TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — For many young men in Tarpon Springs, participating in the cross dive during the Epiphany celebration is a rite of passage. That is no different for Bobby Kavouklis. 

When the Tarpon Springs boy turned 16, there was no question about if he would participate in Epiphany. But his family knew it might require some extra planning. 

Kavouklis has nonverbal autism. He can hear and comprehend words, but he uses a letter board to spell out his thoughts. 

“I think that it is amazing to be part of this community because the love for Greek Orthodox traditions goes back to Papou Mikro and Yiayia Maria,” Kavouklis said. “I feel blessed to participate and continue the traditions.”

Kavouklis is talking about his great grandparents, who migrated from Greece to Tarpon Springs. To Kavouklis, his favorite part of Epiphany is the service commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ. He was part of all the Epiphany events on Saturday, but stayed onshore during the cross dive. 

Kavouklis and his family are grateful for their community’s inclusive spirit. 

“I’m very proud of him and our community, to be honest,” said Maria Kavouklis, Bobby’s aunt. “He’s just one of everyone. He’s like everyone else and that’s huge. It’s amazing that nobody even flinched. It was ‘yeah, of course we’re going to do it, just tell us what we need to do.’”

The Spelling to Communicate world is fairly new to Kavouklis. He’s only been using his letter board for about two years now.

“When he was younger, and we went to all these developmental pediatricians and every single doctor you can think of, there were so many things they told me that he wouldn’t be able to do,” Maria said. “Every time they told me I was like ‘no, I’m not accepting it, I’m not accepting it, I’m not accepting it and just kept pushing through.’”

Kavouklis may eventually work up to diving for the cross, but this year he's just thankful to carry on a family tradition.

He and his family hope his story inspires people to never set any boundaries for themselves.