The Autism Society of Minnesota

06/15/2026

We are pleased to announce that Daren Howard has been named Interim Executive Director of the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM). Howard has served as Deputy Director alongside Ellie Wilson for the last four years, and is the first openly autistic person named to the role in AuSM’s 55-year history. Acknowledging the significance of his appointment to the autism community, Howard said that he’s "looking forward to working with the board and staff, both of whom have more autistic representation than ever, to center the leadership of autistic people and ensure that all people with disabilities in Minnesota have the resources to thrive.”

More information on our search for the next Executive Director of AuSM will be provided soon. Sign up for the AuSM Connections Newsletter to stay informed using the link in our bio or by following the link below:

https://ausm.org/civicrm/profile/create/?gid=20&reset=1

06/12/2026

We're so proud to be a sponsor for this year's Quiet Riot!

Quiet Riot is a unique Pride event centering q***r joy, rest, and resistance through calm connection. Designed especially for neurodivergent and sensory-sensitive folks—but open to all—this event reimagines what celebration can look like. Expect silent disco vibes, cozy corners, collaborative art, yummy snacks, and a whole lot of q***r magic—with none of the overwhelming noise. Whether you’re coming to ground, create, move, or connect, Quiet Riot offers a space to be fully and loudly yourself, without having to raise your voice.

AuSM will be there at the resource fair from 1-4:30p.m. and we will also be hosting a workshop called: Communication and Relationships - Building Connection from a Neurodivergent Perspective hosted by one of our AuSM therapists, Mason Esposito. This workshop will give participants tools for improved communication and healthy boundaries while encouraging participants to explore relationships, s*x, and intimacy with a neurodiversity-affirming perspective. You will learn how to communicate your needs and support your partner(s) in long-term relationships or short-term relationships. This workshop is for neurodivergent people, including autistic adults, and their partners, including neurotypicals. The discussion will include mentions of s*x, and is intended for adults.

For more information on the details of Quiet Riot, scan the QR code provided on the flyer.

06/11/2026

🚨Tomorrow!

Spots are still available to join us for our June workshop on Supporting Autistic People With Higher Support Needs: Tools for Communication, Choice, and Quality of Life hosted by our very own Dr. Barb Luskin.

If you want to learn more about complex communication needs, different ways that high support needs autistic people experience the world, and best practices of how to support higher support needs autistic people, this is the workshop for you!

Sign up using the link in our bio or by following the link below:
http://ausm.org/highersupportneeds

06/08/2026

🌸What a joyous day to send off such an incredible leader of our organization.

Last Thursday, we had so much fun gathering with many members of our community at Urban Growler to come together to celebrate Ellie's tenure with AuSM, raise a toast to the impact of her leadership, and to wish her the best in her next chapter.

As Ellie wraps up her last few days with us, we want to take the time to thank her for everything she has done for us over the last 10 years as our Executive Director, and over the course of her career. We are so grateful to Ellie for all of her contributions to the Autism Society of Minnesota and she is going to be sorely missed!

Thanks to Urban Growler Brewing Company for hosting us. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious!

📷:

06/06/2026

🌈We're looking for volunteers to help make Pride a more inclusive, accessible event, and we're looking for YOU!

We have a variety of roles that need to be filled based on your level of comfort:

💪 Setup Crew- the hands who bring the Escape Space to life, for those who love heavy lifting
🗣️ Community Engagement Helper- the first faces of the Escape Space, helpers who set a friendly tone and help provide information about autism and Pride in general
🤫 Accessibility Host- supervisors of the quiet space, for those who love to provide support to others in need
👯Roaming Accessibility Host- with a partner assisting to help festival goers to make it to the Escape Space, for those who love providing support for others on the go
🚶Float Support- fill in for others as needed, for those who are versatile and/or love to help in any way they can
🎉Parade Accessibility Host- assist and support accommodations in the parade space, for those who love the atmosphere of a parade and can directly support people along the parade route
💪 Teardown Crew- the hands that help carry the load to end the event strong, for those who love heavy lifting and walking distances who may not be able to make it to set up

Each job is an important part of helping AuSM create an inclusive experience not just at the Escape Space, but overall at Pride. And we wouldn't be able to make that possible without you! Sign up to volunteer with us at Pride using the link in our bio or using the link below:
ausm.org/pridevolunteer

AuSM is the local organization serving individuals with autism and those who care for them.

06/04/2026

We're about a week away from our next workshop!

Join us next Thursday, June 11 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. as we navigate how to best support higher support needs autistic people in our community. In this workshop, participants will be able to:

-Differentiate between a variety of communication methods used by autistic individuals with more intensive support needs.
-Analyze how the fit between a person and their supports can influence autonomy, participation, and well-being.
-Identify practical, research-informed communication supports that increase access to choice and self-expression.
-Evaluate how assumptions about capability can shape support practices and either expand or restrict opportunities for growth.
-Implement strengths-based strategies that prioritize dignity, self-determination, and quality of life in everyday support settings.

Come learn how to support the most vulnerable members of our community from our longest tenured professional in our organization: http://ausm.org/highersupportneeds

06/02/2026

Want to learn more about autism, but you're unsure of where to start?

Then our Understanding Autism course is for you!

Understanding Autism is for those who are new to learning about autism, want to expand their knowledge about autism, and especially want to learn about autism from an autistic perspective. Led by our Policy Director, Jillian Nelson, this course provides:

📚A thorough understanding of what autism is versus what it is not
♾️How autistic people can experience autism and what it means to be on the autism spectrum
🫂Ways to support autistic people in your life or ways to support yourself if you're autistic

Sign up for the course here: ausm.org/understanding-autism

06/01/2026

🌈Happy first day of Pride!

We're so excited again to be bringing you the Escape Space as part of the Twin Cities Pride festival at the end of the month. What is the Escape Space? It's a sensory friendly space designed to give festival goers a place to unwind, decompress, and escape from the overwhelming excitement that comes from a festival environment.

Why is accessibility important at Pride? According to GLAAD and RespectAbility, approximately three to five million people in the LGBTQIA+ community identify as having a disability, with “one in four le***an, gay, and bis*xual adults in the U.S. having a disability, and two in five transgender adults having a disability.” https://glaad.org/disabilities/

Honoring the intersections of disability, s*xual identity, and gender identity are so important this Pride month. But even more importantly, honoring the intersections of how Black, Indigenous, and people of color experience disability, s*xual identity, and gender identity. That's how we shape Our Voices into Our Future.

Want to help us in this mission? Sign up to volunteer with us during the Pride festival! We're looking for 93 volunteers to help with setting up the Escape Space in Loring Park, support accessible space along the parade route, roam the park with sensory tools to help direct people to the quiet space, and table at the tent itself to engage our community and share information about accessibility and AuSM. Sign up to volunteer with us using the link in our bio, or following the link below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0948A9A92CA2F9C52-63292267-join #/

05/29/2026

Want to provide better support for autistic people—and feel confident doing it?

Our Autism Certification course on July 17, 24, and 31, 2026 from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM is for you!

With our three-session format, this allows you as a learner to go further in depth with understanding autism—including how it impacts communication, relationships, sensory processing, and daily life. You’ll learn how to adapt your support strategies to meet individual needs, advocate effectively, and help autistic people thrive on their own terms.

Participants will also receive a certificate upon completion, and licensed professionals may submit documentation for up to 12 CEUs.

Become autism certified today: https://ausm.org/certification

Photo Credit: Alma MN Photographer/Alma Hueso

05/24/2026

On Saturday, May 16, we had the distinguished honor of being able to attend the last Joey's Ride in honor of Joey Getter who sadly passed away in December of 2025 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. We are incredibly grateful to Joey’s loved ones for allowing us to share in celebrating his memory, and especially to his mother Ronnie Sprigler who has spent the last 18 years organizing Joey’s Ride and contributing so much to our organization.

Thank you so much for the last 18 years of memories at Joey’s Ride, and we continue to offer our sincerest condolences to Joey’s family and loved ones.