November 5 @ 5:00 pm 6:30 pm

Do you find it difficult to communicate when someone disagrees with you? In this workshop, we will talk about conflict and share tips to help you keep your cool when you are in the middle of a disagreement, as well as provide strategies to help you work through it.

This is one of several workshops designed to provide Autistic and neurodivergent individuals opportunities to learn and practice essential social communication skills in a safe and welcoming setting. Each 90-minute workshop covers a different aspect of social communication, providing information, tips and strategies intended to help in day-to-day social situations.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Online via Sinneave Connects

There is no cost to attend these sessions. If you register in advance you’ll be notified of any last minute changes to the schedule, but you can also just drop-in. Attend them all or just the ones that seem interesting to you.

This workshop is virtual, via Sinneave Connects, our online learning hub. If you already have a Connects account, just log in as usual. If you have not registered yet, it’s free and easy! Click the button that says “Sinneave Connects” to access the hub and follow the instructions on the log-in screen.

  1. Create a password (don’t forget to save it someplace handy)
  2. Create a user name
  3. Select “Register”
  4. Select the “Social Communication Workshop: Handling Disagreements – November 5, 2025” course and enroll.

About the Presenter:

Cedric Nicholson is a Life Skills Coach with The Sinneave Family Foundation where he is passionate about empowering others to set meaningful goals, create effective plans, and take purposeful steps toward personal growth and self-improvement. He is a certified professional life coach with over 20 years of experience mentoring, coaching, and supporting individuals in the developmental disability field.

If you have any questions about these workshops or if you need help navigating Sinneave Connects, please reach out by email at info@sinneavefoundation.org OR call us at 403 210-5000. We’re here to help.

September 18 @ 5:30 pm 7:00 pm

Do you find it difficult to communicate when someone disagrees with you? In this workshop, we’ll talk about conflict and share tips to help you keep your cool when you’re in the middle of a disagreement, as well as provide strategies to help you work through it.

This is one of several workshops designed to provide Autistic and neurodivergent individuals opportunities to learn and practice essential social communication skills in a safe and welcoming setting. Each 90-minute workshop covers a different aspect of social communication, providing information, tips and strategies intended to help in day-to-day social situations.

Thursday, September 18, 2025
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Online via Sinneave Connects

There is no cost to attend these sessions. If you register in advance you’ll be notified of any last minute changes to the schedule, but you can also just drop-in. Attend them all or just the ones that seem interesting to you.

This workshop is virtual, via Sinneave Connects, our online learning hub. If you already have a Connects account, just log in as usual. If you have not registered yet, it’s free and easy! Click the button that says “Sinneave Connects” to access the hub and follow the instructions on the log-in screen.

  1. Create a password (don’t forget to save it someplace handy)
  2. Create a user name
  3. Select “Register”
  4. Select the “Social Communication Workshop: Handling Disagreements – September 18, 2025” course and enroll.


If you have any questions about these workshops or if you need help navigating Sinneave Connects, please reach out by email at info@sinneavefoundation.org OR call us at 403 210-5000. We’re here to help.

August 7 @ 5:00 pm 6:30 pm

Do you find it difficult to communicate when someone disagrees with you? In this workshop, we’ll talk about conflict and share tips to help you keep your cool when you’re in the middle of a disagreement, as well as provide strategies to help you work through it.

This is one of several workshops designed to provide Autistic and neurodivergent individuals opportunities to learn and practice essential social communication skills in a safe and welcoming setting. Each 90-minute workshop covers a different aspect of social communication, providing information, tips and strategies intended to help in day-to-day social situations.

Thursday, August 7, 2025
5:00 – 6:30 pm
Online via Sinneave Connects

There is no cost to attend these sessions. If you register in advance you’ll be notified of any last minute changes to the schedule, but you can also just drop-in. Attend them all or just the ones that seem interesting to you.

This workshop is virtual, via Sinneave Connects, our online learning hub. If you already have a Connects account, just log in as usual. If you have not registered yet, it’s free and easy! Click the button that says “Sinneave Connects” to access the hub and follow the instructions on the log-in screen.

  1. Create a user name
  2. Create a password (don’t forget to save it someplace handy)
  3. Select “Register”
  4. Select the “Social Communication Workshop: Handling Disagreements” course and enroll.

About the Presenter:

Sanique Denton is a Life Skills Coach at The Sinneave Family Foundation and has been working with neurodivergent and Autistic individuals for over 10 years. She has experience teaching and enhancing communication skills for Autistic individuals across their life span. Sanique is passionate about fostering an inclusive community and supporting individuals to thrive and reach their full potential.


If you have any questions about these workshops or if you need help navigating Sinneave Connects, please reach out by email at info@sinneavefoundation.org OR call us at 403 210-5000. We’re here to help.

July 29, 2024 @ 4:00 pm 5:00 pm

If you thought your task would be a “piece of cake,” but now you’ve “bitten off more than you can chew” and want to “call it a day” we would understand if you were perplexed.

Phrases of Confusion (also known as idioms) are multi-word expressions that have non-literal meanings, which can often only be figured out by using contextual information.

Idioms can be heard everywhere: in the workplace, at school, at the local bar, and even at home. Each language has its own set of unique idioms, but they don’t often translate well. And, if you aren’t familiar with them, they can leave a person feeling very confused.

Unfortunately, the literal meaning is never the correct meaning of what the speaker is trying to get across.

Good communication is already difficult enough for some Autistic individuals, so finding a solution for learning idioms is important.

In this fun and interactive session, participants will learn about and discuss some common idiomatic expressions and be able to understand and identify idioms, learning tips, and strategies to predict the meanings of many of them.

Monday, July 29, 2024

4:00 – 5:00 p.m. at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24th Avenue NW)

or Online via Sinneave Connects

If you already have a Sinneave Connects account, just log in as usual. If you haven’t yet opened a FREE account, it’s easy! Click on the words that say, “Sinneave Connects” below to be directed to the portal.

  1. Pick a user name
  2. Pick a password
  3. Register
  4. Select the “Phrased & Confused” event to access the online link

Sinneave Connects

About the Presenter:

Sherry Taylor is a Program Coordinator with the EmploymentWorks program at Sinneave and is passionate about developing fun and engaging curriculum and content for Autistic youth & adults. With more than 15 years experience in the not-for-profit sector, she loves empowering people to reach their full potential by giving them practical tools for navigating daily life.

If you have questions about this event or need technical support navigating Sinneave Connects, please email us at info@sinneavefoundation.org or call 403 210-5000.

300, 3820 24th Avenue NW
Calgary, Alberta T3B 2X9 Canada
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(403) 210-5000
View Venue Website
We know that starting a conversation or joining in a conversation that is already underway can be difficult. 
Join us Tuesday, February 6, 2024 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. to learn and practice a few strategies to help you enter into conversations more confidently.

This session is one of a series of six drop-in workshops designed to provide Autistic and neurodivergent individuals opportunities to learn and practice essential social communication skills. Each 90-minute workshop covers a different aspect of social communication, providing information, tips and strategies to help Autistic and neurodivergent individuals to connect and thrive in social situations.

All workshops are in-person at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Avenue NW).

There is no cost to attend these sessions.

Advance registration is not required – you can attend them all (we recommend this!) or just the ones that seem interesting to you.

All sessions begin promptly at 4:00 p.m.

If attending in-person presents a barrier for you, you can also choose to attend virtually via Sinneave Connects, our online learning portal. Sinneave Connects is FREE, but you must create an account to use it.

If you already have a Connects account, just log in as usual. If you have not registered yet, it’s easy! Click the button below that says “Sinneave Connects” to access the portal and follow these steps:

  1. Create a user name
  2. Create a password (don’t forget to save it someplace handy)
  3. Select “Register”
  4. Choose the Drop-in Workshop 2 – Strategies for Entering Conversations course to access the virtual link.

Drop-in Workshop – Strategies for Entering Conversations: Easy ways to start or join social conversations

Other Social Communication Workshop topics include:

Non-verbal Communication: Learning how to tell if others want to talk with you
Do you find it challenging to know if people are interested and willing to talk with you? In this session, we’ll talk about non-verbal communication and learn some of the visual cues and strategies you can use to find out.

Strategies for Entering Conversations: Easy ways to start or join social conversations
We know that starting a conversation or joining in a conversation that is already underway can be difficult. In this session, we’ll learn and practice a few strategies to help you enter into conversations more confidently.

Strategies for Exiting Conversations: Easy ways to end or leave a conversation
How do you end or leave a conversation when it’s time to go? In this session, we’ll talk about strategies you can learn and practice to help you leave a conversation or end a conversation in tactful ways.

Electronic Communication: Strategies for managing electronic communication and  and maintaining good mental health
Technology is rapidly changing and advancing. While we embrace the good things it has to offer, it has also introduced many new challenges. In this session, we’ll talk about the implications of online safety and discuss strategies for navigating electronic communication and maintaining good mental health in the process.

Establishing Social Connections: 5 Pro-tips for developing social relationships in your community
Meeting new people and making friends isn’t always easy. In this session, we’ll share 5 tips you can practice and use when it comes to making friends and maintaining social relationships.

Handling Disagreements in communication: Tips for keeping your cool
Do you find it difficult to communicate when someone disagrees with you? In this session, we’ll talk about conflict and share tips to help you keep your cool when you’re in the middle of a disagreement, as well as provide strategies to help you work through it.

If you have any questions about these workshops or if you need help navigating the Sinneave Connects online learning portal, please reach out by email at info@sinneavefoundation.org OR call us at 403 210-5000. We’re here for you!