For Maddox Mendoza
By Mia Rotell
When Maddox Mendoza was a toddler, Chelsey Romano, Maddox’s mother, remembers her father pointing out an irregularity in Maddox’s behavior.
“He said, ‘He should be talking by now,’” Chelsey said. “Maddox was my first child. I thought it was normal.”
Maddox was then evaluated and diagnosed with high-functioning autism in October 2020, at 3 years old. High-functioning autism refers to individuals who speak well, have average or above-average intelligence, and can perform daily activities with minimal support.
“You really wouldn’t know he was on the spectrum,” Chelsey said.
Chelsey sought out many forms of support for Maddox’s development. Therapies, sensory tools and strategies to teach and prepare him for preschool were all on her radar. This inspired her to start a sensory toy company, ThinkPlayMagic, designed to help fill gaps that other sensory toys did not.
Although children with autism generally grow up to live full lives, Maddox tragically passed away from an unrelated virus in Dec. 2021.
Torn and grieving, Chelsey continued to educate herself on autistic needs and tendencies. She expanded her understanding of the neurodivergent community and how each individual is unique.
“That’s the crazy, beautiful thing about autism,” Chelsey said. “It’s a spectrum.”
In April 2022, Chelsey started Maddox’s Market in Old Town Murrieta to raise awareness and funds for autism nonprofits. The market included sensory stations, nonprofit organizations for autism research, and a variety of other small businesses.
“The vendor fees go toward the nonprofit,” Chelsey said. She said the goal is to help autistic people and children flourish as their natural selves. “Operations for Autism” was the nonprofit present April 11 and focuses on grants for therapies, educational resources and vocational programs.
Event attendee, Destinee Quilan, serves as an instructional assistant for special needs students in the Temecula Valley School District — she believes the community needs the awareness that Maddox’s Market gathers.
“It’s important for the autism community,” Quilan said. “For everyone to be recognized.” Quilan attended the event with her neurotypical 3 year old daughter and 9 month old son.
Despite the nonprofits supporting research, Chelsey believes there are still many unanswered questions about autism. “People don’t know why it starts,” Chelsey said. “Why is it more prevalent in some children and less prevalent in others?”
Maddox’s Market is held every April in honor of Autism Awareness Month and in October in honor of Maddox’s birthday. The most recent event was held April 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Washington Avenue in Old Town Murrieta.
To find the October date or to support the event, visit @maddoxsmarket on Instagram or search “Maddox’s Market Local Gist TV” online.
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