came, and the de Moya Foundation gala that evening was just as good.
Now to the week ahead, which starts with civics and ends with fairies. The county talks Ludlam Trail tonight at South Miami Senior High, Key Biscayne hosts a Tuesday morning session on kids and screens, and the Deering Estate spends 2 nights hunting ghosts. Then Saturday fills up: a free Harvest & Wellness festival at Tropical Park, a walk honoring breast cancer and lupus survivors in Miami Gardens.
Sunday belongs to the little ones at Miami Beach Botanical Garden, where a Fairy Garden and Little Monster Tales keep Halloween gentle. And mark October 27th: Dr. Michael Alessandri of CARD joins Best Buddies for a webinar on helping neurodivergent individuals build friendships, confidence, and community. Registration is inside.
π At the It Takes A Village Inclusion & Disability Symposium on Key Biscayne
π CARD dads with Dr. Michael at The Demoya Foundation Gala
Best Buddies webinar with Dr. Michael Alessandri of CARD: Supporting neurodivergent individuals as they build friendships, relationships, confidence, and community connections.
βBeyond the Screen: Helping Children Thrive in a Digital World, 10am: Presentation for parents with research-informed strategies to help children build healthier digital habits and find a healthier balance between screen time and everyday life. All families welcome. Key Biscayne Community Center, 10 Village Green Way
βGhost Tour at Deering Estate, 7:30pm - 9:30pm: Guided night tour of the estate's history and paranormal activity. Ghost-hunting equipment welcome. Ticketed. Recommended for ages 9+. 16701 SW 72nd Ave
βAbility Allies: Fun Without Limits, 5-6pm: Social meetup for special needs teens ages 16+ and their families, with sensory-friendly activities and creative play. Caregiver participation encouraged. Coral Reef Branch Library, 9211 Coral Reef Dr
βMy Squad, 6-9pm: Social gathering for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism. Ruth Bryan Owen Waterway Park, 3940 Granada Blvd
βGhost Tour at Deering Estate, 7:30pm - 9:30pm: Guided night tour of the estate's history and paranormal activity. Ghost-hunting equipment welcome. Ticketed. Recommended for ages 9+. 16701 SW 72nd Ave
βParading in Pink and Purple, 8am - 1pm: Walk honoring breast cancer and lupus survivors and remembering those lost. Come dressed in shades of pink and purple. Survivors can register to be recognized. 3000 NW 199th Street
FREE, Kids Book Club at Altis Kendal Square, 11am: Storytelling, activities, and prizes in honor of National Anti-Bullying Day, featuring award-winning author Katherine Magnoli of The Adventures of KatGirl, a superhero in a wheelchair. . 16950 SW 93rd Str
βSocial Program at Shake-A-Leg Miami, 10am-2pm: Water activities, socialization, and professional training for students & young adults with IDD in a safe and supportive environment. 2620 S Bayshore Dr
π Do you know of events or programs in Miami-Dade that belong here? Hit reply and I'll add them βοΈ
π October's Events Calendar
Tuesday October 13th, CARD Just for Moms Support Group, 6:30pm: For Moms raising children with autism and related disabilities. Must be registered with CARD. 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Room 502. RSVP Daniela Chaparro at dchaparro@miami.edu
βThursday October 15th, Woody Golf Classic at Topgolf Miami Doral, 3:30pm - 7pm: Fundraiser benefiting Shake-A-Leg Miami, serving people living with paralysis. No golf experience needed, practice, tournament play, awards, and an open bar. Registration from $300 per player, plus team and sponsorship levels. 11850 NW 22nd Street
Tuesday October 20th, CARD Just for Dads Support Group, 6:30pm: For Dads raising children with autism and related disabilities. Must be registered with CARD. 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Room 502. RSVP Dr. Alessandri at malessandri@miami.edu
βFriday October 23rd, Employment Pathways for Adults with IDD, 9am - noon: Connecting businesses with employers that create job opportunities for adults with IDD. Meet employment-service organizations, learn about job coaching and supports, explore federal and state tax incentives, and access paid training programs. 2801 Salzedo Street
π Do you know of events or programs in Miami-Dade that belong here? Hit reply and I'll add them βοΈ
Ongoing Weekly & Monthly Events βοΈ
EVERY WEDNESDAY
βAbility Allies: Fun Without Limits, 5-6pm: Social meetup for special needs teens ages 16+ and their families, with sensory-friendly activities and creative play. Caregiver participation encouraged. Coral Reef Branch Library, 9211 Coral Reef Dr
βMy Squad, 6-9pm: Social gathering for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism. Ruth Bryan Owen Waterway Park, 3940 Granada Blvd
ββSocial Program at Shake-A-Leg Miami, 10am - 2pm: Water activities, socialization, and professional training for students & young adults with IDD in a safe and supportive environment, 2620 S Bayshore Dr
1st SUNDAY
βChuck E. Cheese, 9-11am: Opens early exclusively for Sensory Sensitive Sunday (Kendall, Hialeah, Aventura)
βLEGO Club, 10am: All supplies provided. Designed for people with disabilities, all welcome. Ruth Bryan Owen Waterway Park, 3940 Granada Blvd
βFREE, The Bass Museum Family Day, 12-5pm: Hands-on art making from 2-4pm, a scavenger-hunt art explorer guide through the galleries. 2100 Collins Ave, Miami Beach
MONTHLY, DATES VARY
βMiami-Dade Public Library Inclusive Programs: For kids & teens with IDD, featuring movies, crafts, and gaming in an environment where jumping, dancing, singing, and shouting are welcome, plus inclusive social meetup groups for special needs children and teens with their families.
βThe Social Cog: Social club that helps independently functioning adults with autism and other developmental and social challenges build friendships through an accepting peer group, one-on-one coaching from trained clinicians, and monthly group outings. 305-501-2333
βSunday November 1st, Spooky Symphony at New World Center, 11:30am: Family concert of Halloween classics by the New World Symphony for ages 4 - 9. Come in costume and arrive early for hands-on activities and a spooky soiree. Ticketed. 500 17th Street, Miami Beach
βThursday November 5th, Special Needs Guardianship and Special Needs Trust at CARD Miami Lakes, 6pm: Open to all parents and caregivers in the special needs community, with attorneys Stephanie Cruz and Lorenzo Cobiellas on guardianship and special needs trusts for young adults turning 18, hosted with the Hope for Autism Community Team and the Miami Lakes Special Needs Advisory Board. 5801 NW 151st Street, Suite 201
βSaturday November 7th, Amigos Night 2026, 8pm-1am: Programs empowering families through after-school enrichment, parent education, and wrap-around support. The Hangar at Regatta Harbour, 3385 Pan American Drive
Tuesday November 10th, CARD Just for Moms Support Group, 6:30pm: For Moms raising children with autism and related disabilities. Must be registered with CARD. 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Room 502. RSVP Daniela Chaparro at dchaparro@miami.edu
Tuesday November 17th, CARD Just for Dads Support Group, 6:30pm: For Dads raising children with autism and related disabilities. Must be registered with CARD. 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Room 502. RSVP Dr. Alessandri at malessandri@miami.edu
βThursday November 19th, Give Miami Day: The Miami Foundation's largest annual initiative, a 24-hour online fundraising event powering over 1,400 nonprofits across Miami-Dade. Early Giving opens November 14.
Tuesday December 8th, CARD Just for Moms Support Group, 6:30pm: For Moms raising children with autism and related disabilities. Must be registered with CARD. 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Room 502. RSVP Daniela Chaparro at dchaparro@miami.edu
Tuesday December 15th, CARD Just for Dads Support Group, 6:30pm: For Dads raising children with autism and related disabilities. Must be registered with CARD. 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Room 502. RSVP Dr. Alessandri at malessandri@miami.edu
βFriday January 15th - Sunday January 17th, Statewide Autism Conference: CARD's 3-day statewide conference with over 50 sessions from experts in education, social services, mental health, medicine, and research, plus speakers sharing lived experience. 1500 Sand Lake Road, Orlando