Autistic, Neurodivergent & Disabled Artists

Autistic, Neurodivergent & Disabled Artists Autistic, Neurodivergent & Disabled Artists Autistic, Neurodivergent & Disabled Artists Autistic, Neurodivergent & Disabled Artists
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Who We Are

Our Vision

FREE CLASSES

FREE CLASSES

To provide a safe, welcoming, autistic-led space where autistic, neurodivergent, intellectually disabled, and disabled individuals can create, learn, exhibit, and connect through art—free of charge for  fellow Autistic, Neurodivergent, Disabled  Artist's of the Delaware Valley of Philadelphia (which includes other Counties in PA, NJ, DEL 

To provide a safe, welcoming, autistic-led space where autistic, neurodivergent, intellectually disabled, and disabled individuals can create, learn, exhibit, and connect through art—free of charge for  fellow Autistic, Neurodivergent, Disabled  Artist's of the Delaware Valley of Philadelphia (which includes other Counties in PA, NJ, DEL & MD). We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive community that values creativity and artistic expression.

FREE CLASSES

FREE CLASSES

FREE CLASSES

Our FREE art classes provide a welcoming, inclusive space where autistic, neurodivergent, intellectually disabled, and disabled individuals can explore their creativity, learn new skills, and connect with others. No experience is necessary, and participants can create at their own pace in a supportive, judgment-free environment that celebrates self-expression and community.



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Our Impact

FREE CLASSES

Our Impact

Since our founding April 2nd, 2022, The Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia  has made a significant impact with the local Autistic, Neurodivergent & Disabled Artist within Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley of Philadelphia. We have helped to launch the careers of many talented artists, provided accessible cultural experiences to thou

Since our founding April 2nd, 2022, The Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia  has made a significant impact with the local Autistic, Neurodivergent & Disabled Artist within Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley of Philadelphia. We have helped to launch the careers of many talented artists, provided accessible cultural experiences to thousands of people, and contributed to the economic and social vitality of our region. 

Donation

Join us at the Cities of Inclusion: Disability Summit on October 7th and 8th. 

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EVENT.

Register today at the link below!

https://registration.tappin.no/.../phl-disability-summit26

This is a Flyer to Celebrate, Accept, Include this is our Challenge for ALL not just from the AACOP.

Please Click on the LINK to purchase tickets which will go onsite September 1st, 2026 at Midnight. 


here will be Live Music, Art, Live Painting, (3) Selected Vendors, (2) Baskets. Lite Dinner, an area to Dance, Location 3525 I Street on October 10th, 2026,


Please scan QR code for Tickets or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-infinity-ball-2026-tickets-1990850924708

Philly Stake - Bartrum Garden

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Check out our Philly Stake preview to see who will be presenting their amazing ideas to make Philly better on August 23rd!

Presenters include:

Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia 

Philly Qi Foundation

PHLASK App

Skin Hope Initiative

Sara Schwartz & Pete Angevine

Ana Ramos

Trash Academy

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Get your tickets today for Philly Stake and choose your favorite on August 23rd! Link 





Show More

Please Click on the LINK to purchase tickets which will go onsite September 1st, 2026 at Midnight. 


here will be Live Music, Art, Live Painting, (3) Selected Vendors, (2) Baskets. Lite Dinner, an area to Dance, Location 3525 I Street on October 10th, 2026,


Please scan QR code for Tickets or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-infinity-ball-2026-tickets-1990850924708

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Video

"The Neuroinclusion & Autism Acceptance" Mural

Community Paint Day Invitation & Reminder

🎨 COMMUNITY PAINT DAY — INVITATION & REMINDER 🎨

Friday, August 14, 2026 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM

The Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia (AACOP) is inviting members of ALL sections of Philadelphia’s Autistic, Neurodivergent, and Disabled Communities to join us for a special Community Paint Day connected to our mural at the Roberts Center for Advanced Pediatric Research.

This Paint Day will include education, community participation, and a Make-and-Take art project.

But there is something even more special about this mural:

ALL HANDS MATTER. ALL HANDS BELONG. ALL HANDS WILL BE REPRESENTED. ❤️

If you colored a hand-cutout at Autism R.E.C., Tacony events, Prince Hall Elementary School, Edward T. Steel School, the Lucien Blackwell Community Center event, the Salvation Army Autism Acceptance & Neurodiversity event with Mr. Daryl Roberts and the Sheriff’s Office, or any of our other community events — YOUR HAND WILL BE PART OF THIS MURAL.

Every hand will be laminated and presented as part of the Ribbon Cutting Celebration of this mural.

Because THIS MURAL REPRESENTS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY!

“It takes a village to educate a city on Intellectual & Developmental Disability Acceptance, as well as Disability Rights, too.”

And because:

“Our abilities aren't hindered because of our differences. Our worth isn't defined by our neurodiversity. It's our ability to embrace and celebrate those differences.”

🎨 MURAL ARTS REC-CREW — YOU ARE INVITED!

Colleen and Priscilla have mentioned that it is okay for fellow Mural Arts Rec-CREW members to attend.

If Colleen did not personally mention this invitation to everyone, please understand that it may have simply been due to her neurodivergence and everything happening around this project. It was never intentional.

We would love to have our fellow Crew members come out and be part of this community celebration!


❤️ A COMMUNITY EFFORT

This mural has truly been a community effort.

The Roberts Center's Building Manager connected with The Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Colleen R. Ott reached out to Jane Golden of Mural Arts Philadelphia — her former boss from her AmeriCorps service with City Year Philadelphia's founding corps (1997–1998).

Mrs. Jane Golden of Mural Arts Philadelphia, along with Ms. Barbara Baur of the Tacony LAB Community Arts Center, each helped Colleen with questions along the way.

We are grateful for every person who helped this mural come to life.


🎨 THE ARTISTS

Lead Philadelphia Muralist:
Priscilla Bell — a Philadelphia muralist with several murals throughout the city through Mural Arts Philadelphia.


Assistant Philadelphia Muralist:
Michelle Reiman — who has also participated in Community Paint Day efforts, and was an Artist with the #NE250th Team of Artists through The Tacony LAB Community Art Center and Mural Arts Philadelphia.


This Mural is more than paint on a wall.

It is our community.
It is our history.
It is our hands.
It is our voices.
It is our differences.
It is our acceptance.


Many Hands. Many Minds. One Infinite Connection. ♾️


💙❤️💛🧡💚💜<3


The Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia


www.AACOPhilly.org

Mural Design By : Colleen R. Ott our Autistic Founder & CEO an Artists Born & Raised in #Philly215 a Philadelphian.


Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is also known as "The Land of Lenapehoking is the historic ancestral homeland of the Lenape Nation of People."

The 8th Art Exhibition at CHOP/CAR

This Art Exhibition took place at The Robert’s Center of Pediatric Research of CHOP Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia  location 734 Schuylkill Avenue on Saturday, April 25th, 2026 from 1:00PM to 3:30PM. The Art went up an hour before 1:00PM. We had a Mini-Expo (Vendors /Tableing - Of Our Choice) We gave out The Starfish Award (2nd  Award) Given to Council President Kenyatta Johnson, as well as 20 out of 22 Neuroinclusion & Neurodiversity Awards.

Year In Rewind 2025

This video shares with the viewer most of what has happened this year in a quick and short way. We have lost some photographs due to an update, and an unexplained happening with technology.  We hope you enjoy our video. We are working to get the VoiceOver for individuals with vision impairments.

PAST EVENTS

    The Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia, and some of our

    In City Hall Philadelphia from 

    February 28th to April 25th, 2025

    The Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia & the Community Partners -Set-Up, During and Some of the Show .

    The Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia, and some of our

    This is an Award that was first given out on 7-11-2023.   This award is given for individuals who have gone above and beyond with echoing in excellence as it comes to Nurodivergent individuals, and expressing the upmost need to be neurologically involved in the World TODAY. In hopes to create that yet, still tiny ripple of Hope - that WE will continue to be included (Which is the opposite of the action of bullying).   

    Artist: Dwayne Boonie

    Dwayne Boone is a Philadelphia-based artist. Born and raised in Germantown, Dwayne began to draw at an early age and his passion for making art has been a common thread throughout his life. He finds inspiration in both his day-to-day life and people, events, and imagery portrayed in popular media. Often his work both celebrates and interrogates the prevalence of pop culture in American life. His style is influenced by the colorful, lyrical work of post-Impressionists like Matisse and Picasso.

    At Lincoln Financial Field "Cites of Inclusion"

    "Cities of Inclusion," Disability Summit in video of images of The 4th Art Show & 2nd Silent Auction of Thursday, October 10th, 2024, from 8:00AM to 5:00PM. 


    Per the invitation of the State Representatives Joseph C. Hohenstein & his District Office Director Mrs. Tara L. Gontek.

    The AACOPhilly. Express Yourself Group.

    The Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia & Liberty Resources' "Express Yourself," Merged for the 1st time this year of 2024 on July 1st. 


    *This is the most Neuroinclusive location that I know in ALL of  Philadelphia. We meet Thursdays from 1:00PM to 2:30PM. 


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    112 North 8th Street suite 206, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Hotline: 215-934-2116

    Hours

    Mon

    12:00 pm – 05:00 pm

    Tue

    03:30 pm – 08:00 pm

    Wed

    Closed

    Thu

    11:00 am – 05:00 pm

    Fri

    12:00 pm – 05:00 pm

    Sat

    By Appointment

    Sun

    Closed

    The 2nd Art Exhibition of The AACOPhilly

    This Art Exhibition was held inside of The Robert's Center for Advanced Pedatric Research's Center for Autism's Confrence Room & Foyer of the building which was finish being built in 2017. This was the Largest Art Exhibition in this Building.   This Art Ehibition's Goal was to allow for the Artist to have a Safe Space to Display Art, and to be noticed, but above all to have fun, to lable their art at cost too. 

    Art Exhibitions of The AACOPhilly

    The First Art Exhibition of The AACOPhilly

    The theme "Coming Out of a Pandemic" Friday, June 2nd, 2023 from 6:00PM to 9;00PM


    The First Art Exhibition of The Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia Featured speaker portion at 6:30 PM, live arts segment at 6:45 PM which included the rubato school of music's founder of the school, Shana Pistilli. From 7:45 to 9 PM we had music of local artist playing via Spotify and iTunes, who are both autistic and neurodivergent. We had one international artist from Austria, who originally was from Bucks County Pennsylvania, including a total of 23 artist. Held inside of the Mural Arts Philadelphia's, Tacony LAB Community Art Center in the historic section of Tacony.

    The Second Art Exhibition

    Saturday, February 17th, 2024, from 1:00PM to 3:30PM


    Was held inside of The Robert's Center for Advanced Pediatric Research/ Center For Autism Research Building Lobby and Large Conference Room with two screens with artists art work & Local Music Artists of the Delaware Valley of Philadelphia, including live music with The Rubato School of Music.


    Their was an initial conversation that transpired at Temple University with our Autistic Founder & CEO, and the Former Executive Director of Neurodiversity Employment Network Mrs. Cait Russell, who had a nonprofit on the side called, "Sensory Friendly Cities." Prior to the meeting each other at Temple University nice and early for The Disability Summit of  2023. 


    A whole lot of networking which in the end this show produced a Mini-Expo filled with Community Partners who had tables along three of the walls in the large room, a sensory quite area with our Friends from Sensory Friendly Cities. We had the headphones that had three different channels one for each of the screens, and one for white noise because that is sooting for neurodiverse individuals. There were a total of 49 artists, which has included spoken, word, poetry, live arts, as well as visual arts. With over 80 pieces of visual art which includes 2 touch/sensory art.

    The 3rd Art Exhibition & 1st Silent Auction

    Friday, September 6th, 2024, from 6:00PM to 9:00PM.


    Back inside of The Mural Arts Tacony LAB Community Arts Center with the same line-up of our first Art Exhibition with one change. We invited the SPIN (Special People In the Northeast) Inc., Choir instead of the Rubato School of Music who had an event on the day of our show.

    The First Silent Auction of The Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia's artist consist of 8 Artist- with two pieces of art each for the exception of 3 artist. The non-silent auction. - "The Mini-Art Show" consisted of 11 Artist- with a total of 12 pieces of work. Including three Mural Arts Artists.

    The 4th Art Exhibition & 2nd Silent Auction

    Thursday, October 10th, 2024 from 8:00AM to 5:00PM


    Our Theme: "To Make a Wrong, into a Right Move Forward." Inside of Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia, Eagles. Per the invitation of state representative Joseph C. Hohenstein & his District Office Director of the 177th Legislative District of Philadelphia Tara L. Gontek. At the event "Cities of Inclusion" "Disability Summit.


    We took the Silent Auction of our previous show on the road which consisted of 13 Artist's work including an art piece of Priscilla bell Lamberty a Mural Arts Artist, including Barbara Baur who is the Program Manager, Mural Arts Philadelphia's Tacony LAB Community Arts Center of the Historic Section of Tacony, Lower Northeast Philadelphia. 

    The 5th Art Exhibition in City Hall Philadelphia

    For More information please see City Hall Philadelphia's link. The Art Exhibition it in City Hall from February 28th to April 25th, 2025.

    https://www.creativephl.org/exhibition/neuroinclusion-neurodiversity-under-one-roof-the-peoples-roof/

    The 6th Art Exhibition in Tacony, Philadelphia

    Inside of the Mural Arts Philadelphia's Tacony LAB Community Arts Center

    The 7th Art Exhibition in CHOP/CAR

    At the 47th Developmental Disability Conference - Presentation given by The Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia Colleen R. Ott, Liberty Resources Inc., Mary Beth Morgan ILS, & The Mural Arts Philadelphia's Tacony LAB Community Arts Center - Barb Baur -- Invited by Colleen - Because if the AACOP Presents, and LRI in involved - Our Founder Believes we must portray both sides of the AACOP's Foundation. Tacony where the AACOP flies solo when teaching, came before Liberty Resources & Liberty Resources Inc., is a collaboration group - where both 501(c)(3)'s are present. 

    The 8th Art Exhibition in CHOP/CAR

    Over 100 pieces of Art Work, we had Singers, and Awards. Vendors I(Philly Pickle Dude, Jae's Body Butter, Postive Movement & Philly Elmo, n the Mini Expo and Community Partners tables. 

    The Blog of The AACOPhilly

    State Rep. Joseph C. Hohenstein

    Video is taken in the State Capitol of Harrisburg in the Rotunda

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