AuSM

Sensory Friendly Mornings at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
2025-06-07 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-06-18 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Chicago) | Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul, Minnesota
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is an energetic, colorful place full of sensory stimuli, and we know this environment can be overwhelming for some guests. This is a time designed for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families to explore the zoo without the crowds. Como strives to provide a positive, welcoming experience for every visitor.

Camino a la Inclusión: Special Education
2025-06-07 10:00 - 12:00 | El Colegio Charter School, 4137 Bloomington Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55407, United States
This event creates an inclusive atmosphere by offering free, welcoming family sessions for parents, caregivers, and children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Children can participate in guided activities while parents attend informative sessions on special education. The event includes shared meals to promote community building, ensuring all families feel supported and included.

Sensory Friendly Hours at the Minnesota Transportation Museum
2025-06-07 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-05 13:00 - 16:00 | Minnesota Transportation Museum, 193 Pennsylvania Ave, St Paul, MN, 55130
The Minnesota Transportation Museum is committed to welcoming all train enthusiasts! From 1-4pm on the first Saturday of the month, noises and lights in the museum will be minimized and sensory tools will be available to borrow. Sensory tools will also be available on our short caboose ride (included in admission). The admission cost for an adult is $15, student (6-16) is $10, and preschooler (3-5) is $5.

Understanding Autism
2025-06-09 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual Event
Understanding Autism is AuSM’s introductory class. You’ll learn all about the diagnosis, common characteristics, and some basic evidenced-based best practices to support autistic individuals and sensory processing sensitivities. Each session lasts one hour with time for you to ask specific questions.
Who Should Participate
Caregivers, parents, grandparents, group home and day program staff, Personal Care Attendants, and health care staff will benefit from this class. *Note, this is a single-session class. Content is the same for all sessions. AuSM offers these sessions at different times to accommodate as many schedules as possible. When registering, select the session that works best for you.

AuSM Adult Coffee Club
2025-06-10 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-07-08 16:00 - 18:00 | Dogwood Coffee, 2700 University Ave W Suite 100, Saint Paul, MN, 55114, United States
Coffee Club is a space where autistic and neurodiverse adults can connect with each other, foster friendships, and build community while enjoying a favorite beverage and/or snack. Adults are welcome to bring items that make them feel comfortable, can stay as long as they’d like, stim, and parallel play. We ask that participants purchase something from our venues.
AuSM will provide a concierge staff person to help assist with questions, check-in, help with ordering, and manage any issues that arise during the club. AuSM will provide a number of resources, including a social narrative providing club details, parking info, menus, and more. Due to staffing, AuSM is unable to provide one-to-one support, however it is encouraged to bring your own PCA or support person if needed.

MNprov Mixers on ZOOM (adults 18+)
2025-06-11 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-06-18 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-06-25 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-07-02 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-07-09 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-07-16 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-07-23 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-07-30 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
At MNprov, we believe the magic of improv isn’t just about laughs (though there’s plenty of that) — it’s about building connections, confidence, and creativity. And doing so in a way that’s accessible to everyone. Our goal is to empower diverse learners to build social-emotional skills, resilience, and meaningful connections through the art of improv. And guess what? It works!
The MNprov Mixers are a safe place for neurodivergent adults (18+) to have fun, meet new people, increase confidence, and decrease stress. No experience necessary. This event is FREE. Come every week, or only once, or somewhere in-between.

Improv is inherently inclusive. All participants are needed for a scene to succeed, and everyone’s suggestions are incorporated into the scene. The improv rule of “Yes, and . . .” allows participants to feel safe and supported and more willing to take risks. As players say “YES” to each other and add their own ideas, they build trust and create something brand new together.
This is a small group activity with fewer than 20 participants. We have sensory items (created by AUSM) that are available at our workshops. Individuals are welcome to take breaks as needed. Lighting can be adjusted to meet needs. Participants are encouraged to let us know how we can best support them.
A social narrative about the MNprov Mixers workshops and a registration link can be found on our website.

AuSM Professional Networking Group
2025-06-12 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-07-10 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
If you’re a professional who works with autistic clients – or are working towards your licensure so you can – AuSM’s Counseling and Consulting team has a resource to help you connect with therapists in our space. AuSM’s Professional Networking Group offers a chance for therapists to meet with other professionals who see clients with autism to ask questions, share cases, and build peer-to-peer relationships.
This group is meant for:

Therapists
Psychologists
Occupational therapists
Psychiatrists
Social workers
Case managers
Healthcare providers

As we meet, one member of AuSM’s staff will share an anonymized case study, then open the group for others to share relevant experiences that we can all learn from. This is a great opportunity to troubleshoot your problems and learn from the wisdom of other professionals as we work through challenging cases.
With increased diagnosis of autism, therapists are becoming aware that they need to increase competency in serving these clients; this group can help. We paused this networking group during the pandemic, but now it’s time we pick it back up. Like you, we’ve learned a lot since this group last met. Eager to likewise learn and share? Let’s talk it out – and then keep it going.

MNprov Mixers (in-person) for Adults (18+)
2025-06-12 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-06-19 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-06-26 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-07-10 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-07-24 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-07-31 18:30 - 20:00 | Youth Performance Company, 641 Fairview Ave N Suite 191, Saint Paul, MN, 55104, United States

The Wizard of Oz - relaxed performance
2025-06-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Lakeshore Players Theatre, 4941 Long Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN, 55110, United States
Lights will only dim to 30% rather than blackout. Sound effects, especially loud or sudden ones will be decreased in volume. Any potential scary characters or situations will be talked about before the show begins to give everyone a heads up. There will be a quiet space/ break space available if needed during the performance. We will provide fidgets for people who need something during the show. Patrons are welcome to walk around the theatre during the performance and wear noise-canceling headphones.

Madagascar - A Musical Adventure TYA Edition - Sensory Friendly
2025-07-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Stages Theatre Company, Hopkins, MN
This performance is a Sensory Friendly Performance. Sensory Friendly Performances are designed for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, as well as those with other sensory, social, cognitive disabilities and mental illnesses.
Sensory Modifications Include:
• Light in the theatre will remain on throughout the performance
• Loud noises and intense lighting will be lowered or removed.
• Crowds are minimized, audience members can move around throughout the performance.
• Fidgets and noise-cancelling headphones are encouraged and available. Audience members are welcome to bring their own manipulatives, seat cushions, comfort objects, and extra support items to the show.
• Theatre Guides and Plot Summaries will be provided in advance before each Sensory Friendly Performance.
• A Quiet Room will be available to use throughout the performance, which is equipped with sensory supports.

MNprov FrieNDs summer improv workshop for teens
2025-07-28 09:00 - 2025-08-01 12:00 | The Hive Collaborative, 677 Hamline Ave. N., St. Paul, MN, 55347, United States
At MNprov, we believe the magic of improv isn’t just about laughs (though there’s plenty of that) — it’s about building connections, confidence, and creativity. And doing so in a way that’s accessible to everyone. Our goal is to empower diverse learners to build social-emotional skills, resilience, and meaningful connections through the art of improv. And guess what? It works!
Our MNprov workshops and professional development sessions are designed with neurodiverse individuals in mind — making them inclusive, fun, and impactful. Through improv’s core principle of “Yes, And,” participants learn to listen, adapt, and collaborate. Improv is more than just a series of games — it’s a way to embrace mistakes, take creative risks, and discover strengths participants never knew they had.
What makes us sensory-friendly? Everything from creating safe and supportive spaces to offering proactive accommodations ensures that participants feel welcomed and empowered. Whether we’re hosting a virtual session or a live class, we meet individuals where they’re at — adapting to their needs to ensure everyone can shine.

MNprov FrieNDs summer improv workshop for teens
2025-07-28 13:00 - 2025-08-01 16:00 | The Hive Collaborative, 677 Hamline Ave. N., St. Paul, MN, 55347, United States
At MNprov, we believe the magic of improv isn’t just about laughs (though there’s plenty of that) — it’s about building connections, confidence, and creativity. And doing so in a way that’s accessible to everyone. Our goal is to empower diverse learners to build social-emotional skills, resilience, and meaningful connections through the art of improv. And guess what? It works!

Sensory fidgets are available, breaks when needed, sensitivity to lights and sounds addressed as needed.
This week-long workshop is LIMITED TO 12 PARTICIPANTS (age 13-18).

Workshop: Demystifying "The Sex Talk"
2025-07-31 09:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
Current research undeniably supports the value of comprehensive sexuality education, with benefits ranging from reduced rates of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, to decreased instances of sexual harm, to a positive impact on global climate change; however, these important conversations are often not inclusive of autistic and neurodivergent individuals. This is not only because health class is often deprioritized for these students, but also because sexuality topics like consent and healthy relationships are often covered through the lens of unwritten and assumed social rules. This often leaves both autistic individuals and their support system feeling underequipped to discuss important topics like consent, boundaries, healthy relationships, and socially appropriate behaviors within those relationships. This workshop aims to demystify those topics and provide tangible tools for their discussion.
