In each Women’s Group, we provide timely information on topics that are important to autistic women. These sessions are intended to provide a safe space for women to connect, ask questions, share stories and enjoy valuable peer connection.

In this particular session, we’ll continue talking about relationships with a focus on professional relationships, friendships in the workplace, boundary setting and tips and tricks for socializing at work.

*Please note: All are welcome no matter how you identify, however, please be aware that information and resources provided are based on female assigned at birth. All gender expressions are welcome.

Join us Thursday, October 26, 2023

4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24th Avenue NW Calgary, AB)

If you would like to attend this session, but getting to The Ability Hub in person is a barrier for you, you can also attend online via Sinneave Connects, our online learning platform.

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 the button below to be directed to the portal.

Pick a user name
Pick a password (Don’t forget to record it somewhere safe for next time!)
Register!
Choose the “Women & Autism – October Women’s Group” event to enroll and access the virtual link.

Women & Autism – October Women’s Group

If you have any questions about this session, or need help navigating Sinneave Connects, please contact us by emailing info@sinneavefoundation.org or calling 403 210-5000. We’re here to help!

Please note: While advance registration is not necessary for most of our Learning & Connection activities (you are welcome to just drop-in), IF you do pre-register it helps us in our planning AND allows us to notify you in the event of a last-minute change or cancellation. Either way, we’d love to see you!

About the Presenter: Kristen Coglon has more than nine years of experience supporting adults on the spectrum to find community and thrive in their every day lives. She works as a Life Skills Coach with The Sinneave Family Foundation and is passionate about creating supportive and safe spaces for neurodivergent women to come together, share experiences, stories, resources and peer connection. Her hope is to foster a long-lasting community of women who support each other.

P.S. The quick access button to Sinneave Connects is on the upper right corner of our Homepage.

A screen grab of sinneavefoundation.org homepage with an arrow pointing to the Sinneave Connects button in the upper right corner

We know that finding and maintaining meaningful employment has many benefits–from increased confidence, performance and productivity to better mental health and wellbeing.

Here at Sinneave, we are passionate about coming alongside autistic and neurodivergent job seekers to assist them on their employment journeys. Whether you have a formal diagnosis or not, if you’re interested in improving your job prospects, consider joining us for FREE Drop-in Employment Support sessions in November.

Wednesdays, November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Avenue NW)

If attending in-person isn’t possible for you, there is also the option of attending virtually via Sinneave Connects, our online learning hub.

Attendees will benefit from connecting with experienced professionals who understand neurodiversity and will help identify strengths, interests and potential career paths.

There is no formal agenda to the sessions. Participants are welcome to bring their curiosity and questions, resumes and cover letters. Our employment specialists will focus on helping you to develop essential pre-employment skills, including:

creating an effective resume
learning and practicing interview techniques
workplace communication
and more!

Receive personalized guidance and learn more about how to successfully navigate the job search journey and the world of work.

Our goal is to create an inclusive and supportive environment where neurodivergent individuals can access resources, gain valuable insights and enhance their employability, confidence and career prospects.

There is no cost for these sessions and you don’t need to register in advance, just drop-in.

To access the virtual link, you will need a free Sinneave Connects account. If you already have one, just log in to the portal as usual. If you are not yet registered, it’s easy. When you click the button below it will direct you to the portal.

Pick a username
Pick a password (don’t forget to save it somewhere for next time!)
Select “Register”
Choose the “Drop-in Employment Support – November 8” course and enroll to access the virtual link.

Drop-in Employment Support – November 8

About the Presenters: Meet the Sinneave Employment Team: Ian, Sherry and Ryan. They are a dedicated group of professionals committed to empowering neurodivergent individuals on their journeys towards meaningful employment and career success.

P.S. Did you know you can access Sinneave Connects directly from our Homepage? Just look for the icon in the top right corner.

A screen grab of sinneavefoundation.org homepage with an arrow pointing to the Sinneave Connects button in the upper right corner

We know that finding and maintaining meaningful employment has many benefits–from increased confidence, performance and productivity to better mental health and wellbeing.

Wednesdays, November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Avenue NW)

If attending in-person isn’t possible for you, there is also the option of attending virtually via Sinneave Connects, our online learning hub.

Attendees will benefit from connecting with experienced professionals who understand neurodiversity and will help identify strengths, interests and potential career paths.

creating an effective resume
learning and practicing interview techniques
workplace communication
and more!

Receive personalized guidance and learn more about how to successfully navigate the job search journey and the world of work.

There is no cost for these sessions and you don’t need to register in advance, just drop-in.

Pick a username
Pick a password (don’t forget to save it somewhere for next time!)
Select “Register”
Choose the “Drop-in Employment Support – November 1” course and enroll to access the virtual link.

Drop-in Employment Support – November 1

P.S. Did you know you can access Sinneave Connects directly from our Homepage? Just look for the icon in the top right corner.

A screen grab of sinneavefoundation.org homepage with an arrow pointing to the Sinneave Connects button in the upper right corner

We know that finding and maintaining meaningful employment has many benefits–from increased confidence, performance and productivity to better mental health and wellbeing.

Wednesdays, October 4, 11, 18 and 25.

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Avenue NW)

If attending in-person isn’t possible for you, there is also the option of attending virtually via Sinneave Connects, our online learning hub.

Attendees will benefit from connecting with experienced professionals who understand neurodiversity and will help identify strengths, interests and potential career paths.

creating an effective resume
learning and practicing interview techniques
workplace communication
and more!

Receive personalized guidance and learn more about how to successfully navigate the job search journey and the world of work.

There is no cost for these sessions and you don’t need to register in advance, just drop-in.

Pick a username
Pick a password (don’t forget to save it somewhere for next time!)
Select “Register”
Choose the “Drop-in Employment Support – October 25” course and enroll to access the virtual link.

Drop-in Employment Support – October 25

P.S. Did you know you can access Sinneave Connects directly from our Homepage? Just look for the icon in the top right corner.

A screen grab of sinneavefoundation.org homepage with an arrow pointing to the Sinneave Connects button in the upper right corner

We know that finding and maintaining meaningful employment has many benefits–from increased confidence, performance and productivity to better mental health and wellbeing.

Wednesdays, October 4, 11, 18 and 25.

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Avenue NW)

If attending in-person isn’t possible for you, there is also the option of attending virtually via Sinneave Connects, our online learning hub.

Attendees will benefit from connecting with experienced professionals who understand neurodiversity and will help identify strengths, interests and potential career paths.

creating an effective resume
learning and practicing interview techniques
workplace communication
and more!

Receive personalized guidance and learn more about how to successfully navigate the job search journey and the world of work.

There is no cost for these sessions and you don’t need to register in advance, just drop-in.

Pick a username
Pick a password (don’t forget to save it somewhere for next time!)
Select “Register”
Choose the “Drop-in Employment Support – October 18” course and enroll to access the virtual link.

Drop-in Employment Support – October 18

P.S. Did you know you can access Sinneave Connects directly from our Homepage? Just look for the icon in the top right corner.

A screen grab of sinneavefoundation.org homepage with an arrow pointing to the Sinneave Connects button in the upper right corner

You’re invited to join the Art of Parenting…with Autism.

Each Art of Parenting session focuses on different aspects of parenting through the lens of being autistic and/or parenting autistic children. Through a short presentation, discussion and activities, participants will receive encouragement, support and practical short and long term strategies for navigating parenting in the healthiest way possible, with a focus on self-care and compassion.

This particular session will cover the issues that sometimes arise around sleep, coping strategies for co-occurring conditions such as ADHD, and the importance of self-care for parents and caregivers amid the day-to-day challenges of life.

These sessions intend to educate, empower and encourage parents on their journey, as well as create a safe community of ongoing support.

If you are an autistic parent, or the parent of an autistic child, you will benefit from this information and the connection of others who share similar experiences.

Join us Thursday, October 19 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

This session is FREE and entirely virtual, via our Sinneave Connects online learning platform.

If you already have a Sinneave Connects account, just log in as usual. If you haven’t yet opened an account, it’s easy! Click the button below that says, “The Art of Parenting – October 19” to be directed to the portal and follow the prompts.

Pick a user name
Pick a password (Don’t forget to record it somewhere safe for next time!)
Select “Register”
Choose “The Art of Parenting – October 19” and enroll.

The Art of Parenting – October 19

If you have any questions about this event or if you need support navigating the Sinneave Connects learning hub, please email info@sinneavefoundation.org or call 403 210-5000. We’re here to help!

Please note: While advance registration is not necessary for most of our Learning & Connection activities (you are welcome to just drop-in), IF you do pre-register it helps us in our planning AND allows us to notify you in the event of a last-minute change or cancellation. Either way, we’d love to see you!

P.S. The quick access button to Sinneave Connects is on the upper right corner of our Homepage.

A screen grab of sinneavefoundation.org homepage with an arrow pointing to the Sinneave Connects button in the upper right corner

About the Presenter: Joannie Rosevear is a neurodivergent mother of five beautiful children. She is passionate about supporting and encouraging other families so they don’t feel alone in their journey. Her personal experience in parenting children both on and off the spectrum informs the work she does as a Program Facilitator with The Sinneave Family Foundation, knowing that, while books, resources and professionals are helpful, connecting with someone with lived experience and who “gets it” can be truly empowering.

Be a catalyst for change in your workplace, school, community and beyond!

Learn six key principles that create and foster environments where everyone can thrive.

You’re invited to join us, in collaboration with our friends at AIDE Canada, for a webinar aimed at Building Understanding and Informing Action.

While our primary focus is on enhancing the experiences of Autistic individuals in their day-to-day life, these six principles are broadly applicable and beneficial to anyone who wants to create safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces.

Presented virtually, Wednesday, September 13 at 11 a.m. Mountain time (10 a.m. Pacific time)

When you click on the button below, you will be directed to AIDE Canada’s website to register and access the virtual event.

Building Understanding, Informing Action

A little about the Presenter

Jay Haukenfrers (she/her) is the Learning and Connection Coordinator for the Sinneave Family Foundation. She oversees Sinneave’s Information and Navigation Service, which provides resources to self-advocates, parents and professionals. Jay also supports with knowledge exchange activities, including community engagement, presentations, workshops and digital content. Jay has a Bachelors of Arts, with a focus in music and psychology. She has had the honour to offer support to diverse vulnerable populations for 10 years including families and kids in crisis, young people with disabilities pursue post-secondary education, adults with disabilities and co-occurring health challenges, and currently, supporting autistic and neurodivergent youth and adults with the transition to adulthood. She is excited to share more about how to make more places and spaces welcoming for autistic and neurodivergent people of all ages!

A little about AIDE Canada

At its core, the Autism and/or Intellectual Disability Knowledge Exchange Network (AIDE Canada) is a tool to connect members of our community to the information and resources that they need. We deliver credible, reliable, and evidence-informed resources in an unbiased and accessible way.

Is independent living one of your goals? Whether it’s a short term goal and you’re planning to move out soon, or it’s a long-term goal for some time in the future – you can begin preparing for it now–starting in the kitchen!

Join us for The Joy of Cooking: Cooking Skills for Independent Living

Monday, September 11

5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Avenue NW)

This hands-on session is a great way to help you increase your confidence in the kitchen.

While preparing a tasty and well-balanced dinner, participants will also learn about:

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
working with others.

And then, you’ll get to enjoy what you’ve made for dinner!

The menu for this session is Beef Sliders with a side of Apple Cole Slaw.

This activity is in-person only and limited to six participants. There will only be light support provided by staff, so participants need to be able to follow instructions and be willing to work in a small group to prepare the meal. All supplies will be provided.

Registration for this session is required and takes place on Sinneave Connects, our online Learning Hub. If you already have a Sinneave Connects account, just log in as usual and enroll in the course. If this is the first time you’ve used Sinneave Connects, you will need to create a free account. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Pick a user name
Pick a password (Don’t forget to record it somewhere safe for next time!)
Register! Choose the “”Joy of Cooking” event dated September 11.

IMPORTANT INFO: When you log in to the event using the button below, you’ll see a tab on the side that says, “Select Session” (see the screen shot below) Click on that box.

A screenshot of the Sinneave Connects event page, which features a thumbnail image, text description of the course and a highlighted button showing where to click

To enroll in this course, click the button below to access Sinneave Connects.

Joy of Cooking – September 11, 2023

If you have questions or need any assistance navigating Sinneave Connects, please email us at info@sinneavefoundation.org or call us at 403 210-5000. We’re here to help!

About the presenter: Before coming to Canada, Santiago “Santi” Ghio says he was a picky eater. When he was in high school, he learned how to cook through a special cooking program and his love of cooking led him to an internship program at SAIT. Soon after, he registered for SAIT’s culinary program and graduated in 2017 as a professional cook.

Now 28-years-old, Santi received an autism diagnosis in 2022 and participated in Sinneave’s Launch + Skills program. Having previously worked part-time in restuarants, Santi found his perfect match at Sobey’s where he’s worked in the Deli department for the past three years. The predictable routine of his work environment fits his needs perfectly.

Now, he wants to share his knowledge and love of cooking with others on the spectrum, inspiring them to develop confidence in the kitchen and build skills for independent living–and delicious eating!

CANCELLED – Due to unexpected circumstances this week’s Art of Parenting with Autism session is cancelled. Please refer to our Events Calendar for next dates.

You’re invited to join the Art of Parenting…with Autism.

This particular session will cover the intense struggles with food that many autistics (and their parents) deal with, melt down prevention and finding peace in the sometimes chaos of daily life. Each Art of Parenting session intends to educate, empower and encourage parents on their journey, as well as create a safe community of ongoing support.

If you are an autistic parent, or the parent of an autistic child, you will benefit from this information and the connection of others who share similar experiences.

Do you find it difficult to communicate when someone disagrees with you?

Join us Tuesday, October 3, 2023 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. to 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 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 register for 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:

Create a user name
Create a password (don’t forget to save it someplace handy)
Select “Register”
Choose the Drop-in Workshop: Handling Disagreements course to access the virtual link.

Sinneave Connects

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 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!