Published: June 9, 2026
The National Autism Network is undergoing a leadership transition. We wish to thank Dr. Karen Bopp for her dedication to the community and her foundational role in establishing the Network. The work we’ve done together over the last 15 months has helped inform priorities to support the implementation of Canada’s Autism Strategy. Our organizations remain committed to the Project and carrying out the work as funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Thank you for your continued support.
“Throughout my career, I have learned that the best solutions come when people trust and listen to each other, learn from each other, and work together. I remain committed to supporting collaborative efforts that help create a future where Autistic people thrive.”
— Dr. Karen Bopp
“Dr. Karen Bopp has worked to advance systems that are inclusive, community-informed, accessible, evidence-based and centred in lived and living experience throughout her 30+ year career. It has been a pleasure to work alongside her in the establishment of the National Autism Network, and we look forward to continued collaboration.”
— Tanya McLeod, President, The Sinneave Family Foundation, and Dr. Jonathan Lai, Executive Director, Autism Alliance of Canada
Transition du leadership du Réseau national de l’autisme
Publié: 9 juin, 2026
Le Réseau national de l’autisme traverse actuellement une transition de leadership. Nous souhaitons remercier la Dre Karen Bopp pour son dévouement envers la communauté et pour le rôle fondamental qu’elle a joué dans la création du Réseau. Le travail accompli ensemble au cours des 15 derniers mois a contribué à guider les priorités visant à soutenir la mise en œuvre de la Stratégie pour l’autisme au Canada. Nos organisations demeurent engagées envers le projet et la poursuite des travaux financés par l’Agence de la santé publique du Canada. Merci de votre soutien continu.
« Tout au long de ma carrière, j’ai appris que les meilleures solutions émergent lorsque les gens se font confiance, s’écoutent, apprennent les uns des autres et travaillent ensemble. Je demeure engagée à soutenir les efforts de collaboration qui contribuent à bâtir un avenir où les personnes autistes peuvent s’épanouir. »
— Dre Karen Bopp
« Au cours de ses plus de 30 années de carrière, la Dre Karen Bopp a contribué à faire progresser des systèmes inclusifs, accessibles, ancrés dans les réalités des communautés, fondés sur des données probantes et centrés sur l’expérience vécue. Ce fut un privilège de collaborer avec elle à la mise sur pied du Réseau national de l’autisme, et nous nous réjouissons de poursuivre ce travail ensemble. »
— Tanya McLeod, présidente de la Sinneave Family Foundation, et Jonathan Lai, directeur général de l’Alliance canadienne de l’autisme.
—Le message en français précède—
July 7 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
You’ve probably heard the word “Self-advocacy” before, but do you know what it is and how to do it?
Self-advocacy is expressing your needs and preferences in a way that ensures your voice is heard in the decisions that impact your life. An important first step to self-advocacy is understanding the barriers you face and the strengths you bring to each situation.
In this workshop, you will learn what self-advocacy is and how it can benefit you. The content will also help you understand your strengths and some of the barriers you face. This knowledge will enhance your ability to self-advocate.
Tuesday, July 7
6:30– 7:30 p.m.
Online via Sinneave Connects
Our self-advocacy workshops are designed to provide Autistic and other neurodivergent individuals opportunities to learn about self-advocacy and practice skills that are essential to learning to speak up for yourself confidently.
To register:
Click the button that says, Sinneave Connects to access registration through our online hub. If you already have a Sinneave Connects account, just log in as usual. If you have not registered yet, it’s free and easy. Just follow the instructions on the log-in page.
Other upcoming self-advocacy workshops include:
Starting the Conversation – Tuesday, July 14
Learn tips and strategies for you to practice communicating your needs with others and learn how you can effectively start conversations about your needs.
Finding Your Voice – Tuesday, July 21
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:
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.
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. Read the full neurodiversity acknowledgement on our website.
Related Events
July 2 @ 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Members of our community are invited to drop-in and use our space on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to unwind or recharge—with no pressure to engage in structured activities. We have several rooms available–a quiet lounge, computer desks, hang out sofas–you choose. It’s your time to use your way.
Each week, we offer a “third space”—a place separate from home, work, or school where there is no obligation to spend money on food or beverages—to members of our community.
We provide flexible seating, focus tools, and adjustable lighting options in an effort to make our space welcoming and inclusive to those who wish to spend time in it.
Drop-in hours are 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Here are some suggestions of things you may like to do, but this is not an exhaustive list:
- Socializing: Chat with others, make new connections, or catch up with friends
- Using Computers: Access the internet, complete personal tasks, or explore hobbies online. Use our computers and wifi or bring your own device and connect via our network
- Relaxing: Sit quietly, read, listen to music with headphones, or just enjoy the calm space
- Independent Work: Bring personal projects, homework or studying you may need to do, or use the time to focus on tasks
- Unstructured Activities: puzzles, sketching, journaling, or engaging in other personal hobbies
- Exploring Resources: Learn about other programs, events, or services Sinneave offers
- Simply Being: Spend time in the space without any specific activity, just enjoying the presence of others without any expectations to engage
To ensure a welcoming and safe environment for all users, please read over the Rules of the Space before you arrive:
- Check-In is Required: Everyone signs in upon arrival
- No Alcohol or Drugs: This is a substance-free space for everyone’s safety and comfort
- Respectful Content and Behavior: No engagement with explicit content and all interactions should be respectful
- Noise Levels: Keep volume moderate to accommodate diverse activities
- No formal supervision provided: Attend and engage independently
Related Events
July 22 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Are you interested in learning more about the stages of the employment journey and the steps you can take to lead you on a path to success?
Our Employment Classroom workshops cover many topics related to finding a job and keeping a job, including employment preparedness, life skills, and soft skills for the workplace.
In this particular session, participants will receive tips and discuss strategies for workplace communication:
- Navigating workplace interactions with clarity and impact
- The importance of social interaction at work and beyond
- The basics of customer service interactions.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn and practice strategies to use in workplace interactions, and receive and provide feedback, if desired.
Wednesday, July 22
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
In-person at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Avenue NW)
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: Space in these classes is limited. 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.
To Register:
Click the button that says, Sinneave Connects to access registration through our online hub. If you already have a Sinneave Connects account, just log in as usual. If you have not registered yet, it’s free and easy. Just follow the instructions on the log-in page.
About our Facilitators:
Ryan Elkanah is a late-diagnosed AuDHD adult and professional relationship builder who brings curiosity, empathy, and lived experience to every space they enter. Having navigated masking, burnout, loss, and the ongoing work of reclaiming agency, they approach their work with humility, intention, and care. Ryan creates spaces where people can show up fully, where reflection and authenticity meet courage and growth. Grounded in a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed, person-centered, and strengths-based approach, they walk alongside others in the lifelong practice of becoming.
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 indjustry 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.
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. Read the full neurodiversity acknowledgement on our website.
Related Events
Related Events
July 8 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Are you interested in learning more about the stages of the employment journey and the steps you can take to lead you on a path to success?
Our Employment Classroom workshops cover many topics related to finding a job and keeping a job, including employment preparedness, life skills, and soft skills for the workplace.
In this particular session, participants will learn:
- What professional behaviour in the workplace looks like
- How to demonstrate professional behaviour
- What is expected of a new employee in the first week, month, and beyond
- How to identify job scams
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn what is expected in professional settings and receive and provide feedback, if desired.
Wednesday, July 8
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
In-person at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Avenue NW)
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: Space in this class is limited. 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.
To Register:
Click the button that says Sinneave Connects to access registration through our online hub. If you already have a Sinneave Connects account, just log in as usual. If you have not registered yet, it’s free and easy. Just follow the instructions on the log-in page.
About our Facilitators:
Ryan Elkanah is a late-diagnosed AuDHD adult and professional relationship builder who brings curiosity, empathy, and lived experience to every space they enter. Having navigated masking, burnout, loss, and the ongoing work of reclaiming agency, they approach their work with humility, intention, and care. Ryan creates spaces where people can show up fully, where reflection and authenticity meet courage and growth. Grounded in a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed, person-centered, and strengths-based approach, they walk alongside others in the lifelong practice of becoming.
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 indjustry 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.
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. Read the full neurodiversity acknowledgement on our website.
Related Events
Related Events
June 24 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
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 24
12:00 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.
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.
Related Events
June 22 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
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 22
12:00 – 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.
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.
Related Events
July 2 @ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
This engaging workshop is designed to provide Autistic and other neurodivergent individuals with opportunities to reflect on the causes of, and to develop tools to effectively address, disagreements.
In this session, you will have the opportunity to:
- Reflect on how confident you feel at both the beginning and end of the session
- Learn the difference between disagreement and conflict through realistic, scenario-based examples
- Brainstorm with others how emotions are connected to disagreements and conflict
- Explore practical strategies for resolving disagreements.
Our hope is that participants will experience an increase in their confidence when dealing with future disagreements.
Please note: There will be an interactive component to this session and participants will need some sort of wi-fi enabled device (smartphone, tablet, or laptop) to access Slido.
Thursday, July 2
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
In-person at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Ave NW)
There is no cost to attend
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.
To register:
Click the button that says, Sinneave Connects to access registration through our online hub. If you already have a Sinneave Connects account, just log in as usual. If you have not registered yet, it’s free and easy. Just follow the instructions on the log-in page.
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 more than 10 years. She has experience teaching and enhancing communication skills for Autistic individuals across their life span. She is passionate about fostering an inclusive community and supporting individuals to thrive and reach their full potential.
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. Read the full neurodiversity acknowledgement on our website.
Related Events
Published: May 25, 2026
Housing is one of the biggest topics facing Autistic and neurodivergent adults and their families.
Conversations about autism and housing are often oversimplified. Families and individuals are sometimes told that “specialized, supportive autism housing” is the answer. While housing options specific to Autistic folks do exist in some places, they are often expensive, designed for people with higher support needs, and can limit choice and independence.
At Sinneave, we are taking a different approach…
June 23 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
We’re thrilled to offer a group designed specifically for Autistic and other neurodivergent adults (18+) who identify as women or who connect with experiences of womanhood.*
In this session, we will talk about building, understanding, and navigating workplace relationships. Some topics may include:
- Relationships in a new job
- The difference between “friendly” and “friendship”
- Discovering common interests and building rapport with colleagues
- Understanding and navigating work-safe topics of conversation and workplace culture.
Participants are welcome to share lived experiences and discuss strategies that have been helpful for them as they relate to our discussion topics.
Please note, this is not a therapy group, but rather, a supportive, non-clinical space to discuss and share ideas, lived experiences, and connect meaningfully with others. The content and resources shared in this group are informed by both lived Autistic experience and research as they intersect with gendered experiences in society.
*This group is intended for Autistic and neurodivergent folks who identify as women or who connect with experiences of womanhood, inclusive of non-binary and other 2SLGBTQ+ identities and expressions. This boundary ensures that participants can share openly without explanation, justification or judgement.
Tuesday, June 23
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
In-person at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Ave NW)
There is no cost to attend.
To register:
Click the button that says, Sinneave Connects to access registration through our online hub. If you already have a Sinneave Connects account, just log in as usual. If you have not registered yet, it’s free and easy. Just follow the instructions on the log-in page.
About the Presenter:
Alexandra (Ali) Skeet is a Learning and Connection Associate at The Sinneave Family Foundation. She delivers the Information and Navigation service where they have the pleasure to meet with Autistic and neurodivergent individuals one-on-one to provide consistent, person-centred information and navigation to Sinneave programs and services, and/or community-based resources. Ali has both professional and lived experience navigating identity, and the intersectional impact of societal expectations/beliefs on neurodivergent individuals. They bring over a decade of experience in the field of mental health, and a passion for person-centered care and intersectional inclusivity.
*During this session, Sinneave staff, guest presenters, and attendees may share information about community resources. Some information provided may not be accurate, up-to-date, or reliable for everyone. Attendees are also encouraged to be critical consumers of information available on the internet. Providing information about a community resource is not endorsement, and Sinneave does not assume any risk for the outcome of using the information shared during this session.
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. Read the full neurodiversity acknowledgement on our website.