Your Community! Autism Calgary is an association of individuals and families living with autism striving to assist each other and the broader community so that those with autism live meaningful and purposeful lives in a community that values them.
The organization serves as the community of families, caregivers and supportive professionals collectively striving for a supportive, accepting and understanding community for individuals and families living with autism.
(Registered Charity 141096701 RR 0001)
For Family Support, email support@autismcalgary.com
For Adult Resources, email adultresources@autismcalgary.com
For Counselling, email counselling@autismcalgary.com
For the Employment Program, email info@thespectrumadvantage.com
Support & Resource Team
Laura has been part of our Support Team since 2017. Autism Calgary is like her second home; she loves to be part of this Community and be able to help and support families living with autism. She has taken a major interest in helping families navigate and negotiate with FSCD, and specializes in...
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Kate provides support to individuals, families, and community members seeking information, resources, or services. She also coordinates Autism Calgary’s presentations, helping to bring important information to the community and promote greater understanding of...
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Lisa first started working for Autism Calgary in 2021. She is a family support worker connecting families to resources and helping them navigate their FSCD and PDD agreements. Lisa also hosts Autism Calgary’s Keeping It Together support groups and our Parent to Parent Coffee Support group. Her...
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Stephanie is a registered member of Sq’éwqel (Seabird Island Band), a First Nations community along the Fraser Valley in BC. She and her 13 year old son are both neurodivergent and live with ADHD. Stephanie’s education is in Social Work and she has been working in the disability sector since...
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Garett supports autistic adults in identifying their needs and accessing relevant resources in the community for employment, housing, counselling/mental health support, and financial assistance. Garett strives to provide clients with the most relevant, up to date,...
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Laurence assists families as they apply to PDD, understand their options, negotiate FMS agreements, and appeal funding decisions. He specifically helps individuals with complex service needs who must navigate the PDD bureaucracy and secure all the necessary supports...
View More »Counselling
Anmol provides neuro-affirming counselling services to ages 13 and older. She brings enthusiasm, compassionate-care, and most importantly an individualized and person-centered approach to her counselling. Anmol strives to create a supportive and safe environment and...
View More »Employment Team - Spectrum Advantage
Edith joined Spectrum Advantage as an Employment Coach in March 2024, drawn to the program’s inclusive mission and its impact on autistic professionals. She holds a BSc in Forensic Psychology from the UK, where she worked in disability services and both adult and...
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Rebecca started working for the Spectrum Advantage team as an Autism Employment Specialist in August 2017. Prior to this, she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, where she developed a passion for advocacy and mental health. Building on this foundation,...
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Safaa provides Marketing and Community Engagement support at Spectrum Advantage, helping organizations connect with highly skilled neurodivergent professionals. She develops and manages social media content, newsletters, and marketing campaigns, while building and...
View More »Project Initiative & Administration
Emi joined Autism Calgary in December 2025. Emi is in charge of fiancial records and reporting for Autism Calgary, Autism Society Alberta (ASA), and Spectrum Advantage.
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Leanne supports the leadership and staff of Autism Calgary as well as assisting with HR functions of the organization. She also oversees membership and donor relations.
Leanne has been part time with Autism Calgary for 4 years. Previous to that she was a...
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Rina is Autism Calgary’s/Autism Society of Alberta's front desk greeter she strives to make a personable and welcoming connection with anyone that enters. She manages office administration tasks such as making Emergency Disability Alert ID cards for people with autism. Rina also ensures...
View More » Tim is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), certified by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
He also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry. Tim has been in the human service sector for over a decade and has a robust...
View More »Executive Director
Autism Calgary founding member. Handles corporate and community partnerships, including political advocacy work. Also runs the monthly Fathers’ Autism Network (FAN) support group.
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Mission Statement
- Support: Bring hope and help meet the needs of families and individuals living with autism.
- Speak: Be the voice of families and individuals living with autism.
- Educate: Increase awareness and understanding of autism.
- Advocate: Secure and defend the best quality of life for those with autism throughout their lifespan and their families.
- Promote: Encourage the advancement of meaningful research and the development of effective treatment options.
Vision Statement
Individuals with Autism living meaningful and purposeful lives in a community that values them.
Values
- Recognize each family is unique; the family is the constant in the individual’s life; that they are the experts on the individual’s ability and needs; and, the strengths and needs of all family members are considered.
- Easily accessible sources of timely, complete and unbiased information offered in a supportive way.
- Meaningful participation and self-determination in all aspects of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.
- Individual, parental and guardian choice to assure that people on the autism spectrum are treated with respect and dignity.
- Programs that place primary emphasis on the strengthening of individuals and family functioning in ways that empower people to act on their own behalf.
- Financially accountability to all stakeholders.
Board of Directors
As of June 24 2025
Chair: Sara Turner
Vice-Chair: Rosa Cameron
Treasurer: David Levasseur
Secretary: Doug McIntyre
Director: Sebastian Elawny
Director: Bowdie Bragg
Director: Veronica Groat
Director: Claudia Xavier
Director: Simona Ciobanu
Director: Neil Karan
Executive Director: Lyndon Parakin