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SUMMARY:2026 Spring Virtual Conference: "From Representation to Reality: Autism and Popular Culture"
DESCRIPTION:Together with Childserve and Meadowlark Psychiatric Services\, Autism Society of Iowa is proud to host “From Representation to Reality: Autism and Popular Culture”\, a one day virtual conference. \nJoin us Friday\, April 3rd from 9:00am to 3:00pm as we hear from scholars\, caretakers\, and individuals with Autism discussing the connections\, interpretations\, and representations of neurodivergence in pop culture. \n  \n*Scholarships are available to cover registration fees. Please contact us at autismsocietyiowa@gmail.com to inquire. \n  \nClick Here to Register!\n\nConference Agenda\n*Tentative – times subject to change\n\n \n\nPresenters and Moderators:\n  \n \nChris Chan \nChris Chan is a historian\, author\, and educator from Milwaukee\, Wisconsin. He has a doctorate in American History and two master’s degrees in History and Library & Information Science. He teaches graduate courses for Southern New Hampshire University and undergraduate courses for The Chicago School. He is the author of six crime novels\, two volumes of short stories\, a volume of poems\, and five books of cultural criticism. His play Our Mothers Are Not Refrigerators\, about a self-help group for people with autism\, received a staged reading from Pink Umbrella Theater Company\, a Milwaukee group working with disabled actors and artists. He has won the Temple Grandin Prize\, his book The Autistic Sleuth won the Best Independent Book Award for TV History\, and he has also been a finalist for the Agatha\, Anthony\, and Macavity Awards\, and Long Listed for the CWA Dagger Award. \n  \n \nErin Dorsey \nErin Dorsey is from Naperville\, Illinois. She is currently a second-year graduate student studying Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Iowa. Erin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech\, Language\, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University. She also completed minors in Human Development and Family Studies and Psychology. Erin is expected to graduate in May 2026 with a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. \n  \n  \nMegan Fear \nMegan Fear is a second-year graduate student in speech-language pathology at the University of Iowa. She is a speech-language trainee in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Iowa LEND) program\, where she has ongoing training to work with children and adults with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Iowa. She is expected to graduate in May 2026 with a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. \n  \nBrian Johnson \nAfter years of uncertainty\, Brian Johnson was diagnosed with autism (specifically Asperger’s Syndrome) as a sophomore in high school.  Since his diagnosis\, he has been a member of the Siouxland Autism Support Group in Sioux City\, Iowa.  In 2004\, he graduated from Lawton-Bronson High School in Lawton\, Iowa as valedictorian of his class.  In 2008\, he graduated summa cum laude from Morningside College (now Morningside University)\, earning a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications.  He currently lives in Bronson\, Iowa and works in Moville\, Iowa for a regional newspaper called The Record.   Since graduation\, Brian has presented his story to numerous groups of parents\, teachers\, paraprofessionals\, college students and others who are working with and learning about people with autism.  For the past several years\, he has also been involved in an organization at Briar Cliff University called “The Human Library.”  He is also a board member and frequent panelist for the Autism Society of Iowa. \n  \n\nTodd Kopelman \nDr. Kopelman is a psychologist in private practice at Meadowlark Psychiatric Services in Iowa City. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics\, The University of Iowa Speech and Hearing Center\, and The University of Iowa College of Education. Dr. Kopelman’s primary clinical interests are the assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders in children and adults and providing behaviorally based therapy services. He is an active board member of the Autism Society of Iowa and co-teaches a graduate course on Autism Spectrum Disorder. He has coordinated three federally funded research projects on telehealth evaluation and treatment of disruptive behaviors displayed by young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. \n  \n \nMargaret Mendenhall \nMargaret Mendenhall\, PhD resides in Long Beach\, California and is a graduate of Pacifica Graduate Institute’s Mythological Studies Program. Additionally\, her current dissertation\, Healing Science Fiction: Engaging Star Trek to Explore Depth Psychology and Autism is in the review process in the Depth and Archetypal Psychology Program at the same institution. Her blog\, My Daily Soul Trek\, analyzes Star Trek episodes and films chronologically from a depth psychological perspective (https://mydailysoultrek.com/). She has also written\, performed and produced two myth based one-woman shows\, and produced and hosted the public access television series Myth Is All Around Us. She was diagnosed as autistic as a mature woman in April 2024. \n  \nRon Miles \nRon Miles is the proud father of an autistic son\, a software architect\, and a musician. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest\, Ron moved (along with his ex-wife\, son\, and then-fiancé) to Central Florida in the summer of 2003 in order to use Walt Disney World as a giant therapy session for his son. He works from a home office as a software architect. He dreams of the day when he will finally be able to have a real conversation with his son\, if only to find out what his son has really been thinking about all these years. \n  \n  \nAbby Niederhauser \nAbby Niederhauser is a self-taught pop culture artist whose vibrant work celebrates her love of ’90s cartoons and nostalgia. What began as painting favorite characters to decorate her apartment quickly grew into a prolific creative practice\, with more than 300 pieces produced and shared under the name Abby’s Rad Art. Her large-scale “Take Up Space” exhibition featured nearly 200 works displayed together\, intentionally highlighting the hyperfocus and intensity that shape her autistic experience. Through her art\, Abby not only expresses her deep special interests but also creates connection—using creativity as both education and conversation starter about neurodiversity.
URL:https://autismia.com/event/2026-spring-virtual-conference-from-representation-to-reality-autism-and-popular-culture/
CATEGORIES:Education
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260404T140000
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SUMMARY:Cultivating Hope Farms Easter Egg Drive-Thru
DESCRIPTION:  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nWe are thrilled to once again partner with Cultivating Farms for their Drive-Thru Easter Egg Hunt! Hop into Spring with egg-citing surprises from the comfort and safety of your own vehicle. \nWhen: Saturday\, April 4th. 2:00-3:00pm. \nWhere: Raspberry Hill Bed and Breakfast Driveway\,  5500 240th St\, Ames\, Iowa 50014 \nQuestions: Contact Gina at (515) 210-5407
URL:https://autismia.com/event/cultivating-hope-farms-easter-egg-drive-thru/
LOCATION:Raspberry Hill Bed and Breakfast\, 5500 240th Street\, Ames\, IA\, 50014\, United States
CATEGORIES:Sensory Friendly Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260408T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260408T130000
DTSTAMP:20260513T082855
CREATED:20260311T190301Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260320T184346Z
UID:6384-1775649600-1775653200@autismia.com
SUMMARY:Lunch and Learn - Every Gift Counts\, Supporting Autism Society of Iowa
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a Lunch & Learn on smart\, simple\, and meaningful ways to give to the Autism Society of Iowa. Brad Biren\, Attorney at Wilson Elser\, Tax Controversies & Wealth Preservation\, will explore practical and creative giving options for everyday donors\, from monthly gifts and tribute giving to tax-smart strategies involving IRAs\, stock\, donor-advised funds\, and legacy gifts. Designed for real people and real budgets\, this program will help attendees understand how recent tax-law changes may affect charitable giving and how to choose a giving method that fits their values\, finances\, and goals. Whether you are a longtime supporter or just beginning to think about giving\, you’ll leave with fresh ideas for making a local impact in Iowa’s autism community. \nClick Here to Register for FREE!
URL:https://autismia.com/event/lunch-and-learn-every-gift-counts-supporting-autism-society-of-iowa/
CATEGORIES:Education
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260422T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260422T130000
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SUMMARY:Lunch and Learn - Proof Positive: Science and Skills of Happiness for the Autism Community
DESCRIPTION:  \nHappiness is a universal right. Yet\, for many\, it remains an elusive concept—something often overlooked and seemingly difficult to achieve\, especially in the autism community. \nJoin Taylor Aukes and Hannah Moeller of Balance Autism as they present Proof Positive: science based resources and research rooted in positive psychology. \nProof Positive is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving the wellbeing of autistic people\, their families\, providers and communities. \n  \nClick Here to Register for FREE!\n\nPresenters:\nTaylor Aukes\nTaylor Aukes is the Adult Community Services Director at Balance Autism. He has been with Balance Autism for 7 years. Taylor has provided oversight to the Smart Living Program at Balance Autism focusing on the development of processes and policies to ensure compliance with State regulations as well as establishing a best practice for providing the highest quality of care for the individuals they serve. He also provides oversight to Balance Autism’s HCBS homes. As a member of Proof Positive’s Autism Wellbeing Alliance\, he has worked to integrate the skills of happiness and positive psychology into the Smart Living Program. \n  \n Hannah Moeller\nHannah Moeller is the ACS Community Employment Director at Balance Autism and has been with Balance Autism for four years. Hannah oversees the Supported Employment Program within Balance Autism. She works to connect with employers in our community to establish competitive and meaningful employment opportunities for the individuals we serve. She also is passionate about connecting with local school districts to support transition aged students as they graduate and exit from school into adulthood. As a member of the Proof Positive’s Autism Wellbeing Alliance\, she has worked to teach and integrate the skills and importance of happiness\, wellbeing\, and positive psychology into the Supported Employment Program. \n 
URL:https://autismia.com/event/lunch-and-learn-proof-positive-with-balance-autism/
CATEGORIES:Education
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