Autism Empowerment

The Autism Empowerment's Access to the Arts Program is currently in development and seeking funding and volunteers. Our current expectation is to launch this program in late September 2012. 

You may download our narrative here or read a little about our proposed program below.

This will initially be a program based in and serving those individuals and families affected by autism spectrum disorders in Clark County, Washington. (Those living in nearby areas are welcome to participate.) We hope to expand regionally and nationally. Services are planned to be free.

The vision for our program has multiple components. The first part is the launch of an annual Autism Empowerment's Access to the Arts Festival & Expo providing Access to the Arts to those on the autism spectrum and their families. Subjects covered will likely include but not be limited to: drawing, painting, sculpting, theatre, music, dance, filmmaking, photography, computer art design and creative writing.  We envision the Access to the Arts celebration to be an open house style format, however there will be scheduled workshops as well.  We also plan to invite established and aspiring artists on the autism spectrum to display their work.

The next part of our program is providing monthly Access to the Arts nights with a different theme for each month. This will be a Friday night monthly drop-in program starting in October 2012. Each Access to the Arts night will last about 2 - 3 hours.  Local professionals and arts volunteers will be invited to present and teach. While attendees are participating with one-on-one buddy volunteers, there will be a separate area for parents and caregivers to have a support group meeting and socialize. Drop-ins will be welcome, however we'll offer pre-registration as well. 

With each part of our program, we plan to have sensory break areas, respite care for parents, buddies for program attendees and an opportunity for parents and caregivers to have an autism support group meeting or social get-together.

We are seeking grants and donations to fund this program and of course will welcome lots of volunteers.  We are also currently accepting in-kind donations of the following items:

Spin art machine, paints, paintbrushes, crayons, drawing paper, colored pencils, easels, musical instruments, new or lightly used costumes, puppets, chalk, photography equipment, karaoke machine, play dough, clay, sculpting tools, photography and filmmaking equipment, computers, white boards.

If you prefer us to purchase the items, we also accept gift cards.

Local stores include: Costco, Walmart, Office Depot, Best Buy

In kind donations can be sent to:

Autism Empowerment

3801 SE 184th Court

Vancouver, WA  98683

We are looking for volunteers in the Clark County, Washington, Portland Metro area. If you would like to be added to a list of potential volunteers to be contacted for service in 2012, please email: volunteer@autismempowerment.org.  Thank you!