In December, with the full support of our Board of Directors, Islands of Brilliance chose to change our mission statement with the intention of opening our doors to the broader community of neurodiversity.

Instead of associating autistic special interests (SpIns) with shame or as something to avoid or fix, IOB celebrates them. When mentors listen to students's interests and embark on creating something together based on the topic, the lines of communication open.

Providing some daily structure can help your autistic student have a happier transition to summer. Here are some ideas to get you started.

New students are often surprised by the welcoming community that they find in a Foundation Workshop. What is it like to start at Islands of Brilliance?

As Co-Founder and Chief Education Officer, Margaret Fairbanks explains how autism is defined. It comes down to defining “difference” and “difficulty.” “Words matter. And the words we have used throughout the years to diagnose and describe autism have been changing almost as quickly as the prevalence rate.”

“He’s always on the computer! It drives me crazy! He needs to go outside and play with his friends.”

“She’s always looking at her phone. How will she ever engage with humans in real situations?”

These quotes are all echoed by parents. Whether your child is neurotypical or neurodiverse–if you are a parent–you have likely said one of these things to your spouse or a friend. Today’s children are digital natives, growing up in the information age. We can’t go backwards from this trend of technology being at the forefront of everything that happens at school, work, and home. Of course, the global pandemic has accelerated this trend!

We all know the drill, the new year rolls around and everyone starts focusing on what they want to change in their lives. We set lofty goals for “a better us.” What does that even mean? We often take a look at ourselves or our families and decide this is the year we will change it all! And we quickly overwhelm ourselves with too many goals, plans, and systems. We probably drive ourselves and everyone around us crazy in the process. And before we know it, probably right around now…a few weeks into the new year…we burn out and return to our regular routines. Are you there? Does this feel a little too familiar? Don’t worry! You’re not alone!

Mornings in our home always start with coffee and conversation—which often revolves around how lucky we are to do what we do. The joy, the sense of community, the self confidence and advocacy, and the sense of pride that has blossomed over the past eight years really is something we are incredibly honored to be part of.

It goes without saying, this has been a year like no other. As we head towards what will definitely be a unique holiday season, it seems clear we will need to shift expectations on our old traditions. There is no better time than now to reflect on ways to stay positive, hopeful, and ideally be more inclusive!

What does the word accessibility mean to you?

Wheelchair ramps, automatically opening doors, and braille on elevators, I imagine you would say. Yes, that is what accessibility means in the world of architecture and physical environments, but what does accessibility mean for learning environments?

“Thank you - I am so glad we found you!”

“My daughter absolutely loved joining in yesterday, when is the next one?”

“What is all this Juice Talk?”

I am really lucky, I get to hear lots of happy stories. We here at IOB call it, "Juice." Juice is representative of all the good stories we get to share—stuff that makes us happy, proud, and know we are doing important and meaningful work.

Students thriving in a distance learning environment.

Until March of this year, I had not truly given thought to what it means to pivot. Being part of an organization with a mission that targets changing perceptions around autism, I thought I understood the nature and value of change - and then everything changed.

Students thriving in a distance learning environment.

Until March of this year, I had not truly given thought to what it means to pivot. Being part of an organization with a mission that targets changing perceptions around autism, I thought I understood the nature and value of change - and then everything changed.

Transition. It’s a simple word that can be applied to so many things. Transition to and from work, from grade school to middle school, from puberty to adulthood. As a special education teacher, I’d like to call attention to something that often gets overlooked or is an afterthought in many IEP meetings - the Post Secondary Transition Plan, or PTP for short.

“Help me!” It’s something we’re hearing from so many in our community.

From our students who have shared that they feel lost and confused.

From their parents who feel overwhelmed and unprepared.

From educators and support providers who are grappling with the challenges of supporting their students with autism in a meaningful and impactful way while they’re schooling at home.

Starting Thursday morning, we will be posting a Question of the Day via YouTube. We invite you all to engage and share your answers with whatever format you prefer.

It’s April 2, 2019. Do you know it’s World Autism Awareness Day?