Autism Society of Iowa

Siouxland Sensory-Friendly Swimming Event
2025-03-01 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA | Siouxland Y, 601 Riverview Dr, South Sioux City, NE, 68776, United States
Join us Saturday, March 1st, from 6:00-8:00 PM for this sensory friendly swimming event brought to you by the Siouxland Autism Support Group!
$3 per person or $10 for the whole family!
Each participant must be accompanied by a family member/caregiver.
Click Here to Register!

2025 Spring Virtual Conference: "Turning Setbacks Into Stepping Stones for Those with Autism"
2025-03-07 09:00 - 15:30
Autism Society of Iowa (ASI), ChildServe, and Meadowlark Psychiatric Services are hosting a 1- day virtual conference from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025, entitled, Turning Setbacks into Stepping Stones for Those with Autism. CEU’s available.
Register today by clicking here!

Agenda
9:00 a.m. – Announcements
9:05 a.m. – Thriving in Independence: Strategies and Resources for Young Adults with Autism and Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions – Presented by Sally M. Rieck, LISW, Judy Warth, BBA, CESP, and Tiffany Reaves
Objectives:

Describe the unique challenges experienced by young adults with autism and co-occurring mental health conditions.
Identify barriers to achieving independence and self-sufficiency with daily living skills.
Highlight community, regional, and state resources that promote independent living and self-reliance.
Discuss strategies and interventions to educate and foster self-advocacy in all environments.

10:30 a.m. – Break
10:45 a.m. – Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Special Needs Trusts – Presented by Attorney Judy Johnson
12:00 p.m. – Lunch
12:45 p.m. – Panel of Adults with Autism – Lived Strategies and Resources for Employment, Social Outings, Hobbies and Activities in the Community – Facilitated by Susan Askeland
1:45 p.m. – Break
2:00 p.m. – Supporting Independence and Quality of Life for Autistic Youth as They Transition Out of High School – Presented by Benjamin Yerys, PhD
Objectives:

Know how autistic adults describe their view of how daily living skills supports their independence and quality of life;
Identify mental health conditions or symptoms that associate with daily living skills from childhood through adulthood;
Emerging treatments to promote daily living skills and independence for transition-aged autistic youth.

Speaker Information:
Benjamin Yerys, PhD
Dr. Yerys is a licensed psychologist. He directs the Advancing Transition and Learning for Adult Success (ATLAS) Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and he is director of the PASSAGE program, which focuses on transition to adulthood for autistic youth. Dr. Yerys’ research highlights the complex interplay between cognitive functions, mental health, and patient-centered outcomes for autistic youth and youth with other neurodevelopmental conditions. Dr. Yerys’ current projects with transition-aged youth include partnerships with self-advocates and caregivers. His overall goal is to improve clinical assessments and targeted interventions to address areas of life that are most important to autistic people and people with other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Judy Johnson, JD
Judy graduated with honors from Drake University Law School in 2006. Judy has a general law practice that includes assisting clients with a variety of legal issues. In the area of family law she works with clients on issues such as: property division, alimony, child custody, visitation, and child support. Judy also helps families with wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and general estate planning.
Judy’s practice extends into mediation of family law and probate matters. She is a certified family law and probate mediator through the Polk County District Court Mediation Program.
​Judy has worked on family law cases at the appellate level. Her appellate work includes composing briefs and presenting oral arguments to the Iowa Court of Appeals.
​Judy prides herself on her compassionate approach to the law and a willingness to provide the attention to detail that is needed in all legal matters. She will provide zealous representation while making sure the client fully understands the process. She invites you to contact her should you have any questions or concerns that relate to her area of practice.
​Judy is an active member of the Polk County Bar Association. Judy serves on the Polk County Bar Association’s Family Law Committee and strives to stay informed of all developments in family law. She is an active member of the Polk County Bar Probate Section and a member of the Des Moines Area Estate Planners group.

Sally M. Rieck, LISW, Social Work Specialist I
About me: I had no idea how passionate I was about advocating for people with different abilities until I started working at the Center for Disabilities and Development in 2018. This is by far the most rewarding place I’ve worked at Iowa Healthcare since starting my career here almost 13 years ago. I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and I truly feel that reflecting on my past and present struggles and embracing my own neurodiversity helps me to connect with patients and families in a unique and valuable way.
In my life outside of work, I love spending time with my family, which includes my husband, our nearly 10-year-old daughter who is an aspiring Olympic gymnast and crazy cat lady in training, and of course our two cats-Smokey and Freckles. My other favorite things include laughing, gardening, and spray painting old plant pots.
Role at CDD/Transition to Adult Healthcare: As a clinical social worker at the CDD, my primary role is to educate families of children and young adults with disabilities about resources and services specific to their needs, and to assist them in applying for things like waivers and Medicaid. Providing emotional support as parents cope with new (and sometimes previous) diagnoses of autism and intellectual disability is also a huge part of this role. As the social worker for the Transition to Adulthood Clinic, my role is very similar, with the focus being on ensuring patients and their teens/young adults are connected with all the right resources to foster independence and success after high school. We address waivers and other types of funding for services, SSI, and substitute decision making such as guardianship or less restrictive alternatives.

Judy Warth, BBA, CESP, Program Manager
About me: I am insatiably curious about everything except knitting. I love the adventure of helping people have the lives they want and deserve to have. My motto is that if it is not fun, don’t do it! My work revolves around values, employment, self-advocacy (health-care, employment and sexual), transition to adulthood, leadership and community inclusion. I support, train and work for people with disabilities in schools, families, businesses, community rehabilitation programs and clinics. I also love animals, kayaking and communing with God and Nature.
Roles within the UCEDD/CDD: My work is diverse including job coaching and job development, teaching classes for job coaches and job developers through Iowa APSE, serving as LEND core-faculty for self-advocates and community trainees, working with youth and teams within the Iowa City Community School District to transition from school to work, supporting the MFP team on employment related issues and staffing the CDD Transition to Adulthood Clinic.

Autism Advocacy Day at the Iowa Wild
2025-03-23 15:00 - 17:00 | Wells Fargo Arena, 833 5th Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50309, United States
Join us Sunday, March 23, at 3:00 PM for an Autism Advocacy Day at the Iowa Wild! For each $20 ticket sold, $5 will go directly to Autism Society of Iowa and TravelingWiki Foundation to continue our work for the Autism Community!
Sensory Spaces will be available: Click Here for More Info
Check out this social narrative about attending a Wild game: I Am Going to an Iowa Wild Game
To purchase tickets, Click Here!

UI REACH Program & EXPLORE Program Informational Webinar
2025-03-25 18:15 - 19:00
Register today to learn more about the EXPLORE and UI REACH programs!
~Presented by Michael Petkewec- Program Specialist, Recruitment
Come and EXPLORE post-high school options like employment, trades training, community college, and university enrollment. Students of all ability levels (ages 14-21) can join this journey toward self-advocacy and self-determination. While enrolled, students develop an action plan based on their post-graduation interests. EXPLORE is a collaboration between Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) and the University of Iowa REACH Program
UI REACH (Realizing Educational and Career Hopes) is nested in the UI College of Education and is a comprehensive transition program for college-age students with intellectual, cognitive, and learning disabilities. UI REACH offers an integrated college experience in a caring and structured environment. Academics, career and transition, social growth, and campus life are areas of focus. UI REACH is a four-year program with early graduation options.
Click Here to Register!
