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Wildlife, Work, and Inclusion: CCFW’s New Program Inspires Youth with Disabilities

Sep 5, 2025 | In the News

At Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife (CCFW), we’re known for our work protecting local wildlife and preserving Cape Coral’s unique natural spaces. However, our mission extends beyond conservation alone. We believe in building a community where everyone can connect with and care for the environment. That’s why we’re excited to be piloting a new initiative that combines conservation, career exploration, and inclusion in a hands-on, meaningful way. The workshops also introduce AI as an assistive tool that can support communication, learning, and career exploration in wildlife conservation for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). From helping answer questions in real time to modeling professional tasks, AI is presented as an accessible and empowering resource.

This summer, our members Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz and her daughter Ariane, a young adult on the autism spectrum with a passion for animals and nature, developed an engaging workshop that explores how conservation and environmental education can offer career pathways for individuals with IDD.

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They’ve shared the presentation at Family Initiative’s Career Camp, the Center for Independent Living of Southwest Florida’s Career Camp, Ascend Transition Services and Freida B. Smith Special Populations Center and the response has been incredibly positive. Participants recognized that conservation careers can be accessible, fulfilling, and aligned with their personal passions.

“When we were navigating post-secondary options for Ariane, we kept seeing the same narrow list of jobs repeated over and over,” Paula shared. “But Ariane loves wildlife and being outdoors. We realized there’s a real need to broaden the conversation around what’s possible.” Ariane’s role in co-presenting and helping shape the workshop content has been especially meaningful. Her perspective adds authenticity, and her presence models what inclusive leadership looks like. For participants, seeing a peer take on a leadership role has been powerful as it makes the experience more relatable and inspiring.

Ariane added, “I liked sharing what we’ve learned and showing people that there are cool jobs out there, like helping owls or being outside with animals.”

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This presentation is part of a larger pilot program we’re developing at CCFW, focused on inclusive career readiness through conservation-based activities. Our goal is to introduce youth with IDD to the natural world in ways that are empowering, educational, and connected to real career pathways. Whether it’s observing wildlife, helping create pollinator gardens, or learning how to advocate for native species, participants are gaining both environmental knowledge and workplace-readiness skills.

This initiative is a natural extension of our mission—to foster appreciation and protection of Cape Coral’s wildlife through education, stewardship, and community engagement. We’re proud to expand that mission by ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, has a role to play in protecting our shared environment.

To support this effort, we’re expanding the workshop into a more interactive format, featuring visual supports, hands-on activities, and adaptable materials that cater to a range of learning needs. These workshops don’t just educate attendees about local wildlife and ecosystems; they foster stewardship by introducing conservation as a career path. They help participants develop skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, all while fostering a deeper connection to their community and the environment.

Several more workshops are already on the calendar allowing us to continue reaching more young people with diverse abilities throughout the region. To date this outreach initiative has reached over 75 youth and adults with disabilities. As the pilot grows, we’re actively seeking partnerships with local schools, nonprofits, and job training programs to reach more youth and families.

At CCFW, we believe that conservation is stronger when it includes everyone. By opening new pathways into environmental stewardship and career exploration, we’re helping build a more inclusive future, one where all individuals are seen, valued, and supported in their goals.