AASCEND – Autism Asperger Syndrome Coalition for Education Networking and Development

AASCEND…

Adults of all ages on the autism spectrum, their families and friends, academics and professionals in the autism field unite as a community in AASCEND. Our members sit down at the table as peers to support one another and work together to achieve AASCEND’S goals of Education, Networking and Development.

Autism’s core challenges can be profound. AASCEND members explore the world of autism through group discussions, guest speakers, films and book selections.

For the past ten years AASCEND members have been meeting monthly to share information resources, support one another emotionally, and in the process learn to appreciate the view points of others. Our group is intergenerational and comes from all walks of life.

Getting and holding a job is difficult for many people on the autism spectrum. To address this problem AASCEND has helped organize a job club for people on the autism spectrum, under the guidance of Michael Bernick, former head of California’s Employment Development Department, and Cindy Zoeller, an employment coach aiding spectrum clients in the Sacramento area. The job club has been meeting regularly in downtown San Francisco with enthusiastic participation from many AASCEND members.