Thank you to all who came out for the 5K Race to support Island Autism!
Thank you for Joining Us for the 7th Annual Island Autism 5K Run / Walk!
Thank You to All Who Joined Us for the 6th Annual Island Autism 5K Run / Walk!
Thank you to all who joined us on Saturday, July 15th to run or walk our 6th annual 5K. It was our best turnout to date! We’re glad the weather held out too.
Thank You to our Generous Sponsors:
Thank you to Martha’s Vineyard Running Company for proving the timing for the race!
Our Fundraising Goal:
We are currently in Phase 1 of a 3-Phase Project to create The Island Autism Center & Farm, located at 515 Lamberts Cove Road in West Tisbury. Phase 1 – including the Hub House and Farm Build – will complete the Day Programming portion of the project that will support our existing after-school & summer programming, as well as become a launch-pad for job training and adult community-building. Phase 2 is the first portion of the residential project for adults with autism, which will be followed by Phase 3 – that completes the residential project for 12-18 residents. Funds raised through our 5K Fundraiser helps us get closer to our goal of serving the community with this new center. Thank you for participating!
Our Mission
We strive for the lifelong independence, confidence, and happiness of individuals with autism and their families on Martha’s Vineyard through housing, life skills, enrichment, job training, and therapies.
Building on our work with children and adults since 2009, we are now focused on the following main objectives:
- Raise awareness of autism within the community, including all those on the Island in current and future programs
- Create and build an Island Autism Center to include a working farm and adult residences in West Tisbury
- Provide educational and enrichment programs and events to our year-round residents, the community, and summer residents
Don’t Miss the Flutie Foundation Holiday Spectacular!
Island Autism is proud to once again be invited to participate in the Flutie Foundation’s annual Holiday Spectacular. Don’t miss it!
Save the Dates!
2023 Events
July 10th: Summer Camp begins!
July 15th: Annual 5K Run (West Tisbury School): 8:30am
August 18th: Last day of summer camp
September 23rd: Island Autism Gala at Edgartown Yacht Club
Island Autism Center Parent/Guardian Survey
If you have a child with autism aged 16 or over, please take our survey.
Our goal is to create an Island Autism Center that supports all of our children and adult children. The information we gather through this survey will help us plan and develop the center into a place that meets the broadest range of needs.
Happy Giving Tuesday! Update on the Island Autism Center Project
On this Giving Tuesday, I want to wish everyone healthy and Happy Holidays. I also want to share with all of you who have been so generous over the years, and some who have newly supported us, an update on our Center project.
How far we have come this year! Who would have thought at this time last year and with all that has gone on this year that we would be where we are.
We were presented with the wonderful opportunity to purchase the Childs Farm. With our partner the Land Bank and the support of the Island Housing Trust, we took the leap. And, with the help of a handful of very generous donors and smaller gifts from a larger group of long time friends, we have nearly achieved our year-one goal. We closed on the property in mid-November. We applied for funding from a MV Youth grant, applied for Community preservation funds and we hope to break ground on the Hub House in 2022. With Island Housing Trust to guide us, we hope to simultaneously break ground on the first residence apartments.
Our plan is to raise the same amount each year for the next five years and in that manner fund:
- Year One – Hub House, first phase of housing and farmstand,
- Year Two – Barn and second phase of housing,
- Year Three – Farm and day programming operational,
- Year Four – Housing and Adult Programming
- Year Five – Rainy Day Fund
Yes, that is a five year, 1.5-million-a-year goal, as part of our business plan. We appreciate that this is a large nut, but we are confident because people were so generous this year.
Please contact me if you would like to talk about giving. If you already gave, please consider making your donation an annual donation for five years. We cannot express the gratitude we feel towards all the support we have received thus far. What a wonderful light at the end of the long dark tunnel of 2020.
We wish you safe and Happy Holidays and thank you for all the support!
Kate DeVane
Executive Director
Island Autism Center
