Sinneave Foundation

Work and Care: Guiding Conversations
2026-05-14 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Edmonton) | Autism Edmonton Eventbrite
Join us for an engaging workshop where, together with Caregivers Alberta, we’ll navigate the art of meaningful conversations and connections.

This session focuses on how to initiate and lead meaningful, compassionate conversations with employed caregivers. It covers the importance of clear communication, appropriate tone, and body language, and creating a safe, private setting for discussion.

Attendees will learn practical steps to apply to conversations, such as explaining the purpose of the meeting, practicing active listening, expressing empathy, and using supportive language.

The goal is to build trust, reduce stress, and connect caregivers with resources while fostering an inclusive and understanding workplace.

This session is presented by Autism Edmonton in partnership with Caregivers Alberta and support from The Sinneave Family Foundation.

Thursday, May 1412:00 – 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)Online via Autism Edmonton

Registration for this event is via Autism Edmonton’s Eventbrite page. You can register by clicking the button that says “Register.”

Register

About the Presenter

Christina Henderson is a highly motivated and professional trainer in workshop facilitation, administration, and program development. As the founder of Peerspective Consulting and Facilitation in Calgary, Alberta, and the Coordinator for Caregivers Alberta Work & Care program, Christina has collaborated with organizations across Canada to integrate positive and supportive programming into staff, client, and partner interactions.

Christina is the mom of twin sons who both have special needs. Her lived experience has given her a deep understanding of the importance of fostering supportive environments and empowering individuals through peer connections.

Caregiver Resilience: Isolation and Loneliness
2026-05-19 15:30 - 17:00 | Online via Autism Edmonton Eventbrite
As caregivers, feeling disconnected and lonely can impact physical wellness. In this session, learn how these things impact you, while gaining important strategies to help you enjoy the world outside the house.

This session is intended for everyone, however, its focus will particularly benefit women and aging adults.

This session is brought to you by Autism Edmonton and YMCA with support from The Sinneave Family Foundation.

Tuesday, May 193:30 – 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)Online via Autism Edmonton

Registration for this event is via Autism Edmonton’s Eventbrite page. You can register by clicking the button that says “Register.”

Register

About the YMCA:

At YMCA, we believe in the power of people. Every day, our dedicated employees and volunteers bring energy, positivity, and inclusivity to everything they do. They are the spark that ignites potential in others – helping individuals grow, thrive, and truly belong.

When people feel connected and supported, communities become stronger, more resilient, and full of life. That’s the impact of people-powered change. Together, we create welcoming spaces where everyone is valued, differences are celebrated, and possibilities are endless. Be the spark. Shine bright. Help others shine too.

The Role of Stigma and Trauma in Shaping Autistic Experiences
2026-05-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Online via Autism Edmonton Eventbrite
This presentation will include an overview of research on the impacts of trauma and stigma on Autistic people. Together, we will explore how autism-related stigma in society, research, and interpersonal interactions translates into a greater risk of experiencing trauma, including exclusion and discrimination, for many Autistic people.

The presenter will discuss Autistic peoples’ experiences with stigmatization and trauma in a variety of contexts (including interpersonal relationships, school, work, clinical, and community spaces), and address the self-reported coping methods Autistic people use.

They will also explore intersectional, neurodiversity-affirming, and trauma-informed approaches to supporting Autistic people in their day-to-day lives.

This session is brought to you by Autism Edmonton with support from the Sinneave Family Foundation.

Tuesday, May 2612:00 – 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)Online via Autism Edmonton

Registration for this event is via Autism Edmonton’s Eventbrite page. You can register by clicking the button that says “Register.”

Register

About the Presenter:

Tamara Garfield is a doctoral student at Drexel University in the Community Health and Prevention program of the Dornsife School of Public Health in Philadelphia, PA. Tamara identifies as Autistic and uses she/her and they/them pronouns. Their work includes a focus on meaningfully including Autistic people in research to improve quality of life and health-related outcomes for Autistic people. Tamara discovered a passion for this work as a peer mentor in high school and pursued a BA in psychology and a MA in community counseling with a focus on neurodivergence, stigma, and trauma.

In her current work, Tamara is studying how contextual factors, including stigma and trauma, shape Autistic peoples’ experiences in employment and education and, in turn, how these experiences impact their health and wellbeing. In their free time, Tamara loves spending time with her cats, gardening, cooking, listening to podcasts, and watching movies or TV shows.

The Invisible Labour of Autistic Masking
2026-05-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Online via Autism Edmonton Eventbrite
This session explores Autistic masking and communication through the lens of Communication Work, a health communication concept that examines why and how communication can become effortful and exhausting.

Drawing on the presenter’s dissertation research, the workshop highlights findings that conceptualize Autistic masking as a form of communication work enacted in response to stigma, social expectations, and efforts to avoid social isolation and disenfranchisement. The session emphasizes that masking is not simply a set of behaviors used in isolated interactions but an ongoing communicative process that unfolds over time—helping explain why masking can be so exhausting and why its negative impacts often persist even as individuals become more practiced in these behaviors.

The workshop will introduce evidence-based strategies for managing communication work, regaining communicative agency, and navigating interactions with non-Autistic others.

Designed to be interactive and practical, the session offers tools to help reduce the invisible labor of masking and support more sustainable communication practices.

This session is brought to you by Autism Edmonton with support from the Sinneave Family Foundation.

Wednesday, May 2712:00 – 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)Online via Autism Edmonton

When you click on the button that says “Register,” you will be redirected to Autism Edmonton’s Eventbrite page where you can reserve your spot.

Register

About the Presenter:

Abigail D. Hazlett, PhD, is an Autistic health communication researcher who earned her doctorate in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in March 2026. Her work focuses on how people communicate during stressful, uncertain, or inequitable health experiences, and how those interactions shape well-being, health choices, and access to care. Using interviews, collaborative research with communities, and mixed methods, Hazlett studies how everyday conversations about health are influenced by larger systems such as healthcare institutions, culture, and social norms.

Hazlett is also a co-author of the Integrative Theory of Communication Work, which explains communication as a form of labor shaped by expectations, demands, and available resources. Influenced by her own experience and in collaboration with a community advisory board of late-identified and/or diagnosed Autistic adults, her dissertation applied this framework to understand how late-identified Autistic adults mask their Autistic traits in response to social pressures and exclusion, and how these experiences affect identity, well-being, and healthcare access.

Her research aims to inform practical, equity-focused interventions that help people navigate difficult conversations about health and identity while strengthening systems of care.

Caregiver Resilience: Living Authentically
2026-05-28 13:00 - 14:30 | Online via Autism Edmonton Eventbrite
In this session, attendees will learn how to identify their values and what’s important to them and how they can use that knowledge to live more authentically. Living authentically means valuing yourself and learning to live according to your values instead to the expectations of others.

While this session is for everyone, its focus will particularly benefit women and aging adults.

This session is brought to you by Autism Edmonton and YMCA with support from the Sinneave Family Foundation.

Thursday, May 281:00 – 2:30 p.m. (Mountain Time)Online via Autism Edmonton

Registration for this event is via Autism Edmonton’s Eventbrite page. You can register by clicking the button that says “Register.”

Register

About the YMCA:

At YMCA, we believe in the power of people. Every day, our dedicated employees and volunteers bring energy, positivity, and inclusivity to everything they do. They are the spark that ignites potential in others – helping individuals grow, thrive, and truly belong.

When people feel connected and supported, communities become stronger, more resilient, and full of life. That’s the impact of people-powered change. Together, we create welcoming spaces where everyone is valued, differences are celebrated, and possibilities are endless. Be the spark. Shine bright. Help others shine too.

Autistic Voices and Perspectives - Jess Burylo
2026-06-10 12:00 - 13:00
What does it really mean to speak up for yourself and feel confident doing it?

Join Autism Edmonton for an honest and inspiring conversation with Jessica Burylo, an Autistic self-advocate whose work is helping change how we understand identity, accessibility, and belonging.

Jessica is a PhD student at the University of Alberta, where she explores Autistic identity and joy. She also works with Elections Canada to reduce barriers so people with disabilities can take part in federal elections, and collaborates with Accessibility Standards Canada to improve how programs and services are designed. Across everything she does, Jessica brings both professional insight and lived experience.

This session is not about having all the answers. It is about learning how to trust your voice and use it.

Together, we will explore what self-advocacy can look like in everyday life, how to build confidence in who you are, and how to navigate systems that were not built with you in mind. Most importantly, we will talk about joy and why it matters.

You will leave with practical ideas, a stronger sense of self, and a reminder that your voice matters.

This learning session is brought to you by Autism Edmonton, with support from the Sinneave Family Foundation.

Wednesday, June 1012:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)Online via Autism Edmonton

When you click on the button that says “Register,” you will be redirected to Autism Edmonton’s Eventbrite page, where you can reserve your spot.

Register

About the Presenter:

Jessica Burylo (she/her) is an Autistic self-advocate and PhD student at the University of Alberta, where her research explores Autistic identity and joy. She works as an Outreach Officer with the Inspire Democracy team at Elections Canada, supporting efforts to reduce barriers to participation in federal elections for people with disabilities.

She works with Accessibility Standards Canada to help shape national standards for accessible program and service delivery, and serves as an advisor to Proof Positive: Autism Wellbeing Alliance. Her work brings together accessibility and lived experience with a focus on creating spaces where Autistic people can meaningfully participate and thrive.

Work and Care: Practical Solutions
2026-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Online via Autism Edmonton Eventbrite
Get ready to dive into practical solutions and support for caregivers, together with Caregivers Alberta.

This insightful and empowering session focuses on proactive strategies to support employed caregivers in the workplace. It highlights ways to continue the conversation through initiatives like Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), caregiver-focused programs, and peer-support groups.

Together, we will discuss the importance of ongoing support to ensure caregivers feel valued and connected over time.

The goal is to build trust, reduce stress, and connect caregivers with resources while fostering an inclusive and understanding workplace.

This session is presented by Autism Edmonton in partnership with Caregivers Alberta and support from The Sinneave Family Foundation.

Thursday, June 1812:00 – 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)Online via Autism Edmonton

Registration for this event is via Autism Edmonton’s Eventbrite page. You can register by clicking the button that says “Register.”

Register

About the Presenter

Christina Henderson is a highly motivated and professional trainer in workshop facilitation, administration, and program development. As the founder of Peerspective Consulting and Facilitation in Calgary, Alberta, and the Coordinator for Caregivers Alberta Work & Care program, Christina has collaborated with organizations across Canada to integrate positive and supportive programming into staff, client, and partner interactions.

Christina is the mom of twin sons who both have special needs. Her lived experience has given her a deep understanding of the importance of fostering supportive environments and empowering individuals through peer connections.

You Don't Have to Talk About It: Understanding Emotions, Identity and Overwhelm
2026-06-22 12:00 - 13:00
This workshop is designed for Autistic LGBTQ+ folks (youth, teens, and adults), as well as caregivers and professionals who want to better understand and support them. It focuses on validating different ways of experiencing and expressing emotions for those who may find it difficult or uncomfortable to “just talk about it.”

Participants will be introduced to alternative ways of processing emotions, including creative, sensory, and play-based strategies, and receive practical tools for managing overwhelm.

The workshop is interactive, low-pressure, and affirming, with no expectation for participants to share unless they feel comfortable.

Monday, June 2212:00 – 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)Online via Autism Edmonton

When you click on the button that says “Register,” you will be redirected to Autism Edmonton’s Eventbrite page where you can reserve your spot.

Register

About the Presenter:

Madison Twa (she/her) is a Registered Provisional Psychologist based in Edmonton, working with children, teens, and adults. She specializes in emotional regulation, creative expression, and play therapy, and takes a neurodiversity-affirming and LGBTQ+ affirming approach in her work. Madison is passionate about creating spaces where people feel safe to explore who they are without pressure to explain themselves “the right way,” especially for those who find it difficult to put their experiences into words.

Her approach integrates creative, experiential, and play-based strategies to support emotional understanding and self-expression. Madison believes that emotions don’t always need to be talked through to be understood, and that meaningful growth can happen through play, creativity, and connection.

Social Experience: Autistic Late-diagnosed Women and Gender Diverse People
2026-06-24 12:00 - 13:00
Late-diagnosed Autistic people have unique experiences, struggles, and strengths. This session will focus on Autistic late-diagnosed women and gender diverse people, sharing learnings from 33 studies that summarize the social experiences of these individuals.

Topics that will be discussed include:

social experiences related to social interactions over the lifespan

coping with being undiagnosed

identifying they were Autistic, getting assessed and diagnosed, and

supportive factors for social life.

Attendees will be given a chance to share their own experiences with late-diagnosis and discuss how study findings do or do not resonate with their own personal journeys. Individuals with lived experience attending this session may find that they feel a sense of understanding, validation, and connection.

This learning session is brought to you by Autism Edmonton.

Wednesday, June 2412:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)Online via Autism Edmonton

When you click on the button that says “Register,” you will be redirected to Autism Edmonton’s Eventbrite page, where you can reserve your spot.

Register

About the Presenter:

Dr. Angela Feehan is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences. She works closely with Autistic and other neurodivergent people to conduct research that increases understanding of how neurodivergent individuals can thrive in their day-to-day lives. Her current research focuses on facets of late-diagnosis, social experiences, and thriving in Autistic women and gender diverse people. Dr. Feehan also brings lived experience to her work in neurodivergence.

Dr. Feehan has over a decade of experience providing clinical services to children and youth through mental health programs. This includes working with Autism diagnostic teams, collaborating with multidisciplinary team members, and providing speech, language, and communication assessment and treatment.
