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: May 2nd, June 6th, July 11th (due to 4th of July holiday)
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:
Craig McCourry: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Filmmaking
Autism Empowerment and our 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.
Craig has been researching this topic for years and has lots of valuable thoughts to share. If you’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. 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.
We hope to see you there!
Saturday, May 16th, 2026
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Pacific Time
Location: Live via Zoom (Zoom link will be emailed after registration)
Note: This workshop will be recorded and made available for on-demand viewing afterward.
Registration is open now: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/craig-mccourry-ai-and-the-future-of-filmmaking
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 4/20/2026