The Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities (MCBDD) is excited to announce Brooke Olson’s appointment to its Board of Directors. Appointed by the Marion County Commissioners, Olson’s term began in January 2025 and will be eligible for renewal in December 2028.
Brooke Olson and her husband, Lars Olson, founded Alluvial Private Wealth in 2021 as an independent wealth management firm. She currently serves as the company’s Human Resources Director.
Olson has tirelessly advocated for special needs families for over a decade. She co-founded the ITAALK Autism Foundation in 2010 and remains president of the charity today. ITAALK has granted hundreds of iPads and communication devices to individuals with autism. Prioritizing the organization’s focus on education, Brooke has helped educate thousands of parents, teachers, and professionals on best practices in using assistive technology for individuals with autism.
Olson began her educational career at Southern Wesleyan University and ultimately earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Behavior from the University of Sarasota. She is a certified MCPP (Marcus Crisis Prevention Program) and the president of Ability Vending, which she started after winning the Marion Forge small business competition. Ability Vending was established to help create meaningful employment for those in our community with autism.
“There is an eighty-percent unemployment rate for adults with autism. 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 for those with developmental disabilities,” Olson said.
Among her countless efforts and accolades, Olson was chosen by Autism Parenting Magazine (Jan 2025) as one of the 25 Prominent Autism Researchers in the World and also highlighted as number three on the list of the 30 Most Innovative People in Autism Spectrum Disorder Research (2017).
Olson’s passion for autism research and finding avenues for a better life for those with autism comes from personal experience. Her middle child, Amick, has an autism diagnosis. He is now nineteen, and his success is attributed to Brooke and Lars’s never-ending fight for Amick to have the best life.
“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 of her recent appointment. “If there has ever been a volunteer opportunity I’m most passionate about – this position is it. 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. I am honored to be able to serve on the board,” Olson adds.
“Having a parent perspective is critical for County Boards to listen to, learn from, and grow as an agency. Having a board member with Brooke’s expertise and knowledge is a tremendous addition,” Cheryl Plaster, superintendent of the Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities, said of Olson’s appointment. “This strategic appointment reflects MCBDD’s commitment to ensuring the continued advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities in the Marion community.”
The Olson’s have a busy and full household, which includes Lars and Brooke’s parents (yes, all three) and their three children. Their oldest daughter, Lena, is 20 and attends Miami University. She comes home most weekends and is one of Amick’s caregivers. Amick is 19, loves all things trains, and has autism and severe learning disabilities. Their youngest son, Thoren, is eight years old and attends Benjamin Harrison Elementary School.
The family recently took a family vacation to snow ski in Colorado. Brooke said, “I love skiing with my children so much because in 2012, we happened upon an incredible non-profit called Ascendigo (Autism Supports for Extreme Sports), and they gave our family our first real family vacation. We could all participate in the same activity, experiencing fresh air and exercise outside in the middle of winter, and everyone was happy, smiling, and trying new things – together. It is now our happy place, which we all look forward to each year.”
The Olson family also loves to visit friends in Bradenton, Florida. Boating, fishing, and swimming are a few of their favorite things to do together.
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