Everyday Hero Jason Rhodes is a man of music. Rhodes created The Inspire Foundation, which uses soothing sounds and music education to help children with autism express themselves.
“Music is a very calming activity,” Rhodes said. “It can be. It’s very therapeutic at times for children. Our motto is, ‘Through music and the arts every child has a voice.’”
The Inspire Foundation serves Pasco, Hernando, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. The nonprofit brings music and the arts to all children with special needs.
Rhodes said the idea for the foundation came from his own experiences. His son Jacob was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
“When he was two years old he stopped talking and we used music and the arts to bring his voice back, to give him a voice,” he said.
Jacob, now 13, found his way back with a guitar. Another child helped by the Inspire Foundation, Canyon, found his way through playing the drums.
After meeting the 8-year-old, Rhodes raised money to surprise Canyon with his own fully-equipped electronic drum set.
“When a child can’t speak, can’t let people know what they’re trying to do, sometimes music or the arts is a way for them to get that out,” Rhodes said.