Welcome

Thanks for visiting our website. We’re glad you found us!

Our goal is to provide support to individuals on the autism spectrum and their families through educational programs, support groups and social gatherings. You’ll find information about our mission, upcoming programs, professional members, and a variety of resources on issues such as education, employment, advocacy, etc.

We hope the information on our site is helpful for you and your family. If you have any questions about the ASCEND Group, please send a message to [email protected]

Upcoming Events:

Chips, Chocolate and Chat Gatherings for Adults and their Caregivers
(virtual for the foreseeable future and free for members and non-members)

For adults on the spectrum and their parents/caregivers (families will attend a simultaneous, but separate session)
Upcoming 2021 Sundays:  2/7, 3/7, 4/18, 5/16,  6/13
Sessions: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Contact us to RSVP (link provided only to those who contact us).

 IMPROV CLASS (for 7-11 year olds and limited to 10 participants)

Monday, January 18 at 5:00 PM via Zoom.
Free for ASCEND Group members, non-members $5.00
Registration is required.

New! Virtual Support Group for Parents & Caregivers of Teens
Every 3rd Tuesday, 7:00 - 8:15 p.m. 
Next session: January 19
Click here to view our video with Margot Stein, marriage and family therapist who will facilitate these groups.
Sessions are free for members and $10 for non-members.  Join now!

Free Art of Friendship Webinar: Social & Coping Skills for School & Home
Monday, 1/27/21
How the experts provide children with compassionate social coaching for social miscues & difficult moments. 
After registering at the above link, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
College Panel for Students on the Autism Spectrum

When: Wednesday, Feb 24, 2021 06:30 PM
Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

 ASCEND Professional Events

Therapy Sessions

Weekly, one-hour groups are offered for young people, between the ages of 4 - 19 years, both with and without diagnoses such as High Functioning Autism, ADHD, learning differences, and anxiety.

Free Webinar: Social & Coping Skills for Home & School: An Ultra-Positive Training Approach
Wednesday, 1/27/21, 7:00 - 8:15 p.m.

Are you seeing big progress from your child’s social skills group or school Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum? If not, it’s hard for the struggling child to generalize learned social skills from one setting to another.


Upcoming Special Needs Zoom Workshops
Complimentary workshops focused on empowering and educating families who have dependents with special needs giving them clear, actionable information that can be used to understand and build a responsible financial lifestyle. We will be hosting a Special Needs News at Noon every Wednesday this fall at 12 Noon to discuss special needs planning topics!

Kristina VachaKristina Vacha's Groups
All groups promote increased understanding of living as an adult on the spectrum, address adult issues like employment, independent living, relationships and dating, and provide peer support.