AUTISM OKANAGAN ASSOCIATION

DURING THE FISCAL PERIOD. AUTISM OKANAGAN CONTINUED TO OPERATE PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE AUTISM COMMUNITY IN THE OKANAGAN. WE CONTINUED THESE PROGRAMS THIS YEAR. 1. OUR SPECIAL HOCKEY TEAMS THE WILDCATS UNDER 16 TEAM AND THE WILD OVER 16 TEAM COMPLETED FULL SEASONS OF PLAY CULMINATING WITH A PROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT IN CHILLIWACK 2. OUR LEARN TO GOLF PROGRAM HELD A SET OF LESSONS FOR KIDS WITH AUTISM TO LEARN THE BASICS OF GOLF USING SPECIAL EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY THE ELS FOR AUTISM FOUNDATION. FOUR OF OUR GOLFERS THEN REPRESENTED CANADA IN THE SECOND ANNUAL ELS INTERNATIONAL GOF TOURNAMENT. 3. OUR YOUTH AND ADULT PROGRAM (YAP) EXPANDED TO ADD A DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS GROUP. NOW OUR MIX IT UP GROUP MEETS ONCE A WEEK AND DOES A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES TO ENCOURAGE SOCIAL INTERACTION AMONG THE GROUP. OUR D&D GROUP ALSO MEETS ONCE A WEEK. BOTH GROUPS ARE FULL TO CAPACITY WITH WAITLISTS. 4. OUR LEGO PROGRAM ADDED A LEGO JUNIOR CLUB FOR 4-8 YEAR OLDS. WE RAN FOUR 4-WEEK SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND INCREASED OUR NUMBERS SIGNIFICANTLY. 5. GODDESS ON THE GO OUR MOM'S NIGHT OUT WHICH PROMOTES A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMONG THOSE RAISING CHILDREN WITH AUTISM HAD A SOLD OUT CROWD OF 120 WOMEN ATTEND AT THE COAST CAPRI HOTEL FOR A WONDERFUL EVENING OF COMRADERY AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES FROM OUR GUEST SPEAKER. 6. SPECIAL SANTA NIGHTS CONTINUED WITH THE HELP OF THE KELOWNA ACTORS' STUDIO. WE HAD 2 EVENINGS OF FAMILIES MEETING WITH SANTA IN A SENSORY FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT AND RECEIVING A FREE PICTURE WITH SANTA. DURING OUR 2023/24 FISCAL YEAR WE HAD 56 VOLUNTEERS PUT IN OVER 3622 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER TIME TO RUN AUTISM OKANAGAN'S PROGRAMS.

WE ADDED TWO NEW PROGRAMS IN 2023/2024. 1. DIGITAL ARTS AND DRAWING CLUBS. PARTICIPANTS AGED 12-20+ LEARN THE BASICS OF DIGITAL ART INCLUDING ANIMATION AND GRAPHIC DESIGN HAND DRAWING TEHCNIQUES AND ABOUT POST-SECONDARY AND CAREER POSSIBILITIES IN THIS AREA IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTED ENVIRONMENT TAUGHT BY INSTRUCTORS WHO ARE THEMSELVES NEURODIVERGENT SO UNDERSTAND THE UNIQJUE NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS 2. NEURODIVERGENT MENTORSHIP EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF NEURODIVERGENT PEOPLE BY HIRING NEORODIVERGENT PEOPLE. OFTEN FOR THEIR FIRST JOB AS FACILITATORS IN OUR OTHER PROGRAMS. CURRENTLY BOTH OUR DUNGEON MASTERS FIVE OF OUR LEGO FACILITATORS AND ALL FOUR OF OUR DIGITAL ARTS AND DRAWING CLUB INSTRUCTORS ARE NEURODIVERGENT.