What is the ASBC?

The Autism Society of Boulder County (ASBC) helps individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families develop a strong, united community by creating opportunities for people to connect, share experiences and build new relationships.

Mission

Connection

Connect with other individuals and families living with autism.
Support

Find the support resources you need to thrive.
Education

Learn more about autism and supporting your loved ones.

Upcoming Happenings

Social and Support Group for HFA/Asperger's Young Adults (Ages 17-27)
25-May-2013
Sensory Friendly Film
01-Jun-2013
Boulder Support Group for Adults with Asperger's Syndrome/HFA
11-Jun-2013
Longmont Coffee Talk Support Group
11-Jun-2013
Support Group for Parents of Adult Children on the Spectrum
12-Jun-2013
Jack's Barnyard Bash
15-Jun-2013
Support Group for Parents of Children with Asperger's/HFA
18-Jun-2013
Social and Support Group for HFA/Asperger's Young Adults (Ages 17-27)
22-Jun-2013
Financial Planning Workshop for Parents of Special Needs Children
26-Jun-2013
Support Group for Parents of Adult Children on the Spectrum
26-Jun-2013
Full Calendar »

The Story Behind Jack's Barnyard Bash

Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 On Saturday, June 15, Chef Brett Smith of Zolo Grill in Boulder, along with a crew of other talented local chefs, will host Jack's Barnyard Bash, an out-of-this-world party and farm-to-table dinner, at Isabelle Farms. The Autism Society of Boulder County and the families we serve in the counties of Boulder and Broomfield are the lucky beneficiaries of this fundraiser. Every dollar generated that afternoon will go to ASBC's Jack Ferrigno Send a Kid to Camp grant program, which will allow more than 30 families to send their children who have autism to therapeutic summer camps.

Brett wanted to let everyone in our community know his connection to autism and how this annual fundraising dinner, created in 2012, came into being. Below is an open letter that he asked us to share:

"We are officially ready to roll on selling tickets for our 2nd annual benefit for the Autism Society of Boulder County. I would like to try and explain why this event is important to me and hopefully help make it more important to you as well.

Jack Ferrigno [after whom the camp grants are named] was the son of my great friend John. I worked for John for several years on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and I consider him a mentor and a very influential person in my life. His son Jack was a beautiful little boy who struggled with autism and a seizure disorder, among other health issues. About six years ago, when he was eight years old, Jack suffered complications from a seizure and tragically passed away.

Erik Rollings was our sous chef here at Zolo for three years. Erik is one of the most talented and hardest working people I have ever been around. His son, Spencer, struggles with autism as well. Erik is not the type of guy to complain, ever, about anything. But it always seemed that in summertime things were more difficult for him and his family. When we talked about it, he explained how his son Spencer had a much harder time in the summer. He was out of school and did not have the structure that school provided him. Erik would try and get him into camps, but found he often had to pay extra because Spencer needed additional attention or camps could not accept him because they were not qualified to provide him care. And just finding a qualified babysitter was incredibly difficult.

So with these two families as our inspiration, we have created the Jack Ferrigno Send a Kid to Camp Grant. Working with the Autism Society, we guarantee that 100 percent of all the funds we raise will go to send area youth to summer camps. This is an incredible relief to the families we help. Many of them are struggling financially because of exorbitant medical bills and they are worried about how to provide care for their children. The grants also give these kids a chance to do something they might not otherwise experience. Last year some kids rode horses, went rafting, learned to swim or just got a chance to play with other kids.

So this is where you come into play. You can directly help us make a difference for these kids and their families. Every single event ticket sold, every prize-drawing ticket sold, helps these families! I thank you for your support and your help in making this event an incredible success.

thank you so much,
Brett (Smitty) Smith"

We are grateful beyond words to Brett Smith for his passion, generosity and commitment to our families.

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ASBC Co-sponsors John Elder Robison Reading This Month

Posted on Monday, May 06, 2013

As part of the tour to promote his new book, John Elder Robison is coming to the Boulder Bookstore on May 19, and ASBC is co-sponsoring this event. Robison, who gained national recognition with his bestselling 2007 memoir Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's, will read excerpts from his new book Raising Cubby: A Father and Son's Adventures with Asperger's, Trains, Tractors, and High Explosives.

This memoir follows an unconventional dad’s relationship with his offbeat son. Robison was diagnosed with Asperger’s at age 40 and approached fatherhood as a series of logic puzzles and jokes. He read electrical engineering manuals to his son Jack (whom John nicknamed Cubby and who was also diagnosed with Asperger's) and told him that wizards turned misbehaving children into stone. This is more than the story of raising a son; it's the story of a father and son who grew up together.

Click here to read the New York Times' review of the book.

What: John Elder Robison reading from Raising Cubby

When: Sunday, May 19, 5 pm

Where: Boulder Bookstore, 1107 Pearl St. (on the Pearl St. Mall), Boulder

Vouchers to attend are $5 and are good for $5 off the author’s featured book or a purchase the day of the event. Vouchers can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling the Boulder Bookstore: 303 447 2074. The store's Readers Guild Members can reserve seats for this event.

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Thanks for Making ASBC's 10th Annual Wine Tasting a Success!

Posted on Wednesday, April 17, 2013

We want to express our gratitude to all of you who attended our fantastic fundraiser on April 6. We're grateful to Centennial Wine and Spirits for the super selection of wines they donated and to the Escoffier School of Culinary Arts for their gourmet appetizers, carving station and assorted sweets, which complemented the wine beautifully and added a new dimension of elegance to our event. ASBC paid tribute to all the autism parents and other unsung heroes--those in the room with us that evening and those who were unable to join us. Then Girls on Top! rocked the house till the end of the night.

Most importantly, we exceeded our fundraising goal this year. What does that mean for members of the local autism community? The $26,000 raised during the event will be used to fund programs that further the three facets of our mission: connection, support and education. This includes funding for 20 free family outings and recreational activities—like the event we held at the WOW! Children's Museum this past weekend, an afternoon of bowling at CU, our Open Gyms at Airborne Gymnastics, and an afternoon of entertainment at Boulder's Gateway Park this summer. We provide these outings so kids with autism can be themselves in a fun, safe, non-judgmental environment and so their parents can relax.

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