What We’ve Built Together…as a Family…as a Community

You’ll read about what we’ve built together. Right now, you can help us build what’s next.

Every story in this post began with a simple act of belief. This Autism Action Month, your gift can write the next chapter. Thanks to a generous $25,000 match from an anonymous donor, every donation made by April 30 will be doubled.

👉 Donate now to keep lighting the path forward for neurodivergent youth.

In 2001, we stood at the edge of the unknown.

Like many parents navigating a new autism diagnosis, we were searching for answers, for connection, for hope. What we found, more than anything, was a need. A need for a space where our son Harry and kids like him could feel seen, supported, and celebrated for exactly who they are.

Harry, Margaret, and Mark at Harry’s Senior Thesis Show at UWM’s Peck School of the Arts

In 2012, that spark became Islands of Brilliance.

What began with just a handful of students and mentors in a lab at Discovery World has grown into something we could have only dreamed of. Today, IOB serves hundreds of neurodivergent students each year, both virtually and in person. Fostering creativity through a student’s area of interest and creative technology brings a vibrant sense of community and the confidence that comes from being understood, accepted, and celebrated.

IOB’s first workshops at Discovery World, Fall 2012

When Support Meets Potential, Transformation Happens

The stories we witness every day are a reminder of what’s possible when the right support is in place for individuals to be exactly who they are.

Like James, who once struggled to find his voice. Today, he is thriving in college while continuing to participate in every level of our programming. His creative work and gentle leadership continue to inspire everyone around him.

Or Trinity, who has been with us since 2013. Her unique creative vision has developed through the years with contagious joy. She will join the Freshman Class at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design with a full scholarship this fall.

Or Nathan, who joined us just before the pandemic and found his footing as a coder and creative thinker. Since then, he has grown tremendously in his confidence. He’s now in college, has a job, and even runs a Discord server with thousands of users. He’s an active part of our Brilliant Breakfast Club and continues to build community in ways that lift up others.

These young people and many others aren’t just thriving individually. They are shifting the public narrative around what it means to be autistic. They are students, artists, coders, college graduates, employees, volunteers, friends, and caretakers. They are contributors to our communities. And we could not be prouder.

Navigating Uncertainty with Purpose and Care

And yet, we are operating in a time of deep financial uncertainty for our families and our field. Medicaid—the primary funding source for 70% of our students—is under threat, with access and stability becoming more fragile by the day. Federal funding for autism-related research into programs and interventions like ours has largely disappeared, with support likely shifting toward causes and cures instead. Corporate sponsorship may cool in an increasingly uncertain economy. The ground beneath us continues to shift—and not always in our favor.

From the beginning, we’ve made a commitment to run IOB with fiscal responsibility and care. We bootstrapped the initial program for two years to test its efficacy before we began to raise money. We stretch every dollar, grow sustainably, and invest in the people and infrastructure that allow us to meet the needs of our students and families. And at the heart of it all is a team of people who show up each day with compassion, creativity, and a fierce belief in what’s possible.

It truly is a family here! IOB Creative Technologist, Charlie Fairbanks, mentoring student, Ascher.

Together, We Light the Path Forward

We know this is a hard time for many. The rising cost of living is being felt by families everywhere, including our own. But as we mark Autism Acceptance Month—what we at IOB call Autism Action Month—we’re reminded of the importance of standing together to protect the spaces where neurodivergent individuals thrive.

IOB is more than a program. It’s a proof point for what’s possible—a creative force, a vibrant community, and a model for what the future can look like. There is no other program like Islands of Brilliance in the country. And it started right here, in Milwaukee.

It continues to grow here. Thrive here. Inspire here.

Together, we’re not just sustaining a mission—we’re rewriting the narrative for neurodivergent youth. Every act of generosity, no matter the size, lights the path forward. And with your continued support, that path shines even brighter. 

With gratitude,
Mark and Margaret Fairbanks