Scroll down for details about the AASCEND Holiday Party at the Arc on Dec 16!

Here is a video of the following presentation.

At the Dec 9 AASCEND Job Club, we will be joined by Pamela Cosman and Leanne Chukoskie, Professors at UC San Diego and Northeastern, who have been doing cutting edge research and testing on jobs for adults with autism in the gaming industry. They also have been testing the use of games and Virtual Reality to assist adults with autism to gain work skills and social skills. They will be interviewed by our Job Club facilitator, Michael Bernick.

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.

Pamela Cosman is a Professor at UC San Diego in Computer Engineering and Leanne Chukoskie, is a Professor at Northeastern University. They have been working in recent years on employment for adults with autism in the gaming industry, and the use of games and VR to teach work skills.

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 Dec 9, 10am – 11am (approx.)
Where: Online via Zoom. URL and password will be emailed.

Next up for AASCEND is the December 16 Holiday Potluck Party!  Live and at the Arc for the first time in years!!! Come join our community for food, conversation, music and good cheer. There will be Entertainment, Music, Games, did we mention food, and a low-sensory space available. It’s a potluck, so bring food to share if you can — but if you can’t, show up anyway!

It’ll be a blast to celebrate in person again!

On Nov 18 AASCEND hosts Peter Kangas and Josiah Polhemus, who are collaborating in making a full-length feature film from the perspective of a person on the spectrum, written by that person and directed by that person. The film has the potential to be a groundbreaking look inside the mind of a person on the autism spectrum, which has never been done before. They will share part of their pitch deck and discuss the process of getting an authentically inclusive film made. Come give your input on this fascinating project!

This meeting will be in-person only, at the SF Arc (address below). No registration is necessary.

Peter Kangas is a filmmaker residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has extensive experience in both live action and set-based environments. Peter believes in meticulous attention to detail, good manners, and respect. He has won awards for his filmmaking. He now works through Spectrumotion Pictures, whose mission is to bring the disability community within the entertainment and film industry, tapping into this deep reservoir of talent and experience and no “help the neurodiverse world recognize how they can get past stereotypes and take action to fully realize their professional and artistic potential.”

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 Nov 18, 10am – noon (approx.)
Where: The Arc of SF 1500 Howard St. @ 11th St. SF, CA 94103 map

There are ongoing afternoons of games and socializing (currently a weekly event) on Fridays from 3 to 5pm—at Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley. Young adults (ages 18-30) are especially welcome. Bring $20 to cover games and a small snack. Contact Clara via text at 510 882 4944 to join in.

       

Address: Victory Point Cafe, 1797-A Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Date: Fridays 3-5pm
Website: https://www.victorypointcafe.com
Drink and Food Menu
Games Available at Victory Point Cafe