MARION, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities (MCBDD) has appointed Brooke Olson to its Board of Directors, the agency announced Wednesday.
Olson, co-founder and Human Resources Director of Alluvial Private Wealth, will serve a term that began in January 2025 and is eligible for renewal in December 2028.
Olson has a long history of advocacy for special needs families, including co-founding the ITAALK Autism Foundation in 2010. The foundation has provided hundreds of iPads and communication devices to individuals with autism and has educated thousands on assistive technology.
She also founded Ability Vending, which provides employment for adults with autism, addressing the high unemployment rate in that population.
“I’m passionate about employment for those with developmental disabilities and hope to contribute to the board’s success in working with business partners in the community to create meaningful employment,” Olson said.
Olson’s advocacy is rooted in personal experience. Her middle child, Amick, has autism and severe learning disabilities.
“I’m excited to be the voice of a parent while serving on the Board of Directors for the Marion County Board of DD,” Olson said. “Very few opportunities impact my family more than the Board of DD. We value this agency and appreciate the support they provide to the community so immensely and I am honored to be able to serve on the board.”
Cheryl Plaster, superintendent of the MCBDD, praised Olson’s appointment.
“Having a parent perspective is critical for County Boards to listen to, learn from, and grow as an agency,” Plaster said. “Having a board member with Brooke’s expertise and knowledge is a tremendous addition.”
Olson was named one of the 25 Prominent Autism Researchers in the World by Autism Parenting Magazine in January 2025 and was ranked third on the 2017 list of the 30 Most Innovative People in Autism Spectrum Disorder Research.
Olson, her husband Lars, and their three children reside in Marion County.