AE Neurodivergent Creators Collective
A New Era of Inclusive Storytelling
Upcoming Social Connection and Learning Opportunities:
Chill and Chat
Need a free low-key space to connect with fellow neurodivergent creatives? Join us each month for Chill and Chat, a relaxed Zoom gathering hosted by AE-NCC Program Lead Brian Tashima.
When: The 1st Saturday of each month (unless otherwise indicated)
Upcoming Dates for 2026: March 7th, April 4th, May 2nd 
Time: 3:00 PM Pacific
Length: 45–60 minutes (based on group energy)
Location: Online via Zoom
Who’s it for? Neurodivergent Creators Collective members and visiting guests (Membership is free!)
Zoom Link (same each month): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86095978904
Whether you want to share your current creative project, ask questions, brainstorm, or just hang out and listen, you’re welcome here! These chats are not recorded, and you are not required to turn on your camera or speak if you just feel like hanging out and want to get a feel for who we are. No pressure, just friendly faces, creative energy, and good vibes. 
Let’s build community, support each other, and grow together—one chat at a time.
AE-NCC Learning Workshops
Our workshops are free to attend and are offered in various formats, including in-person only, Zoom only, and a hybrid format — meaning you can join us in-person or livestream via Zoom from wherever you are.
All in-person workshops are currently held at:
Stephen’s Place, 501 SE Ellsworth Rd, Vancouver, WA 98664.
RSVPs are highly encouraged but not required. If you’re planning to attend an in-person event, please try and let us know ahead of time so we can set up chairs and tables, determine how many study guides to print, and plan snacks. (Water and light snacks will be available for free.)
Livestream attendees can also click the Zoom link at the scheduled time. We will be recording most Zoom presentations and will make them available on our website and the Autism Empowerment YouTube channel afterward.
Future workshops are listed below, along with links. For past workshop events, study guides, video recordings and handouts from each event (where applicable) will be linked to on our Past Events page. Whether you’re local or joining from afar, we welcome you to come learn, connect, and create with us! We look forward to seeing what you create!
Upcoming Workshops:
Martin Vavra: Editing a Short Film
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 the story and highlighting what an editor needs to consider, how to make smooth transitions to build the story, and how important collaboration is between all the creatives on a specific project. Don’t miss your chance to learn from this accomplished professional who also teaches full filmmaking courses in Portland several times a year.
Saturday, March 21st, 2026
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Pacific Time
Location: Live via Zoom (link will be provided after registration)
Note: This workshop will be recorded and made available for on-demand viewing afterward.
Registration link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/martin-vavra-editing-a-short-film
AE-NCC Year One Highlights + Ask Me Anything (AMA)
Join Autism Empowerment’s Neurodivergent Creators Collective for a relaxed one-year recap + AMA! We’ll highlight some of our favorite workshops, events, and Creator Corner resources from our first year, share links and handouts so you can revisit anything you missed, and open the floor for an Ask Me Anything Q & A conversation with Program Leader Brian Tashima and Autism Empowerment co-founders Karen and John Krejcha, about creativity, community, and where AE-NCC may be headed next.
Come to celebrate, get connected, and leave with a handy resource list you can bookmark and share.
Saturday, April 18th, 2026
2:00 PM – 3:00-ish PM Pacific Time (allow flexibility based on Q & A time)Â
Location: Live via Zoom (link will be provided after registration)
Note: This workshop will be recorded and made available for on-demand viewing afterward.
Registration link: Will be posted in late March.
Craig McCourry: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Filmmaking
Autism Empowerment and the Neurodivergent Creators Collective are proud and excited to present a thought-provoking discussion on artificial intelligence and how it relates to the future of the filmmaking industry, presented by professional filmmaker Craig McCourry.
More details coming soon!
Saturday, May 16th, 2026
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Pacific Time
Location: Live via Zoom (link will be provided after registration)
Note: This workshop will be recorded and made available for on-demand viewing afterward.
Registration link: Will be posted in April 2026
Brian Tashima: Introduction to Independent Writing & Publishing
This is an encore presentation of the workshop Brian originally gave in July 2026. Due to technical difficulties we were unable to record the presentation, so we’re doing it again! Learn what goes into writing and publishing a novel on your own while making sure the quality of your work is on par with books from larger, traditional publishers.
Brian Tashima is the author of the Joel Suzuki series, an award-winning, seven-volume set of young adult science fiction/fantasy novels about a teenage guitarist who travels to another world where his autism is a source of magic. Brian is happy to share what he has learned through his own experiences and writing journey. Bring your questions!
Saturday, June 20th, 2026
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Pacific Time
Location: Live via Zoom (link will be provided after registration)
Note: This workshop will be recorded and made available for on-demand viewing afterward.
Registration link: Will be posted in May 2026
Membership is free, and joining is as easy as signing up at this link!
You’ll be added to the AE-NCC email list and will receive notices about events, resources, and creative opportunities, delivered straight to your inbox.
If you want to learn more, please email:
Program Leader: Brian Tashima at brian@autismempowerment.org.
For general information about Autism Empowerment programs or services, please email John Krejcha at info@autismempowerment.org
Representation matters. Stories change lives.
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Welcome | Upcoming Events (see above) | Past Events | Resource Library
Last updated 3/6/2026