Royal Botanical Garden launches its program for families with ASD

The sixth edition of Empower Parents opens applications until September 14th to select seven families with children aged 5 to 12 with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Generic image of families participating in an educational activity in a botanical garden.
IA

Generic image of families participating in an educational activity in a botanical garden.

The Royal Botanical Garden (RJB) of the CSIC has launched the sixth edition of the cultural mediation program Empower Parents, aimed at families with children aged 5 to 12 diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The deadline for submitting participation applications is set for September 14th. This edition will select a maximum of seven families to engage in educational activities designed to foster interaction and discovery within the Botanical Garden's environment.
According to Irene Fernández de Tejada de Garay, head of the Scientific Culture Unit at RJB-CSIC, the limited number of spots is necessary to ensure collaborative and high-quality work with each participating family.
The program proposes a collaborative effort between families and the RJB's educational team, seeking ways to interact and explore the coexistence of plants and other living beings in the Botanical Garden, as well as to connect with its staff.
Activities will take place throughout the 2026-2027 school year, with one session per month. These will include activities where children, accompanied by their families, are the main focus with accessible proposals for all participants. In parallel, preparatory sessions exclusively for adults will be held, encouraging the exchange of experiences and needs for the co-creation of activities.
Participation in the program is completely free, thanks to the support of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT-MICIU). Interested families can complete and submit the online application form.
For more detailed information about the program and its organization, families can consult the provided link on the Royal Botanical Garden's website.
Based on information from the official source: Real Jardín Botánico (RJB-CSIC) (07/09/2026)