AUTISM ASPERGERS FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY OF CALGARY
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Mission Statement
AAFS' Mission is to provide an accepting environment for members of the Autism Community where they can cultivate friendships and social skills, and connect to the greater community. AAFS' Vision is a world in which there are no barriers to acceptance; a world where everyone is afforded a socially and recreationally fulfilling life.
About This Cause
In 2004, seven (7) families with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), saw the need for their children and others to have the chance to be kids and have fun. These children were enduring stressful days. Nothing but school and therapy. The Autism Aspergers Friendship Society of Calgary (AAFS) was founded to provide this opportunity. From seven (7) families to over 1000 in January 2025 and we welcome new families & members every week. There is a misconception that individuals with autism can’t have or don’t want friends and relationships. That is so wrong! They want friendships, they want experiences. They just need support in making these things possible. What’s missing for them? Opportunity and that’s where AAFS comes in. One of our first members experienced anxiety and fear in new situations or place. Over the years, through experiential learning, places that once invoked these feelings became places of success triumph. Environments once thought impossible, like the Saddledome, became places he could not imagine his life without. As a matter of fact, he is now a cameraman for the Flames & Stampeders organizations. We have hundreds of story like this and with your support, we will have thousands. In 2004, we provided two (2) simple activities, one weeknight and one on weekends. On the weeknights, we would meet at the Autism Calgary office and enjoy nights between video game, board and card games and art nights. On the weekends, we would enjoy activities like swimming, bowling and movies. Our focus was on getting kids out together with like minded people and having some fun. Over the years, we have significantly increased the scope and reach of our activities because our members would say things like, "I want to make a movie", "I want to learn how to design video games", "I want to go to a Monster Truck Show", "I want to go on a real camping trip." We began to do what our members asked for. It was important to us that anything we started to do was because a member of ours asked for it and that nobody else was doing it. We have always operated from a very simple base, bring members together, empower them, accept them, allow them to take risks, and learn naturally whenever possible. As much as the adult world wants to 'structure' how children learn certain things, EVERYONE learns how they learn. AAFS' programs consist of: Community Outings - When AAFS began, one of our main goals was to immerse our members in the community around us. Over the years, AAFS members have had a chance to do everything there is to do recreation wise in the City of Calgary and surrounding areas. The community is the largest classroom in the world and AAFS takes full advantage. A Community Outing can be anything out in the community, swimming, bowling, sporting events like Flames/Hitmen/Stamps games, laser quest, paintball, sledding, skating, movies, anything! Clubhouse Nights - These are evenings at the AAFS clubhouse are where many important lessons are learned. Turn taking, sportsmanship, sharing, hanging out. We were told by one of our youth that how to just "hang out" was definitely a skill he needed to learn. These nights are on a more 'drop in' basis and rotate through our schedule according to requests from our members. Some examples of popular clubhouse night activities are video games, board games, movie night, holiday specials and more. AAFS Specialized Programs are programs that take place over 4-16 weeks with a specific focus. These programs are an opportunity to engage our members in their special interests and present an opportunity for possible future vocations. Some examples of our specialized programs are: Movie Project 12-18 members with ASD collaborate on the writing, filming, editing, acting and everything else to do with movie making. They have taken us into a world of vampires with Amulet of Dracul, been sucked inside a Video Game world with "6- The Movie", watched a group of misfits save the world from a Supersonic Fart in "2012- A Fart Odyssey" and watched a group of students become Super Heroes in "The Hero Initiative: Unexpected Heroes" Outdoor Pursuits Each year (May through September), we take groups of up to 25 members on a number of camping trips in traditional camping style. They set up the tents, cook their own food, light fires, canoeing, and do everything one does when camping. One of our participants, when asked why he enjoyed our camping trips so much said, “Because I get to go camping. I am not going to a camp.” During May to September, our members also enjoy hiking and fishing trips. We travel all around Alberta and BC. Wherever the road takes to explore or to a place where the fish are biting, we will be there! Intentional Mentorship Program An avenue for our members (youth with ASD) to start volunteering once they become comfortable enough with their social world and during this volunteer time, mentor them on what it takes to become a staff member at AAFS and eventually move them to staff. We just recently hired our 8th former member to come on staff. We are extremely proud of this because as much of the ASD community is trying to find ways to find people with ASD employment, very few (if any) are actually employing anyone with ASD. Intentional Mentorship is a volunteer program that allows youth and young adults the opportunity to volunteer their time and help assist the AAFS in respite activities in the community, the clubhouse, and around the office. The program receives its title from one of our oldest members who has basically grown up in AAFS and lovingly refers to staff as his buddies. The idea of being a “buddy” or friend to children, youth, and young adults within the autism spectrum is at the core of the volunteer program. GO Group/Prism A purely recreation/social program for adults who do not qualify for PDD funding. Once a week, participants meet up and decide on a group activity to do in the community. We run GO Group in partnership with Autism Calgary. AMPed The AAFS' Movie Project has been running for five (5) years and a number of our members have become talented storytellers, camera operators, film editors and producers. AMPed will give experienced members of the Movie Project the opportunity to use those skills and gain valuable work experience. It will be an avenue for them to market themselves and learn about the industry. AMPed can be hired out for your event, documentary or any film project. Extreme Sports- Skateboarding, Parkour, Rock Climbing If you are a bit of an extremist when it comes to sports, then you will love these programs! We have an amazing skateboarding program, paired with our friends from Calgary Association of Skateboard Enthusiasts, to teach you some skateboarding basics, and for those more advanced some fancy tricks! Parkour program, the art of movement involving running, jumping, climbing, vaulting, rolling, flipping is facilitated through Calgary's own Breathe Parkour at the North and South locations. Stepping Out Developed by Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser for her Master’s Degree, Stepping Out empowers individuals with ASD to make physical activity part of their daily lives and improve their on-going health. Simply stated the goals are: 1) Improved fitness and nutrition; 2) Reduction of obesity; 3) Increased mental well-being and quality of life; and, 4) Work and recreation preparation.