Iowa City Autism Community

Throughout the past 4 years, the Iowa City Autism Community (ICAC), under the leadership of Jessie Witherell and Dina Bishara, has grown into a volunteer association that organizes dozens of autism-friendly events throughout our community at places such as the UI CRWC Leisure Pool, Brush and Barrel, AirFX Trampoline Park, Bloomsbury Farm, Sand Road Orchards, Colonial Lanes, CDD Dental Clinic, hair salons and many more.  We have pioneered regularly occurring Special Access events at both the Iowa City Public Library and the North Liberty Community Library.  ICAC has partnered with the Iowa Gym-Nest to create the first of its kind in our area Spectrum CORSE ninja-style class. We collaborate with the UIHC Stead Family Children's Hospital Autism Center to organize at least three, free workshops every year on topics ranging from gross motor and sensory needs, mindfulness for caregivers, visual supports, autism basics for childcare providers, IEP/504s, and many more. We maintain a website full of local and regional resources and an event calendar of upcoming opportunities.  Finally, we continue to provide support and networking to families throughout the Corridor area through our Facebook page and personal consultation with both caregivers and professionals.  NEW THIS YEAR we will be extending our efforts to support autistic students in Johnson County by providing small grants ($50-$100) to schools and PTOs to be used to purchase resources that support the unique sensory and learning needs of autistic students.  The total number and amount of grants will depend on the success of this campaign.   Funds we raise will help subsidize the cost of the many community events, snacks, arts/craft supplies, thank-you's for workshop presenters, resources we distribute at workshops, our website, and the small grants for schools.

We do all of this work on a strictly volunteer basis on our own personal time.  Will you please support the Iowa City Autism Community as we continue to work for our mission of creating a community that is more accepting, understanding, and inclusive of autistic people and their families?

You can learn more about us here:  www.autismiowacity.org

THANK YOU!!