MNprov Mixers - Virtual
2024-11-06 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-11-13 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-11-20 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-12-04 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event
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. Individuals are welcome to take breaks as needed. Participants are encouraged to let us know how we can best support them. Because this is on ZOOM, participants from greater Minnesota have an accessible way to attend.
A social narrative about the MNprov Mixers workshops and a registration link can be found on our website.
952.649.9699, catherine@mnprov.org

AuSM Women's Support Group
2024-11-07 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-12-05 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.

Winter MNprov Mixers -- In-Person
2024-11-07 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-11-14 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-11-21 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-12-05 18:30 - 20:00 | Eagan Community Center
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.
952.649.9699, catherine@mnprov.org

See Me Neurodiverse support meeting
2024-11-07 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-12-05 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!
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

MNprov Mixers
2024-11-08 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-11-15 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-11-22 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-11-29 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-12-06 18:30 - 20:00 | Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2561 Victoria Street North, Roseville, MN, 55113
Free Workshops for Neurodivergent Adults
ND adults benefit from these free applied improvisation workshops as they develop social connections, build relationships, and feel belonging. Within this safe and trusting environment, participants learn to become comfortable taking reasonable risks & making mistakes, increase their resilience and ability to tolerate uncertainty, improve their communication and collaboration skills, learn to listen and accept new ideas, and become more flexible and able to consider different perspectives. https://mnprov.org/fall-mnprov-mixers

Autistic Community Summit
2024-11-09 10:00 - 16:30 | Woodlake Lutheran Church, 2120 W 76th St, Richfield, MN, 55423
Created and curated by people with autism and for people with autism, the purpose of the Autistic Community Summit is to provide a space for community building and sharing the knowledge and perspectives of Minnesota’s autistic community. This year’s summit is dedicated to amplifying the voices of autistic individuals and fostering a supportive community that embraces diversity, inclusion, and empowerment.

Saturday Fun/Respite Day
2024-11-09 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
2024-11-10 08:00 - 11:00, 2024-12-08 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.

AuSM Professional Networking Group
2024-11-14 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
2024-11-14 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.

Sensory Friendly Saturday, Bell Museum
2024-11-16 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

Free Family Movie Meetup (Sensory Friendly & Accessible Event)
2024-11-16 11:30 - 14:00 | Woodbury 10 Theater, 1470 Queens Dr, Woodbury, MN, 55125, United States
Join Family Achievement Foundation for a free family movie meetup! We will be watching Inside Out 2 and this is a sensory friendly & accessible event.
11:30 AM Check-In, 12:00 PM Movie Starts
Woodbury 10 Theater
Parents/Caregivers must accompany children to this event.
Email info@familyachieve.org to register

See Me Neurodiverse support meeting
2024-11-20 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.

AuSM Family Members of Adults on the Spectrum Support Group
2024-11-21 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.

All Aboard For the Holidays: Neurodiversity Streetcar Ride
2024-11-29 11:00 - 14:00 | Como Harriet Streetcar Line, 4200 Queen Avenue, South, Minneapolis, MN, 55410, United States
Everyone welcome, accommodations available. We’ll be handing out candy canes and Chanukah gelt and Santa is scheduled to appear! Our Santa is an African American Minneapolis elder who is not rotund, but is very kind. Platform and Depot are wheelchair accessible but the streetcar has stairs. $3 per ride or $7 unlimited rides for the event. We do not operate in rain so check the website for cancellations.

Workshop: Executive Function Essentials
2024-12-05 09:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
This workshop will give you foundational skills to build self-regulation that will improve your executive function. We’ll delve into innovative concepts like spiral time, providing a fresh perspective on time management and organization. You will learn practical, actionable strategies to support and strengthen executive function skills, tailored specifically for autistic individuals.
The content is designed with neurodivergent brains in mind, offering approaches and strategies that respect and work with your natural tendencies rather than against them. Whether you’re looking to boost your own executive function or support someone else, this workshop offers tools that can be implemented right away, empowering you to navigate your own life and your own needs with the approaches that work for you.

Lionsgate Academy Prospective Families Information Session
2024-12-05 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Lionsgate Academy is a free, public charter school open to students of all abilities and learning differences. We specialize in educating students on the autism spectrum. Join us for a virtual Prospective Families Information Session on Thursday, December 5th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Learn more about Lionsgate and ask questions about our school at this virtual meeting or visit us online for more information. RSVP at the link.
