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Autism Empowerment

Autism Empowerment uplifts autistic and neurodivergent voices through advocacy, education, and creative opportunities, fostering a supportive community that promotes inclusion and empowerment in media and beyond.

Have you ever dreamed of writing and publishing your own songs but weren&rsquo;t sure where to begin&mdash;or how to make it all the way to the finish line? Join Autism Empowerment&rsquo;s Neurodivergent Creators Collective for a free, beginner-friendly Zoom workshop with Hoku award-winning singer, songwriter, and musician Brian Tashima.&nbsp; Brian will &nbsp;cover subjects like finding inspiration, the chicken-and-egg question of where to start &ndash; music or lyrics, what goes into crafting a catchy melody, and much more. You may know Brian as the author of the Joel Suzuki series; however, Brian&#39;s also a musician who has played guitar and sung lead in bands for many years. One of his first bands won a Hoku Award, which is Hawaii&rsquo;s version of the Grammys, and he&#39;s written songs that have been licensed for use by numerous media outlets, including MLB Network, The Golf Channel, Access Hollywood, and others. This workshop will be recorded and made available to registrants for on-demand viewing afterward.&nbsp;Register today!&nbsp;

Brian Tashima: Songwriting Bootcamp

Explore documentary filmmaking with Emmy-winning, Grammy-nominated filmmaker and musician, Beth Harrington! 🎬 This month, the Neurodivergent Creators Collective has the honor and privilege of having the amazing Beth Harrington as our presenter! Beth is an Emmy-winning, Grammy-nominated filmmaker and musician who specializes in documentary features. Not only that, but she&rsquo;s local to the Vancouver, WA area!&nbsp; In this presentation, Beth will talk about what goes into writing, directing, and producing an effective documentary that is as entertaining as it is informative.&nbsp; Beth is currently making the film festival rounds with two of her documentaries: Our Mr. Matsura, which is the story about a Japanese photographer who journeyed to rural Washington State in the early 1900s, and Beyond the Duplex Planet, which is about the artist David Greenberger and his unconventional work with senior citizens. This workshop will be recorded and made available to registrants for on-demand viewing afterward.&nbsp;Register today!&nbsp;

Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking with Beth Harrington

Join AE-NCC for a free live Zoom workshop with Edward Martin III, founder of Hellbender Media, as he returns to take a deeper dive into pre-production planning for filmmaking. In this beginner-friendly workshop, Edward will explore how thoughtful planning can help filmmakers prepare for a smoother, more creative, and more successful production process. Whether you are working on a short film, YouTube project, documentary, student film, community project, or creative idea you hope to film someday, pre-production can help you clarify your vision and make the most of your available time, people, budget, and resources. With over 154 credits in film, writing, and production, Edward Martin III is a powerhouse creator and the founder of Hellbender Media. The Hellbender team teaches in-depth filmmaking workshops at comic and special interest conventions several times a year, and we&rsquo;re incredibly grateful for the chance to learn from such a seasoned professional. Hosted by Autism Empowerment and our Neurodivergent Creators Collective, this workshop supports our mission to uplift autistic and neurodivergent voices in media. Thank you for joining us!

Pre-Production Planning for Filmmaking with Edward Martin III

Have you ever dreamed of writing and publishing your own novel but weren&rsquo;t sure where to begin&mdash;or how to make it all the way to the finish line? Join Autism Empowerment&rsquo;s Neurodivergent Creators Collective for a free, beginner-friendly Zoom workshop with award-winning author and independent publisher Brian Tashima. Brian will share practical lessons from his own writing and publishing journey, including how to overcome writer&rsquo;s block, develop a writing process that works for you, finish your manuscript, and independently publish a professional-quality book. This workshop will be recorded and made available to registrants for on-demand viewing afterward.&nbsp;Register today!&nbsp;

Brian Tashima: Introduction to Independent Writing and Publishing

Explore how AI is reshaping filmmaking with filmmaker, producer, and director Craig McCourry 🎬🤖 Autism Empowerment and our Neurodivergent Creators Collective are proud and excited to present a thought-provoking discussion on artificial intelligence and its implications for the future of the filmmaking industry, featuring professional filmmaker Craig McCourry. Craig has been researching this topic for years and has many valuable insights to share. If you&rsquo;re a filmmaker yourself and are wondering what kind of impact artificial intelligence might have on your craft, this is sure to be of interest! Craig McCourry is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, and director whose career spans over 35 years and more than 70 countries. As the founder of Banyan Tree Movies, Craig specializes in creating emotionally resonant period dramas rooted in the 1930s to 1960s, with a special focus on Asian and Asian American narratives.&nbsp; His past credits include the historical drama feature films Battlebox, Hong Kong 1942, and Christmas at the Royal Hotel, and his most recent project is The Singularity Protocol, a sci-fi short film about two WWII soldiers who are contacted by an artificial intelligence from the future. This workshop will be recorded and made available to registrants for on-demand viewing afterward.&nbsp;Register today!&nbsp;

Craig McCourry: AI and the Future of Filmmaking

Celebrate one year of creativity, connection, and community with Autism Empowerment&rsquo;s Neurodivergent Creators Collective.&nbsp;🎉 Join Autism Empowerment&rsquo;s Neurodivergent Creators Collective for a relaxed one-year recap + AMA. We&rsquo;ll look back at favorite workshops, Chill &amp; Chats, and Creator Corner resources from our first year, share links and handouts so you can revisit what you missed! Bring your questions for our AMA 🎤 We&#39;ll then open the Zoom Room for an Ask Me Anything conversation with Program Leader and Instructor Brian Tashima, and Autism Empowerment co-founders Karen and John Krejcha. Ask about any of our past workshops, make suggestions for upcoming training, and share what matters to you as a neurodivergent creative! Whether you&#39;re a newcomer or you&#39;ve attended workshops in the past, please join us! We&rsquo;ll also be having free prize drawings for those who stay until the end!

AE-NCC Year One Highlights + Ask Me Anything (AMA)

Martin Vavra, owner and founder of Galaxy Sailor Productions, has traveled the world during his filmmaking career as an editor, producer, cinematographer, and director for both films and commercials. Martin knows that editing is much more than just pasting together separate camera shots. Knowing what to focus on to best tell the story means really understanding what that story is. Martin will guide us through reviewing a story, highlighting what an editor needs to consider, how to make smooth transitions to build the story, and how important collaboration is among all the creatives on a specific project.&nbsp; Don&rsquo;t miss your chance to learn from this accomplished professional who also teaches full filmmaking courses in Portland several times a year. Hosted by Autism Empowerment and our Neurodivergent Creators Collective, this workshop supports our mission to uplift autistic and neurodivergent voices in media. Thank you for joining us!

Martin Vavra: Editing A Short Film

With over 154 credits in film, writing, and production, Edward Martin III is a powerhouse creator and the founder of Hellbender Media. The Hellbender team teaches in-depth filmmaking workshops at comic and special interest conventions several times a year, and we&rsquo;re incredibly grateful for the chance to learn from such a seasoned professional. This session is designed to be beginner-friendly and especially helpful for low-budget filmmakers who want big impact without expensive gear. You&rsquo;ll learn how lighting does far more than &ldquo;help the camera see&rdquo;&mdash;it can shape mood, guide your audience&rsquo;s attention, and elevate the look and feel of your scenes. Edward will also cover how simple camera movement and placement can work hand-in-hand with lighting choices to strengthen your storytelling. Whether you&rsquo;re just getting started or looking to sharpen your fundamentals, you&rsquo;ll walk away with practical concepts you can apply right away to create more memorable, intentional visuals. Hosted by Autism Empowerment and our Neurodivergent Creators Collective, this workshop supports our mission to uplift autistic and neurodivergent voices in media. Thank you for joining us!

Lighting and Cinematography Basics with Edward Martin III

Autism Empowerment&#39;s Neurodivergent Creators Collective invites YOU to join our monthly <span fr-original-style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;" id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important; box-sizing: inherit;">&quot;Chill &amp; Chat&quot; sessions on Zoom. &nbsp;🎉 Sit down with the AE-NCC Team but this time YOU lead the conversation. &nbsp;What are you working on? &nbsp;What great things are you reading or watching? &nbsp;Do you have a collaboration project? &nbsp;Do you have questions from one of the videos we posted? This is our chance to connect, share and get to know each other as we build this wonderful Neurodivergent Community!

Chill & Chat

As someone with a disability, actor, comedian, and producer Nic Novicki launched the Disability Film Challenge in 2013 in response to the underrepresentation of talent with disabilities both in front of and behind the camera. Novicki created the challenge to give aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work and gain meaningful exposure.&nbsp; In 2017, Novicki joined forces with Easterseals to expand the event, now known as the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge gives filmmakers&mdash;with and without disabilities&mdash;the opportunity to collaborate to tell unique stories that showcase disability in its many forms. The film challenge is a 5-day annual filmmaking contest, open to all, that provides a platform for new voices in the entertainment industry. Each year, aspiring storytellers are prompted to creatively write, produce, and complete a short film. Challenge winners receive invaluable access to entertainment professionals, opening the door to an industry notoriously difficult to enter.&nbsp; Come join us to hear what it takes to become involved in the 2026 challenge in April. Listen in as AE-NCC Program Lead Gwyn LaRee interviews Nic and shares AE-NCC member questions.&nbsp;

Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Workshop with Nic Novicki

<h3 data-end="381" data-start="316" fr-original-style="" id="isPasted" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;">🌟 Storytelling for Good: Turning Your Story into Purpose</h3>Everyone has a story worth telling. Whether you&rsquo;re a writer, filmmaker, podcaster, performer, advocate, or community changemaker, your voice has the power to inspire connection, healing, and transformation. When we share our lived experiences with authenticity and intention, we don&rsquo;t just tell stories&mdash;we spark change, build confidence, and help others see new possibilities in themselves and the world. Join Karen and John Krejcha, Co-Founders of Autism Empowerment (home to Spectrum Life Magazine and the AE Neurodivergent Creators Collective), for an inspiring and supportive workshop designed to help you turn your story into purpose. Through engaging discussion and reflection, we&rsquo;ll explore how storytelling can be a powerful tool for: ✨ Leadership and community impact 🎙️ Advocacy and awareness 💜 Personal empowerment and creative expression 🌱 Healing and growth Whether your story is told through fiction, film, or real life&mdash;this workshop will help you share it in a way that makes a meaningful difference.

Storytelling for Good

You won&#39;t want to miss this amazing opportunity to hear from Neurodivergent Creatives actually delivering their stories to the world! Creators Karen Maseng, Trelanda Lowe and Alexandra Halliburton will join our own Brian Tashima to discuss just what is involved in building stories for sharing with the world - from an authentic Neurodivergent standpoint. &nbsp;Learn what works and what doesn&#39;t from these established. professionals. This special panel will be presented on Zoom only.

Storybuilding for Publication & Production Panel

<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" id="isPasted" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span fr-original-style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#2b373e;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: rgb(43, 55, 62); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">The popular saying goes: &ldquo;A picture&rsquo;s worth a thousand words.&rdquo;&nbsp;<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span fr-original-style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#2b373e;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: rgb(43, 55, 62); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">With the rapid developments in technology, our storytelling is changing to not just be on the page, but through movies, television, and video games--highly visual mediums. Through the power of images, we can convey a whole narrative in a short space. Games like<span fr-original-style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#2b373e;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: rgb(43, 55, 62); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">&nbsp;Deus Ex: Mankind Divided<span fr-original-style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#2b373e;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: rgb(43, 55, 62); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">&nbsp;and&nbsp;<span fr-original-style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#2b373e;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: rgb(43, 55, 62); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">Gone Home&nbsp;<span fr-original-style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#2b373e;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: rgb(43, 55, 62); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">use environmental storytelling to give us pieces of characters&rsquo; lives.&nbsp;<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"> <p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"><span fr-original-style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#2b373e;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: rgb(43, 55, 62); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">In this workshop, Meg Eden Kuyatt will briefly share about her writing journey, discuss examples of games that tell stories through objects, and go into our own writing exercises inspired by video games.

Learning Writing & Storytelling from Video Games

No matter what story you are looking to tell, characters&nbsp;will be what makes your story relatable. &nbsp; Join Gwyn LaRee as she leads you in exploring different styles of character development for narrative stories, comics and animation projects and film/television projects &nbsp; This workshop offers something for Everyone interested in stories.

Creating Characters

Published author (and so much more!) Brian Tashima is leading our next workshop; Introduction to Independent Writing &amp; Publication! Brian has seven books available on Amazon and is looking forward to sharing with YOU everything you need to consider in writing your own story and publishing it to bring more Good into our world. This workshop will be offered both in person and over Zoom with no charge to anyone attending. &nbsp;However, in person seats are limited to be sure that you register soon to save your place!

Introduction to Independent Writing & Publishing

Our 2nd Neurodivergent Creators Collective introductory workshop will introduce you to both Voice Over work and Podcasting. &nbsp;Gwyn LaRee and Karen Krejcha have lots of great information to share with you as we continue exploring all the ways that we can present OUR Stories! This will be a hybrid presentation open to both in-person or Zoom attendance, whichever is the most comfortable for You.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Introduction to Voice Over & Podcasting

StoryverseStream brings a storyteller&#39;s interconnected world together in one place&mdash;fiction, audio, video, games, graphic novels, lore, characters, and more. Audiences can experience their favorite worlds fully while storytellers build, own, and expand their Storyverses. It is a platform where creators own their intellectual property, collaborators are fairly compensated, and subscribers pay directly for the worlds they love. &nbsp;Come learn more about this exciting new platform (which is free for creators to join) with StoryverseStream founder, Athena! This workshop will be recorded and made available to registrants for on-demand viewing afterward.&nbsp;Register today!&nbsp;

Athena: Introduction to StoryverseStream

Just in time for Halloween, Autism Empowerment Board Member Tanya English will be presenting a practical and entertaining workshop on costume design!&nbsp; She&#39;ll talk about getting creative with items you own and how upcycling can help you practice without pressure or a big budget. She will also cover how costumes are a part of storytelling even in everyday situations and how you can use concepts of costume design to tell your own story.&nbsp; Tanya has an Associate&#39;s degree in Fashion Design and has been creating custom cosplay outfits for her children for years. In addition to serving on the Autism Empowerment board, she is also the Director of Community Impact and Organizational Development for PEACE NW, a nonprofit that serves individuals and families with children who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities. This workshop will be recorded and made available to registrants for on-demand viewing afterward.&nbsp;Register today!&nbsp;

Costume Design on a Budget with Tanya English

For our November workshop, the Neurodivergent Creators Collective is excited to be hosting an online screening of the short documentary film The Art of Belonging: Seen, Heard, and Included, followed by a conversation with filmmaker Annette M. King and featured participant Janet Miller. Produced and directed by Annette M. King of Splicer Films, The Art of Belonging tells the stories of lives impacted by Project Awareness and Special Sports (PAASS), a nonprofit program centered on inclusion, belonging, and community connection. At its heart, this documentary is about the power of people coming together. Through the stories of participants, volunteers, family members, and supporters, the film highlights what can happen when a community creates opportunities, values each person, and embraces inclusion in action. The documentary runs approximately 25 minutes. After the screening, Annette and Janet will join us for a conversation about the film, its story, and the importance of creating spaces where people are seen, heard, and included. This workshop is a wonderful fit for neurodivergent creators, filmmakers, storytellers, nonprofit leaders, disability advocates, community builders, families, and anyone interested in documentary storytelling, inclusion, and belonging. Register today!&nbsp;

Documentary Film Screening and Discussion: The Art of Belonging

In December, Autism Empowerment&rsquo;s AE Neurodivergent Creators Collective will host Create as You Are: An Inclusive Introduction to UGC, a beginner-friendly workshop with UGC creators and Autism Empowerment co-founders Karen and John Krejcha. UGC, or user-generated content, is a creative field in which everyday creators produce short videos, product demonstrations, reviews, tutorials, testimonials, and other content that brands may use in their marketing. For neurodivergent creators interested in earning income through creative work but who may not feel ready to pursue traditional acting, voiceover, filmmaking, or other entertainment-industry pathways, UGC can be a practical and approachable place to begin. In this workshop, John and Karen will introduce participants to what UGC is, how it connects with other creative skills, and how beginning creators can start exploring it in a realistic, low-pressure way. The workshop will look at UGC through a creative lens, including connections to acting, voiceover, storytelling, video editing, comedy, documentary-style spokesperson content, product demonstrations, and short-form video creation.&nbsp; Topics will include understanding the difference between organic UGC, paid UGC, and influencer content; filming your first practice videos with products you already have at home; creating simple scripts and hooks; building a starter portfolio using tools like Canva; exploring beginner-friendly platforms; and learning how to evaluate opportunities wisely. We&#39;ll also be sharing a variety of beginner-friendly content examples. This workshop is designed for neurodivergent creators, actors, voiceover artists, filmmakers, editors, writers, storytellers, YouTubers, podcasters, and curious beginners interested in creating content and exploring potential income opportunities outside traditional entertainment-industry paths. Register today!&nbsp;

Autism Empowerment

Events

Events

Athena: Introduction to StoryverseStream

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Costume Design on a Budget with Tanya English

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Documentary Film Screening and Discussion: The Art of Belonging

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Create As You Are: An Inclusive Introduction to UGC

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