Autism Empowerment

Welcome!

Autism Empowerment is a neurodivergent-led nonprofit organization devoted to enriching and empowering the lives of youth, adults and families within autism and autistic communities. We promote a culture of Autism Acceptance and passionately believe every one of us has gifts, strengths and talents to make our world a better place.

We invite you to join us as an Ambassador for Acceptance of All Abilities!

What does that mean?

💜 Wherever you identify in your life journey, Autism Empowerment is here to meet you along the way with acceptance, enrichment, inspiration, and empowerment for the road ahead. We are an autistic and disability-led nonprofit, publisher of Spectrum Life Magazine, Zoom Autism Magazine, and producer of the Autism Empowerment Podcast. 

Founded in Vancouver, WA in June 2011, Autism Empowerment is a positive and passionate grassroots organization serving neurodivergent individuals and families throughout Washington in a variety of innovative and impactive ways. 

This is our 13th year and for the first time ever, we have $20,000 in matching funds thanks to the anonymous contributions of multiple Autism Empowerment board members who passionately believe in investing in autistic and human potential to create good works in our community and worldwide! We appreciate partnering with you in both achieving and exceeding our goal!

Everyone on our Board of Directors and in key leadership roles either identifies as on the autism spectrum or has autistic family members. Autism intersects all races, ethnicities, genders and identities. It is estimated that 2% of Washington residents are on the autism spectrum.

In a world where people impacted by autism have a tendency to feel isolated and alone, Autism Empowerment provides a beacon of light and hope through relatable, thought-provoking and meaningful content that encourages the community to come together respectfully and learn from one another. We have learned over the years in the incredible power of a simple equation: Content + Community = Connection.

Key Programs:

Spectrum Life Magazine - Autistic-led and written by the autism community for the autism community, this quarterly publication serves over 30,000 readers. All current and past issues are available online for free. We also distribute print copies at over 600 locations. https://www.spectrumlife.org

Autism Serves: Helping Hands (formerly Autism Serves Kids Care Club) - We promote volunteering opportunities in the community that allow  members to gain life skills and volunteer to support causes they choose including: Disability Rights, Social Justice, Autism Acceptance and Awareness, Literacy, Hunger, Animal Welfare, Poverty, Homelessness, Veterans and Military, Kindness, Bullying Prevention, Climate Change and Senior Care. (National award-winning program.)

Autism Empowerment Multimedia Program - In collaboration with Second Player Score Productions, Autism Empowerment is currently filming "Hold My Beer", a dramedy in Vancouver featuring neurodivergent cast and crew. (Out in 2025)

Autism Empowerment Podcast - New season of episodes being released in Fall 2024 - https://www.autismempowermentpodcast.org

AWEtism We Embrace Support Group - AWEtism We Embrace (AWE) is an online facilitated support group meeting on third Tuesdays from 6:30pm-8:30pm. AWE is a meeting for adults, and is unique in that both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals make up our members.

Bluebee TeeVee Autism Information Station - https://www.youtube.com/c/Bluebeeteevee - Bluebee TeeVee − the autism information station is a series of webisodes to empower autistic children and educate their peers about autism. 

Autism Empowerment Cares: Leadership, Volunteerism, Social opportunities 

Advocacy and Disability Coalition work

Autism Empowerment Cares Outreach: In collaboration with the Oregon Zoo, we give away hundreds of free tickets to local autism families each year.

A Little More About Us...

At Autism Empowerment, we support autistic and human potential. For the past 13 years, we have been a mostly volunteer-led grassroots organization, however we do provide many opportunities to contract with members of our community. We are seeking resources to expand so that all individuals and families impacted by autism within Washington state, the United States and beyond have the power to live awesome lives. We can't do it without the support of kind and generous supporters like you.

We just ended Autism Acceptance month in April, however at Autism Empowerment, every day is an ideal day to work toward inclusion and the promotion of Autism Acceptance. Until autistics of all ages, abilities, and intersecting identities have the resources to be safe, healthy, enriched and empowered to live their best lives possible, we will continue advocating for positive change. 

Come join us as an Autism Empowerment Ambassador for Autism Acceptance! 

Together we're changing the world. Thank you for your generosity!