See Me Neurodiverse support meeting
2025-11-06 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-12-04 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | See Me Neurodiverse, 6000 McColl Drive, Savage, MN, 55378
This is a support meeting for the parents and caregivers of the neurodiverse to share our journeys together and help spread our wealth of resources to the community!
These meetings provide a safe space for parents/guardians/anyone who needs additional support while caring for neurodiverse children. Our mission for this support group is to connect, share, and support one another on our journey.
First Thursday of month 7-8:30pm and Every third Wednesday from 7-8:30pm

Saturday Fun/Respite Day
2025-11-08 13:00 - 17:00 | Laura Baker Services Association, 211 Oak Street, Northfield, MN, 55053
TIME FOR RESPITE AND SOCIAL INTERACTION
A monthly program for families who care for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Adults and children ages 5 and above with special needs who live at home with their families are welcome to join LBSA on the second Saturday of the month for crafts, games, outdoor activities, and snacks. Sign-up on the LBSA website, https://www.laurabaker.org/services/family-support/
The events are designed to provide a few hours of respite for caregivers and social interaction for participants. Pre-registration is required. Families must complete an enrollment medical form prior to the event. $20 per person fee is charged for each event; fee waivers are available for those that qualify.

Sensory Friendly Sunday at the Walker Art Center
2025-11-09 08:00 - 11:00 | Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sensory Friendly Sunday is a monthly event is designed for kids, teens, and adults with sensory processing differences, autism spectrum disorder or developmental disabilities. From 8 am to 11 am on the second Sunday of the month, the galleries will be closed to the general public, and sound and light levels will be adjusted, allowing visitors to enjoy the museum in a calm environment with accommodations such as quiet spaces, fidgets, and sunglasses available. Experience select Walker exhibitions, make art, watch a short film, or just hang out in a different setting. Featured exhibitions and activities change each month. Visit https://walkerart.org/visit/sensory-friendly-sundays/ for more information or to register.
Sensory Friendly Sunday was developed in consultation with the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) and the University of Minnesota’s Occupational Therapy Program.
For more information about accessibility at the Walker, visit our Access page: https://walkerart.org/visit/accessibility.

Understanding Autism
2025-11-10 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-08 18:00 - 19:00 | 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.

Know Your Rights
2025-11-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event
Disability rights are applicable to every area of life, from housing, to education, from employment to public access. Join Jillian Nelson, Policy Director for the Autism Society of Minnesota to learn more about the rights that protect people with autism, how to access those rights and how to seek support if those rights are violated. This session will provide key information and resources and is not meant to provide legal advice or situation specific guidance.

Charting the LifeCourse Fundamentals Series
2025-11-13 09:00 - 12:30 | Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, 2025 East River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
Charting the LifeCourse was developed by parents as a way to support the people they love to live a good life. Charting the LifeCourse has tools that can help you and your child plan, communicate, and problem-solve about things that are important to them.
CtLC Fundamentals is designed to equip learners with a core knowledge of the CtLC person-centered framework. It provides an interactive experience of applying the CtLC guiding principles and tools, facilitated by a Certified Trainer.

AuSM Professional Networking Group
2025-11-13 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-11 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.

AuSM LGBTQIA Support Group
2025-11-13 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder who identify as LGBTQIA gather to discuss topics related to the intersection of autism and gender/sexuality. This group is held virtually only.

MNprov Mixers (in-person) for Adults (18+)
2025-11-13 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-11-20 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-11-27 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-12-04 18:30 - 20:00 | Youth Performance Company, 641 Fairview Ave N Suite 191, Saint Paul, MN, 55104, 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!
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.

Sensory Friendly Saturday, Bell Museum
2025-11-15 08:00 - 10:00 | Bell Museum, St. Paul, Minnesota
Sensory Friendly Visits

The quietest time to visit the museum is late afternoon, when we have fewer visitors and our space is generally uncrowded. Be sure to check out the items you can borrow at the museum below!
Sensory friendly resources
Visitors are welcome to check out additional resources like our quiet spaces. You can borrow a sensory pack with tools such as visual timers, weighted lap pads, and hearing protection if it helps make the visit more enjoyable, and a social narrative is available for download to prepare for your visit. (Note, this is currently not accurate with COVID-19 procedures. Check out this general social narrative from the Autism Society of Minnesota). Read more about the museum’s other accessibility resources here.
Sensory Friendly Saturday
Prepare for your visit to Sensory Friendly Saturday with a short video – click here to watch.

bellinfo@umn.edu
612.626-9660

Spookley & the Christmas Kittens Sensory Friendly Performance
2025-11-15 10:00 - 11:00 | 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.
Notes
All performances of Spookley and the Christmas Kittens will be in the Jaycees Studio, a versatile space located in the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Seating is general admission and begins 30 minutes prior to show time. Come early for the most seating options!

Not the Right Mom
2025-11-16 14:00 - 17:00 | O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University, 2004 Randolph Ave, St. Paul, MN, 55105, United States
A dynamic solo show written and performed by Megan Dolan, is a heartfelt comedy about a mother raising a son on the spectrum, who feels she’s falling short of expectations. With humor, warmth, and brutal honesty, Megan persists through painful playdates, bewildering support groups, and crazy making meal times – taking countless wrong turns along the way.
“Megan gifts the audience the one thing every parent is looking for: a safe space to redefine heroism as the ability to laugh, love, and cry all while wanting to slow down time because you don’t want to miss a thing.” –LA Parent Magazine
The performance will be followed by a post-show conversation with occupational therapy faculty member Kristine Haertl, PhD, and members of the autism community, Elizabeth Duffy, MS, OTR/L and Michelle Pettit, MAOT’16, OTR/L.

See Me Neurodiverse support meeting
2025-11-19 19:00 - 20:30 | See Me Neurodiverse, 6000 McColl Drive, Savage, MN, 55378
This is a support meeting for the parents and caregivers of the neurodiverse to share our journeys together and help spread our wealth of resources to the community!
See Me’s main event that we host is a Family/Caregiver Support Meeting. We meet for an in-person support group on the first Thursday and the third Wednesday of every month.
These meetings provide a safe space for parents/guardians/anyone who needs additional support while caring for neurodiverse children. Our mission for this support group is to connect, share, and support one another on our journey.

BIPOC Parents of Children with Autism Support Group
2025-11-20 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
BIPOC parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder gather to discuss challenges, triumphs, and strategies for support. This group is welcome to all parents and caregivers of kids with disabilities who identify as black, indigenous, and people of color.

Sensory Friendly Art Club
2025-11-20 16:30 - 18:00, 2025-12-04 16:30 - 18:00, 2025-12-11 16:30 - 18:00 | Mess Hall Arts, 906 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN, 55343, United States
This Art club is being put on between the collaboration of Mess Hall Arts and the Down Syndrome Association of MN.
This curriculum is designed for 5th-9th graders focusing on Sensory Exploration. Each class is focused on 1 or more sensory experience through art and creation. We use Paint, Clay, Recycled Materials, Found Objects and more to create art pieces each class. We focus on Process not product so that each child feels accomplished and has something to take home at the end of each class.

AuSM Family Members of Adults on the Spectrum Support Group
2025-11-20 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Parents, caregivers, and other family members of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (18+) gather to discuss challenges, triumphs, and strategies for support. This group is held virtually only.

AuSM Workshop - Eating Disorders and Autism: Understanding the Overlap and Supporting Recovery
2025-12-04 09:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
Autistic individuals are at significantly higher risk for certain eating disorders—especially anorexia and ARFID—yet their experiences are often misunderstood or overlooked in traditional treatment models. This workshop, co-presented by the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) and Melrose Center, explores the intersection of autism and eating disorders through research, lived experience, and clinical insight.
We’ll examine why eating disorders and autism frequently co-occur, how autistic traits can shape the presentation of eating disorders, and why many conventional treatment models fall short for this population. Attendees will gain practical tools for providing or advocating for more affirming, individualized care—whether you’re a provider, caregiver, or autistic person navigating recovery.

AuSM Women's Support Group
2025-12-04 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Women with Autism Spectrum Disorder gather to discuss challenges, strategies, and topics unique to being a woman on the spectrum. This group is held virtually only.

Cookies & Cocoa with Behavior Frontiers: A Grand Opening Celebration
2025-12-06 10:00 - 13:00 | Behavior Frontiers Plymouth, 3007 Harbor Lane North, Suite 1200, Plymouth, MN, 55447, United States
Celebrate the Grand Opening of our newest Autism Center in Plymouth, MN with holiday cookie decorating and cozy hot cocoa from Ben & Jerry’s
Celebrate the season – and the opening of our newest Autism Care Center in Plymouth, MN! Join us for a Sensory-Friendly Holiday Cookies & Cocoa Celebration as we officially welcome families to our brand-new ABA therapy center, our 5th location in Minnesota!
Designed with sensory needs in mind, this festive open house blends holiday fun with meaningful connection and care.

Sensory Friendly Hours at the Minnesota Transportation Museum
2025-12-06 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.

Using Charting the LifeCourse in Supported Decision Making
2025-12-08 15:00 - 16:30 | Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, 2025 East River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
Everyone should be able to make their own choices, with help if they want and need it. This session will talk about Supported Decision-Making—what it means and how it works. We’ll also learn about easy tools from Charting the LifeCourse that help people think about their goals and who can support them.

AuSM Adult Coffee Club
2025-12-09 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.
