Job Opportunities with California’s Disability Service Providers

Chase Bank is offering a FREE online class on finance fundamentals for neurodivergent people! It will be held from 3-4pm Pacific Time on Thursdays Feb 2, 9, 16 and 23. Click here for details and to register.


On February 4 the AASCEND Job Club presents Barry Jardini, Executive Director of the California Disability Services Association (CDSA), the association of major providers of services for our autism community. Barry will talk about the need for workers in this field, and the job opportunities available, for all workers including workers in our autism community. He also will address how our community in 2023 can more effectively access the employment-placement, housing and mental health services available.

The Zoom meeting URL and password will be sent to people on our email list as the date approaches. If you are not on our email list, click here to sign up. No registration is necessary.

Barry Jardini headshot

As Executive Director for CDSA, Barry leads the association’s lobbying and public policy, as well as CDSA and CDS Institute operations. He cultivates strong relationships with Administration officials, legislators and relevant staff members, and colleagues at stakeholder organizations to ensure CDSA members are well represented in Sacramento. Barry previously served as the in-house counsel to a regional human rights and fair housing commission. A native Southern Californian, Barry has developed Northern California bona fides as an alumnus of UC Davis and the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

As usual at AASCEND meetings, attendees on the autism spectrum will offer their experience and perspectives throughout the program.

Who: Adults on the autism spectrum, families, mentors and professionals all welcome. For more information, please contact: info@aascend.org
When: Sat Feb 4, 10am – 11am (approx.)
Where: Online via Zoom. URL and password will be emailed.

“Love on the Spectrum” TV Comes to AASCEND, Seeking Participants!

When it rains it pours! (a little weather joke there) We have been flooded with opportunities from film and research this month. Be sure to scroll all the way down to see them all!


Love On The Spectrum US, an Emmy-Award winning documentary series on Netflix about dating and relationships, featuring people on the autism spectrum, is seeking participants for its second season. At the January 21 AASCEND meeting online, Dani Bowman, a first-year participant in the show, (also familiar to many as the autistic founder of Danimation Entertainment) and Sean Bowman, casting and field producer for the program, will join us to talk about the show. Please come with your questions and your own experience of romance and autism.

Dani Bowman with Emmy Award
Sean Bowman, casting and field producer

The aim of the series is to send a positive message, that people on the spectrum can and do find love, while helping educate the audience about ASD by breaking down some of the myths, misconceptions and stereotypical views, and celebrating difference. It’s important to them to tell the diverse stories of real people, in their own voices. Here is a Netflix trailer for the show.

The show is currently in pre-production for the 2nd US Season and they are looking to hear from ANYONE 18+ on the autism spectrum, who might be interested in being a part the series! 

(Flyer below)

The Zoom meeting URL and password for the AASCEND meeting will be sent as the date approaches. If you are not on our email list, click here. No registration is necessary.

Who: Adults on the autism spectrum, families, mentors and professionals all welcome. For more information, please contact: info@aascend.org
When: Sat Jan 21 10am – 11am (approx.) Pacific Time
Where: Online via Zoom. URL and password will be emailed.


Inclusion Films will be filming a documentary about friendship and young adults on the autism spectrum. It will be filmed at a weeklong workshop to be held February 3-9 in Lodi, California. If you are single, on the spectrum, 21-30 years old and interested in meeting new people and exploring the community surrounded by supportive friends, then you can apply at https://lightscamerafriendship.com . They ask you to submit a 3-4 minute video of yourself. Contact info@aascend.org if you need help making the video.

(Flyer below)


A research project at the University of Pittsburg is looking for participants, and there is an $80 Amazon gift card in it for qualified participants. The purpose of the study is to develop a new survey tool, known as the Relationships Employment Autonomy and Life Satisfaction (REALS) scale. This scale is designed to measure aspects of adult life in autistic adults and adults with other intellectual and developmental disabilities. REALS was developed in partnership with autistic adults. The study is enrolling both individuals aged 18 and older who are autistic or have an intellectual or developmental disability and also parents/caregivers of adults on the autism spectrum.  Individuals must be current United States residents to participate.  This study should take 1-2 hours to complete (they may take breaks), and they will be compensated with a $80 Amazon e-gift card for their time and efforts within 5 business days of completing the surveys. See the flyer below for details.

(Flyer below)

NOTE: Clicking on a flyer will activate the contact link in the flyer.