Events

Monthly Online Conversation Group

This is a monthly online conversation group for ASD adults, 18+ years old. Many autistic people have spent much of their lives feeling “different”. This group is an opportunity to explore & build common bonds. It is an evening to share our past experiences & present realities – similar or different, and to celebrate our uniqueness together as we build strength & resilience for our futures. Hosted by Julia Mitchell, ASD adult, empathetic listener & curious about autism & autistic…

Free

 

Social Thinking by Michelle Garcia Winner

Social Competency – More than Social Skills We largely take for granted what most of us can intuitively learn to do—socially attend, interpret, problem solve, and respond within different aspects of the social world quickly and efficiently across all environments, including one’s home, classroom, and broader community. Rather than assign blame when a person struggles to make sense of the complexities within this world, for more than 25 years the developmental Social Thinking® Methodology has sought to continually evolve and…

Free

 

Movie Night February 25, 2022

The movie this month is the animated film “The Mitchells Vs. The Machines” Young Kate Mitchell embarks on a road trip with her proud parents, younger brother and beloved dog to start her first year at film school. But their plans to bond as a family soon get interrupted when the world's electronic devices come to life to stage an uprising. With help from two friendly robots, the Mitchells must now come together to save one another -- and the…

Free

 

Movie Night

This month’s choice is the 2013 film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” Unhappy with his dull & lonely life, the socially-awkward Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) has a chance to change his circumstances when he is tasked with finding a missing photo that could save his company from being downsized. Walter travels the world attempting to track down the elusive photographer who took the mysterious photo. Based upon James Thurber’s 1939 acknowledged masterful short story by the same name. Watch…

Free

 

Movie Night

This month’s movie is old but good! -the 1998 Coen brothers black comedy “The Big Lebowski” Jeff Bridges stars as the ultimate LA slacker “Dude” and avid bowler. The Dude is assaulted, mistaken for a millionaire, also named “Lebowski”. From here, kidnapping, ransom & robbery, and general mayhem ensues.The style is loosely inspired by the crime writing of Raymond Chandler. Watch the movie in advance on Netflix. See Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd-go0oBF4Y Hosted by: Casey Primus, B. Com., CGA, working for an…

Free

 

Movie Night

This month’s movie choice is the 2018 film “Wild Rose” Wild Rose is a 2018 film, directed by Tom Harper, starring Jessie Buckley, Sophie Okonedo & Julie Walters. It follows Rose-Lynn, aspiring country singer & single mom, as she navigates obstacles & setbacks to find her values and life path. While we may not be would-be stars, we can all relate to the struggles involved in finding our own life’s journey! Watch the movie in advance on Netflix. See Trailer:…

Free

 

Audition all Tuesday, October 30th!

  Thirteenth Floor, a Vancouver-based rock band, is looking for additional members. The band is searching for a bass player, keyboard player, and female vocalist to round out their group. If you are an adult on the AutismSpectrum, musically talented and motivated, and looking to perform gigs, the band is interested in hearing from you. Auditions will be held on Tuesday, October 30th. Thirteenth Floor practices Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 9:00 at Yukon and 4th Avenue in Vancouver. Interested rock musicians…

 

Of Interest

Movie Night

This month’s movie choice is the 2019 sleeper hit film “The Peanut Butter Falcon” The Peanut Butter Falcon is a “dramedy”, written & directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz. The plot follows a young man with Down Syndrome, (Zack Gottsagen) who escapes from an assisted living facility and befriends a wayward fisherman on the run, (Shia LaBeouf). The two men bond as they try to elude the attempts of the social worker trying to track them. Lots of action…

Free

 

Movie Night Autumn 2021

The first movie choice this fall is the 2018 film “Roma” Written & directed by Alfonso Cuaron, it follows the life of a livein housekeeper of a middle-class family, it is based upon Cuaron’s upbringing (1970-71) in the Colonia Roma neighbourhood of Mexico City. It became the first Mexican film to win for Best Foreign Language Film, winning also Best Cinematography and Best Director awards. Watch the movie in advance on Netflix: See Trailer here . Hosted by Casey Primus,…

Free

 

Movie Night Summer!

In acknowledgment of the BCGovernment’s move to implement Accessibility Legislation, we will, in July & August, host two Zoom movie discussion nights on the theme of Access. Please register 24 hours before the events start: click here.   Hosted by: Vernaye Morgan, B. Social Work, UNBC, & TESL instructor, Aaron Michael, BA, Pol Sc, SFU, &SPS meeting facilitator Watch the movie in advance on Netflix or on YouTube: See Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdeyFwHxo2Q  

 

Movie Night Summer!

In acknowledgement of the BC Government’s move to implement Accessibility Legislation, we will, in July & August, host two Zoom movie discussion nights on the theme of Access. Hosted by: Vernaye Morgan, B. Social Work, UNBC, & TESL instructor, Aaron Michael, BA, Pol Sc, SFU, &SPS meeting facilitator The Fundamentals of Caring” is a quirky, humourous film about a young man who overcomes fear and cynicism, and opts to go on an adventure, despite the physical challenges that he faces.…

 

Leisure & Recreational Issues and Opportunities

We welcomed two speakers, Jad Brake & Shadi Hortamani. Our first speaker, Jad Brake, PhD Candidate, Department of Anthropology, UBC, described his research on the communicative and sensory challenges that some ASD individuals experience that impede them in forming relationships. Our second speaker, Shadi Hortamani, Board-certified Assistant Behaviour Analyst, Canucks Autism Network. Shadi has 10 years of experience serving the autistic community, 3 at CAN, working on the Youth and Young Adult programs. She spoke on the benefits of participating…

 

LifeNet & LifeMap

We welcomed Betty Hallenbeck, the second of our speakers from Asperger/Autism Network (AANE) in Boston, Mass. https://www.aane.org/ Betty spoke to us about AANE's  programs designed to support individuals with Asperger profiles in becoming independent adults. LifeNet is a private pay, independent living support program for adults with Asperger's or similar autism spectrum profiles. LifeNet offers peace of mind that an adult on the spectrum will be supported as they navigate adulthood. LifeMAP (Life Management Assistance Program) is an intensive, practical, highly…

 

SPS Confident Conversations

This program is for any adult motivated to become more effective in their social interactions, and to become happier and more comfortable with being with others. Workshop Goals & Structure: Eight sessions, for 10 participants, hosted by Behavioral Analyst, Crystal Lee Clark, and Actor/Educator, Laura Drummond. Each session will include warm-up activities, a specific concept and targeted goals, and fun skill building exercises to support the concept. Sessions 1-4 are aimed at improving understanding of why effective social conversation is…

 

Adult Sibling Relationships

Our speaker was Dania Jekel of the Asperger/Autism Network (AANE) in Boston, Mass. https://www.aane.org/  Relationships between ASD family members and their siblings are often complicated and stressful for all family members. Dania Jekel, is the Founder & retiring Executive Director of AANE. Dania shared with us her insights into the dynamics of these relationships. Dania has been at the helm of AANE since its inception 25 years ago. Since its humble beginnings, Dania & her team have developed AANE into an…

 

SPS Games & Gathering: Drama Games

With Laura Drummond & Crystal LeeClark Free event, but registration required. Limited number of participants, sign up early for this event!

 

Event time is in Vancouver BC time.