Leila Luna advocates for autism-friendly initiatives in North Charleston

At the North Charleston State of the City and Council Meeting on January 30, 2025, Leila Luna, founder of the nonprofit organization Just Be, passionately advocated for making North Charleston an autism-friendly city. Luna, a mother of a nonverbal 16-year-old son named Rio, shared her personal experiences with autism, highlighting the urgent need for greater awareness and understanding in public spaces.

Luna emphasized that autism is the fastest-growing developmental diagnosis in the U.S., affecting 1 in 36 children and 1 in 45 adults. She pointed out the challenges faced by families like hers, who often avoid public outings due to misunderstandings about autism. "Autism has no facial recognition," she stated, urging the community to recognize that individuals with autism may not visibly display their condition.

To address these issues, Luna proposed training for first responders to better handle situations involving individuals with autism, particularly during traffic stops. She introduced a new initiative that includes a special license plate to alert officers that a person in the vehicle has autism, allowing for a calmer and more informed approach. "Time saves lives," she stressed, advocating for a database to connect families with first responders, ensuring immediate awareness of autism in emergency situations.

In addition to her advocacy, Luna announced her success in certifying Mount Pleasant as the first autism-friendly town in the Low Country and expressed her desire to replicate this achievement in North Charleston. She called for community support to create a more inclusive environment, stating, "This is not about disabilities; it’s about possibilities."

The meeting also featured a proposal from Bryn Gerting for a rental property registration and transparency ordinance aimed at improving housing conditions for renters in North Charleston. Gerting highlighted the need for a publicly accessible database that would provide tenants with crucial information about rental properties, ensuring transparency and safety in the housing market.

Both discussions underscored a commitment to enhancing community welfare and inclusivity in North Charleston, with Luna's initiative focusing on autism awareness and Gerting's proposal addressing housing transparency. The council's response to these proposals will be pivotal in shaping a more supportive environment for all residents.