November 30 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Whether you live independently or it is one of your future goals, being able to confidently navigate your way around a kitchen and cook healthy meals are important life skills.
Preparing your own meals helps you to save money, control portion sizes, and make choices that match your nutritional needs. Most importantly, being able to cook for and feed yourself (and others!) builds self-sufficiency, confidence and can even be a creative outlet or social activity.
The theme for this class is Breakfast for Dinner! The menu is frittata with hashbrowns.
While cooking dinner together, participants will learn:
- The importance of good hygiene
- Cleanliness in the kitchen and the importance of preventing cross-contamination
- The proper use of kitchen utensils
- How to properly measure and prepare food, and
- How to work well with others in a team environment
As only light support is provided by staff, participants need to be able to follow instructions, must be willing to work in a small group to prepare the meal, and are expected to help with clean up after the session.
Please note: If you have dietary allergies or restrictions, our staff need to know this in advance of the class. *Once your registration is confirmed, please email info@sinneavefoundation.org with details.
Space in this activity is limited. Participants must apply and be accepted into the session.
About the Presenter:
Kieren Padilla (they/them) is a community-minded trained chef with over 10 years of combined cooking experience in banquet events, high concept hotels, and elevated dining. Kieren has learned to work with their needs, building systems for easier neuro-friendly home cooking.
They hope to inspire others to reshape traditional cooking practices into something uniquely their own and transform kitchens into accessible, shame-free spaces. Their passion stems from the fact that everyone deserves to eat, no matter what, with a belief that “fed is always best.” And if Kieren could be fed with a meal, the “best” would be a comforting bowl of Katsudon Curry.
If you have questions, reach out to info@sinneavefoundation.org or call 403 210-5000. We’re here to help.
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve.
Related Events
November 3 @ 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm
*New and improved* this workshop combines entry and exit conversation strategies into a single, streamlined skill group. We’ve designed this experience to be safe, fun, and entirely practical. You will gain actionable communication tools without the pressure to mask, perform, or participate in uncomfortable role-plays.
In this workshop, participants will gain the skills and knowledge to:
- Enter and exit conversations more confidently
- Practice strategies discussed in the workshop
- Increase confidence and feel empowered in their social abilities.
This workshop is designed to provide Autistic and neurodivergent individuals with opportunities to learn and practice a variety of social communication skills in a safe and welcoming setting. Participants will be provided with information, tips, and strategies that they can choose to apply common day-to-day social situations.
About the Presenter:
Mara Jaffray is an Autistic self-advocate, currently working as a Program Facilitator at the Sinneave Family Foundation.
If you have questions, reach out to info@sinneavefoundation.org or call 403 210-5000. We’re here to help.
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve.
Related Events
October 19 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Whether you live independently or it is one of your future goals, being able to confidently navigate your way around a kitchen and cook healthy meals are important life skills.
Preparing your own meals helps you to save money, control portion sizes, and make choices that match your nutritional needs. Most importantly, being able to cook for and feed yourself (and others!) builds self-sufficiency, confidence and can even be a creative outlet or social activity.
The menu for this class is Chicken Quesadilla and a Garden Salad.
While cooking dinner together, participants will learn:
- The importance of good hygiene
- Cleanliness in the kitchen and the importance of preventing cross-contamination
- The proper use of utensils
- How to properly measure and prepare food, and
- How to work well with others in a team environment
As only light support is provided by staff, participants need to be able to follow instructions, must be willing to work in a small group to prepare the meal, and are expected to help with clean up after the session.
Please note: If you have dietary allergies or restrictions, our staff need to know this in advance of the class. *Once your registration is confirmed, please email info@sinneavefoundation.org with details.
Space in this activity is limited. Participants must apply and be accepted into the session.
About the Presenter:
Nathaniel Anderson is a 26-year-old cook from Calgary, where he has lived his entire life. He is a former participant of the Launch + Skills program, which he found extremely valuable. As a way of giving back, he hopes to use his skills and experiences to support others who may also need help.
Nathaniel began cooking at the age of 14 and has been working professionally for 3 years. During this time, he has gained experience in nearly every aspect of the job, including prepping ingredients, making cold salads, grilling, sautéing pastas and other dishes, and plating meals for both events and regular service. Outside of work, he enjoys playing video games and has a strong interest in history and music.
If you have questions, reach out to info@sinneavefoundation.org or call 403 210-5000. We’re here to help.
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve.
Related Events
October 28 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Self-advocacy is expressing your needs and preferences in a way that ensures your voice is heard in the decisions that impact your life.
In this session, building on what was covered in sessions 1 and 2, attendees will learn practical tips and strategies that will help in effectively communicating about your needs with others.
When you have an understanding of what’s important to you, you can clearly communicate, set boundaries, and make decisions that align with your beliefs and goals.
This is 1 of 3 self-advocacy workshops designed to provide Autistic and other neurodivergent youth and adults (age 15+) with opportunities to learn about self-advocacy and practice skills that are essential to learning to speak up for yourself confidently.
Other upcoming self-advocacy workshops include:
The Art of Knowing Yourself – Wednesday, October 14
Learn what self-advocacy is and how it can benefit you. The content of this workshop will help you understand your strengths and some of the barriers you may face. This knowledge will enhance your ability to self-advocate.
Starting the Conversation – Wednesday, October 21
Learn tips and strategies for you to practice communicating your needs with others and learn how you can effectively start conversations about your needs.
About the presenter:
Cedric Nicholson is a certified professional life coach with over 20 years of experience mentoring, coaching, and supporting individuals in the developmental disability field. For the past 7.5 years, he has been proudly employed with the Sinneave Family Foundation. Cedric is passionate about empowering others to set meaningful goals, create effective plans, and take purposeful steps toward personal growth and self-improvement.
If you have questions, reach out to info@sinneavefoundation.org or call 403 210-5000. We’re here to help.
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve.
Related Events
October 21 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Self-advocacy is expressing your needs and preferences in a way that ensures your voice is heard in the decisions that impact your life.
Building on what was covered in the first self-advocacy session (October 14), this session will provide tips and strategies for participants to apply when communicating their needs to others, as well as learn how to effectively start conversations about their needs.
This is 1 of 3 self-advocacy workshops designed to provide Autistic and other neurodivergent youth and adults (age 15+) with opportunities to learn about self-advocacy and practice skills that are essential to learning to speak up for yourself confidently.
Other upcoming self-advocacy workshops include:
The Art of Knowing Yourself – Wednesday, October 14
Learn what self-advocacy is and how it can benefit you. The content will help you understand your strengths and some of the barriers you may face. This knowledge will enhance your ability to self-advocate.
Finding Your Voice – Wednesday, October 28
Learn practical tips and strategies to help negotiate and discuss how you can have your needs met in your current environment. There will also be an opportunity to summarize and apply everything we have learned up to this point.
About the presenter:
Cedric Nicholson is a certified professional life coach with over 20 years of experience mentoring, coaching, and supporting individuals in the developmental disability field. For the past 7.5 years, he has been proudly employed with the Sinneave Family Foundation. Cedric is passionate about empowering others to set meaningful goals, create effective plans, and take purposeful steps toward personal growth and self-improvement
If you have questions, reach out to info@sinneavefoundation.org or call 403 210-5000. We’re here to help.
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve.
Related Events
October 21 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Our Employment Classroom workshops cover many topics related to finding a job, keeping a job, and thriving in the workplace. This includes employment preparedness, life skills, and soft skills for the workplace.
In this workshop, participants will:
- Expand on their understanding of self, their personality, and areas of strength
- Identify areas of interest
- Learn how greater understanding of these can help you to find a job suited to your skills, abilities, and interests
- Learn how to search industries and roles that are a good match for you.
This workshop combines classroom instruction and time to practice what you’ve learned with support from the facilitators, if needed. Attendees to these workshops must be able to participate independently.
Please note: These classes are limited to 15 attendees. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. *If the course is full, you will be added to a waitlist. Please do not attend until your registration has been confirmed by our staff.
About our Facilitator:
Marcela Montes-Lobos is an EmploymentWorks online facilitator at The Sinneave Family Foundation and is a late-diagnosed Hispanic neurodivergent adult who has embraced her unique diversity as well as her family’s. Having lived experience in language barriers, as well as other barriers that many neurodivergent folks face in life, she decided mid-life to return to school, leaving a career in the airline industry and becoming an Addiction and Disability Support Worker. She is passionate about creating safe spaces, always encouraging participants’ autonomy, curiosity and empowering them on their journey.
If you have questions, reach out to info@sinneavefoundation.org or call our office at (403) 210-5000. We’re here to help!
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve.
Related Events
October 7 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Our Employment Classroom workshops cover many topics related to finding a job, keeping a job, and thriving in the workplace. This includes employment preparedness, life skills, and soft skills for the workplace.
In this workshop, participants will:
- Learn about their traits and personality and examine what they want to get out of work and a job
- Understand their natural skills, values, and motivations
- Learn what is required to set realistic and fulfilling employment goals
Increased understanding of self and your strengths can lead to a more satisfying and successful career journey.
This workshop combines classroom instruction and time to practice what you’ve learned with support from the facilitators, if needed. Attendees to these workshops must be able to participate independently.
Please note: These classes are limited to 15 attendees. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. *If the course is full, you will be added to a waitlist. Please do not attend until your registration has been confirmed by our staff.
About our Facilitator:
Marcela Montes-Lobos is an EmploymentWorks online facilitator at The Sinneave Family Foundation and is a late-diagnosed Hispanic neurodivergent adult who has embraced her unique diversity as well as her family’s. Having lived experience in language barriers, as well as other barriers that many neurodivergent folks face in life, she decided mid-life to return to school, leaving a career in the airline industry and becoming an Addiction and Disability Support Worker. She is passionate about creating safe spaces, always encouraging participants’ autonomy, curiosity and empowering them on their journey.
If you have questions, reach out to info@sinneavefoundation.org or call our office at (403) 210-5000. We’re here to help!
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve.
Related Events
September 22 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Our Navigating Bullying and Neurodivergence workshops are for Autistic and other neurodivergent individuals who want to build practical skills to understand, respond to, and help prevent bullying.
Together, we will explore why bullying happens, how to recognize it in different settings (including online and in the workplace), and how it uniquely affects neurodivergent people. These interactive sessions offer hands-on activities to practice strategies in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Please note: This is a skill-building series and not a bullying support group, or a substitute for professional mental health or crisis support. If you need immediate assistance, please visit Alberta.ca for resources.
Attendance at all the workshops is not mandatory, but we strongly encourage you to attend all 3 to most benefit from the content.
In Session 3: Putting it Into Practice, we will discuss:
- Noticing bullying behaviour in yourself
- What to do if you witness bullying
- How to help someone who is being bullied
- Ways to prevent future bullying
- Plus, additional supports and anti-bullying resources.
Mark your calendar. Other Navigating Bullying and Neurodivergence workshops include:
Session 1: Understanding Bullying – Tuesday, September 8
Participants will learn about bullying, including why it happens, and the different types and places bullying takes place. We will learn the difference between bullying and conflict, harassment and discrimination. We will also look at how bullying specifically affects Autistic people.
Session 2: Building Your Skills – Tuesday, September 15
Participants will learn about the things that contribute to and prevent bullying. We will also discuss what to do if you’re being bullied, including how to cope, and how to deal with the bully.
About the Presenter:
Yonatan Tesfagiorgis is a Life Skills Coach with The Sinneave Family Foundation. He has more than a decade of experience working with Autistic and other neurodivergent adults.
If you have questions, reach out to info@sinneavefoundation.org or call (403) 210-5000. We’re here to help.
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve.
Related Events
September 15 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Our Navigating Bullying and Neurodivergence workshops are for Autistic and other neurodivergent individuals who want to build practical skills to understand, respond to, and help prevent bullying.
Together, we will explore why bullying happens, how to recognize it in different settings (including online and in the workplace), and how it uniquely affects neurodivergent people. These interactive sessions offer hands-on activities to practice strategies in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Please note: This is a skill-building series and not a bullying support group, or a substitute for professional mental health or crisis support. If you need immediate assistance, please visit Alberta.ca for resources.
Attendance at all the workshops is not mandatory, but we strongly encourage you to attend all 3 to most benefit from the content.
In Session 2: Building Your Skills, we will discuss:
- Things that contribute to and prevent bullying
- What to do if you’re being bullied
- Ways to deal with a bully
- Ways to cope with being bullied
Mark your calendar. Other Navigating Bullying and Neurodivergence workshops include:
Session 1: Understanding Bullying – Tuesday, September 8
Participants will learn about bullying, including why it happens, and the different types and places bullying takes place. We will learn the difference between bullying and conflict, harassment and discrimination. We will also look at how bullying specifically affects Autistic people.
Session 3: Putting It Into Practice – Tuesday, September 22
Participants will take the things they have learned and look inward, noticing bullying behaviours you may have. We will also discuss what to do if you witness bullying, how to help someone who is being bullied, and ways to prevent future bullying.
About the Presenter:
Yonatan Tesfagiorgis is a Life Skills Coach with The Sinneave Family Foundation. He has more than a decade of experience working with Autistic and other neurodivergent adults.
If you have questions, reach out to info@sinneavefoundation.org or call (403) 210-5000. We’re here to help.
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve.
Related Events
September 8 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Our Navigating Bullying and Neurodivergence workshops are for Autistic and other neurodivergent individuals who want to build practical skills to understand, respond to, and help prevent bullying.
Together, we will explore why bullying happens, how to recognize it in different settings (including online and in the workplace), and how it uniquely affects neurodivergent people. These interactive sessions offer hands-on activities to practice strategies in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Please note: This is a skill-building series and not a bullying support group, or a substitute for professional mental health or crisis support. If you need immediate assistance, please visit Alberta.ca for resources.
Attendance at all the workshops is not mandatory, but we strongly encourage you to attend all 3 to most benefit from the content.
In Session 1: Understanding Bullying, we will discuss:
- Different types and places bullying happen
- Why bullying happens
- Autism and bullying
- Bullying vs. conflict, harassment, and discrimination
- How bullying affects people
- Practicing what we’ve learned
Mark your calendar. Other Navigating Bullying and Neurodivergence workshops include:
Session 2: Building Your Skills – Tuesday, September 15
Participants will learn about the things that contribute to and prevent bullying. We will also discuss what to do if you’re being bullied, including how to cope, and how to deal with the bully.
Session 3: Putting It Into Practice – Tuesday, September 22
Participants will take the things they have learned and look inward, noticing bullying behaviours you may have. We will also discuss what to do if you witness bullying, how to help someone who is being bullied, and ways to prevent future bullying.
About the Presenter:
Yonatan Tesfagiorgis is a Life Skills Coach with The Sinneave Family Foundation. He has more than a decade of experience working with Autistic and other neurodivergent adults.
If you have questions, reach out to info@sinneavefoundation.org or call (403) 210-5000. We’re here to help.
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve.