Society for Treatment of Autism (STA) is an Alberta-based registered charitable organization providing comprehensive treatment and educational services for people with autism and related disorders. STA offers quality support, consultation and educational services for families and communities in Alberta.
Penny For Our Thoughts - Change Brings Hope
What are your pennies worth to you?
Tucked away in your junk drawer or hiding under couch cushions are general places where you may find pennies. Instead of allowing your unwanted pennies to collect dust, pull them out of the shadows and donate them to Society for Treatment of Autism.
Drop your pennies off at Husky Energy Centre for Autism – 404, 94 Avenue SE, Calgary Alberta. Please give us your pennies (and any other change you think appropriate) so that we may give hope.
Employer's Guide 
Society for Treatment of Autism is excited to announce the release of our Employer’s Guide: a brief guide for employers who are working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. This Guide will also prepare potential employers who are willing to provide employment opportunities to people on the Spectrum. We appreciate the input of various individuals and organizations that contributed to the guide and would like to share it with you. Please feel free to download a copy. We do, however, ask that you request permission to reprint the guide.
Write us at autismtreatment@sta-ab.com for permission and to provide feedback.
Please click here to view and be patient as it takes about 40 seconds to download the pdf.
Thank you
We would like to thank the Jack Carter Family Fund of The Calgary Foundation for their generous donation!
Sinneave Family Foundation in Partnership with Society for Treatment of Autism Launches Pursuits, a Skills for Life Program for Adults and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders
What: Pursuits helps adolescents and adults with ASD develop appropriate work behaviors, and fine-tune vocational, life and social skills in a structured, caring environment. Pursuits programs offered in the fall, winter and spring sessions (programs may vary per session) are as follows:
- Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES)® - A work and performance based curriculum that allows clients to explore and complete processes and products that are simulations of real-world job tasks.
- Skills for Life – Individualized life skills, such as hygiene, housekeeping, and snack preparation, are targeted with personalized teaching.
- Autism Community Works® - A community based vocational training program where clients with ASD volunteer alongside typical peers at local not-for-profit organizations.
- Work Practicum – In partnership with London Drugs, participants receive support, real on-site employment experience and training for 27.5 hours.
- Employment Preparation Workshop – A workshop designed to assist individuals with ASD prepare for employment via building skills such as applying, resume writing, interview skills, disclosure, as well as appropriate methods to leave employment, and coping with being laid off or let go.
- Kiosk Work Experience – Working in our onsite café, participants are supported to gain experience and training in the food service industry.
Who: Individuals who meet the following criteria:
- Are aged 13 years and older as of the program start date
- Have and aware of their ASD diagnosis
- Are able to commit to attend scheduled treatment session
- Parent/guardian approval
Selection Process: Demand is expected to be greater than available treatment spaces. Priority will be given to those families who have not yet accessed Pursuits programs. If participant is returning and would like to enroll in another session, please contact Lana Yee-Brown (403-210-5000 or lyeebrown@theabilityhub.org) and ask to be placed in the returning participant list. New and returning participants are matched to programs on the basis of identified needs and preferences and will be contacted one month prior to start of programming.
When: Winter 2013 session is currently full, but applications are being accepted for the Spring 2013 session.
Where: The treatment program is funded by Sinneave Family Foundation, and services are provided by Society for Treatment of Autism. Pursuits is offered at the Ability Hub located on the third floor of the Child Development Centre.
For enrolment, further information, or to arrange a tour of The Ability Hub, please call 403.210.5000 or toll free 1.888.733.7976 or e-mail Lana Yee-Brown at lyeebrown@theabilityhub.org.
Thank you to the Lynn Laforge-Tieman Fund for Autism
Thank you to the Lynn Laforge-Tieman Fund for Autism at the Calgary Foundation, for their generous donation!
Thank you to the Alberta Lottery Fund – Community Spirit Program
A big thank you goes to the Alberta Lottery Fund – Community Spirit Program for their generous donation of $17,552.60. STA received much needed upgrades to our air conditioning, locks, windows and photocopier!
Sinneave Family Foundation Launches a Program for Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
The confidence and wherewithal to take transit. The skills to prepare lunch. Insight into personal strengths and interests at work, and a chance to apply them. The ability to understand and be understood. A reason to look to the future with hope.
It's what growing up is about - aspirations shared by people with ASD and their families.
To help them get there, Sinneave Family Foundation is funding a treatment and education program tailored to the diverse needs of individuals with ASD between the ages of 13 and older, housed in the purpose-built Sinneave Centre on the third floor of Calgary's Child Development Centre.
The Foundation has collaborated with Society for Treatment of Autism, a Calgary-based agency with over 40 years of ASD service expertise, to create the new program. It is founded on best practices, with family and person-centred planning in mind, and is driven by a pressing need to assist adolescents and adults with ASD to develop appropriate work behaviours, specialized vocational, life and social skills in a structured, caring environment.
The adult and adolescent program offers participants the opportunity to master a series of work-related tasks appropriate to their skills and abilities - from business skills like office administration, data entry and computer technology, to service skills such as commercial food preparation, or retail experience in stocking and inventory - at their own speed and with the supervision and guidance of professionally-trained staff.
For some, the focus may be to increase personal and independent living skills - skills taught in the self-contained apartment at the Centre. Here, participants learn general housekeeping tasks such as: operating household appliances; sorting and doing the laundry; changing the bed; cleaning; and learning to shop, cook and prepare snacks and meals. This is also a perfect environment to work on personal hygiene - learning to dress, shave and shower.
There is also an off-site community work experience component, where participants have an opportunity to learn skills and "give-back" by volunteering to help maintain the gardens at Bethany Care Centre, bake cookies for families at Ronald McDonald House, or build "Wish" packages for Children's Wish Foundation.
Thank you to Government of Alberta's Community Spirit Grant Program
We are very grateful to the Government of Alberta's Community Spirit Grant Program donation grant of $12,788.00. This grant was put towards the payment of our newly renovated residential facility!