Frequently Asked Questions

SASS offers many workshops, programs, and groups throughout the year. We provide groups for teens, adults, parents, community members, and run workshops for specific groups, such as late diagnosed folk, or autistic women. Check out https://www.autism.ca/workshops/ for upcoming groups/workshops at SASS. We can connect families to other providers if SASS does not currently offer the service they are requesting. 

  • If you suspect someone in your family has Autism, you may want to seek out a diagnosis. This can be done by talking to your family doctor, going through Alberta Health Services (e.g., Child Development Centre) or paying privately for an assessment with a psychologist. 
  • Services for Children – Families should contact FSCD to apply for family focused and, if appropriate, child focused funding. This allows families to access in-home supports and services. If your child is at least 2 years 8 months, they may be eligible for funding to SASS’ Specialized Preschool – Sprouts Academy. https://www.alberta.ca/fscd
  • Services for Adults – SASS offers a specialized counselling program which involves both individual and group services. SASS also offers pre-employment and employment supports to assist job seekers to gain and maintain employment
  • SASS provides a variety of different programs for those diagnosed with autism across the life span, please contact our team here Contact Us – Autism.ca
Society for Autism Support and Services (SASS) offers a range of individualized, multidisciplinary services for children diagnosed with autism of all ability levels. This includes:
  • Sprouts Academy – Specialized preschool/kindergarten for children 2 years 8 months to 6 years
  • Specialized Services and Behavioural Development Supports for children and families with funding from FSCD. Services are offered in the family home
  • Counselling – For children 10 years and older with mental health concerns as well as autism, SASS also has a counselling option. Information on all of these programs can be found on our website
  • For children 15-18, SASS offers an Adolescent and Adult Program, which address pre-employment and work readiness skills
 
Yes, we support adults in a few different ways. SASS’s Adolescent and Adult Program (Programs: Employment Opportunities for Autistic People)offers skill-enhancing employment readiness and work experience services. For this program, a formal autism diagnosis in not needed – self-identifying autistic is sufficient. We also partner with Ready Willing & Able (RWA) –  a national program to provide job coaching and support in obtaining employment. Finally, SASS has counselling options for autistic adults experiencing mental health concerns (Counselling – Autism.ca)

SASS provides supports and services across southern Alberta. These may be provided in-person or virtually. Please contact us to discuss your service request and potential funding sources. SASS’ ability to meet community need is limited by our available clinical resources at the time.