Resources

Finding the right support can feel overwhelming. These are Calgary and Alberta organizations, programs, and government services that families and individuals often find helpful alongside the work we do at Acorn Psychology.
We have included provincial programs that Calgary families can access. Choose a topic below to get started.

Last reviewed: October 2026

ADHD

ADHD looks different from person to person and across ages. These Calgary and Alberta resources offer reliable information, local programs, and navigation help for children, teens, and adults, including girls and women, whose ADHD is often recognized later.

  • Learning Disabilities & ADHD Network – Calgary Region
    Evidence-informed information for children, families, adults, and educators, with a resource library, local service navigation, events, and articles.
    Kids · Teens · Adults · Girls & Women

    Foothills Academy – Resources
    A Calgary not-for-profit focused on learning disabilities and ADHD, with articles, parent and community education, workshops, and online learning.
    Kids · Teens · Adults · Girls & Women

    Alberta Health Services – ADHD Information Prescription
    From the Alberta Children's Hospital Family & Community Resource Centre. Trusted ADHD information for parents, children, and teens, with a curated list of books and online resources.
    Kids · Teens · Girls & Women

  • CanLearn Society
    A Calgary non-profit offering ADHD education and resources, community programming, and ADHD coaching for children, youth, adults, and families.
    Kids · Teens · Adults

    Foothills Academy – Amicus Camps & Recreation
    Camps and year-round recreation for ages 8 to 23 with learning disabilities and/or ADHD, with a focus on social skills, confidence, and friendship.
    Kids · Teens

    Foothills Academy – Youth Groups
    Skills-based groups for youth with learning disabilities and/or ADHD, such as Girls Only (ages 9 to 16) and Survive & Thrive in Junior High. Check the page for current registration.
    Kids · Teens · Girls & Women

    Alberta Health Services – Complex ADHD Treatment Team
    A Calgary AHS service for school-aged children and adolescents with moderate to severe, complex ADHD that has not responded as well as hoped to treatment. This is a referral-based service.
    Kids · Teens

  • Foothills Academy – Parent Education & Support Group
    A facilitated six-week online group for Alberta parents and guardians of children ages 6 to 18 with a learning disability and/or ADHD, combining education with parent discussion. Availability varies by session.
    Parents

Autism

These Calgary and Alberta organizations offer navigation help, funding information, programs, and community connection for Autistic children, teens, and adults, and for their families.

  • Autism Calgary
    A major local starting point for Autistic people and families, with resource navigation, peer support, information about funding and services, a searchable resource directory, support groups, and counselling for eligible Albertans.
    Useful for: All ages · Girls & Women

    Autism Calgary – Child & Youth Information
    Calgary and Alberta information on assessment, FSCD, PUF, education, funding, and community supports for children under 18.
    Useful for: Kids · Teens

    Autism Calgary – Adult Support
    Resource navigation for housing, life skills, financial assistance, and community programs, plus peer-based Talk Support.
    Useful for: Adults

    Autism Society Alberta – Resources
    Provincial toolkits, videos, presentations, event information, and housing resources. Its Rural Navigation Team can also help families understand services across Alberta.
    Useful for: All ages

  • Society for Autism Support and Services (SASS)
    A Calgary charity providing autism-specific supports across the lifespan, including early supports, counselling, community education, workshops, and employment-readiness programming for adolescents and adults. Groups may include late-diagnosed and Autistic women, so check current programming on the workshops page.
    Useful for: All ages · Girls & Women

    The Sinneave Family Foundation
    A Calgary foundation focused on Autistic and neurodivergent youth age 15 and up and adults, with programs for post-secondary education, employment, housing, independent living, and peer support. A diagnosis is not required for some services.
    Useful for: Teens · Adults · Girls & Women

    Autism Aspergers Friendship Society of Calgary (AAFS)
    Social, recreational, and respite programming for Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent children, youth, and adults.
    Useful for: Kids · Teens · Adults

  • Alberta Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD)
    A Government of Alberta program providing eligible families of children with disabilities with information, supports, and services. A practical first stop for funding questions after a diagnosis.
    Useful for: Kids · Teens

    Sinneave – Futures: Goal-Focused Peer Support
    Free Calgary peer support for Autistic and neurodivergent people age 15 and up who are working toward goals in employment, post-secondary education, or housing.
    Useful for: Teens · Adults

PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)

PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance, also described as Pervasive Drive for Autonomy) is commonly described as a profile involving marked demand avoidance and a strong need for autonomy and control, often in relation to autism. It is not a standalone diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR, and the research behind it is still developing. The resources below are offered for general understanding.

Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are neurological differences that can affect reading and spelling (dyslexia), written expression (dysgraphia), or math (dyscalculia). They are not a reflection of intelligence. These resources include local information, intervention programs, and peer support. Targeted intervention teaches the underlying skill directly, which is different from general tutoring or homework help.

  • Learning Disabilities & ADHD Network – Calgary Region
    Impartial, evidence-informed information for children, families, adults, and educators, including assistive technology, articles, and Calgary service navigation.
    Useful for: Dyslexia · Writing · Math · Adults · Parents

    Foothills Academy – Resources
    Articles, parent and community workshops, and online learning from a Calgary organization specializing in learning disabilities and ADHD.
    Useful for: Dyslexia · Writing · Math · Parents

    CanLearn Society
    Literacy and learning supports, community education, and services for children, families, and adults.
    Useful for: Dyslexia · Math · Adults

    Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta (LDAA)
    An Alberta-wide organization offering information, advocacy, and literacy and learning initiatives.
    Useful for: All ages

  • Foothills Academy – Read/Write & Math Intervention
    Structured literacy and numeracy intervention for children and youth with learning disabilities, through Foothills Academy Community Services.
    Useful for: Dyslexia · Writing · Math

    Foothills Academy – Amicus Camps & Recreation
    Camps and year-round recreation for ages 8 to 23 with learning disabilities and/or ADHD, with a focus on social skills, confidence, and friendship.
    Useful for: Kids · Teens

    CanLearn Society – Literacy Programs
    Calgary literacy programming and learning supports. Please check current age groups and availability.
    Useful for: Dyslexia · Math

    Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation Learning Centre – Calgary
    A non-profit offering specialized literacy support for children with dyslexia. Please confirm current intake, eligibility, and wait times.
    Useful for: Dyslexia · Kids

  • Foothills Academy – Parent Education & Support Group
    A facilitated six-week online group for Alberta parents and guardians of children ages 6 to 18 with a learning disability (including dyslexia) and/or ADHD. Availability varies by session.
    Useful for: Parents

    Dyslexia Support Calgary (Facebook group)
    A local peer-support community for parents, educators, and individuals with dyslexia.
    Useful for: Dyslexia · Parents

    Dyslexia YYC (Facebook)
    A Calgary community focused on dyslexia awareness and sharing information and research.
    Useful for: Dyslexia · Parents

    Decoding Dyslexia Alberta (Facebook)
    An Alberta grassroots community of families and educators advocating for better understanding of dyslexia and evidence-based literacy instruction.
    Useful for: Dyslexia · Parents

Giftedness & Twice-Exceptionality (2e)

Giftedness is more than high academic achievement. Gifted children may show advanced reasoning, rapid learning, intense interests, and uneven (asynchronous) development. Some are twice-exceptional, or 2e, meaning giftedness exists alongside ADHD, autism, a learning disability, or another area of neurodivergence. If this describes your child, the ADHD, Autism, and Learning Disabilities sections above may also be useful.

Transition to Adulthood

Moving from school and children's services into adulthood brings many changes, from funding and decision-making to post-secondary education, work, and independent living. This section is for teens and young adults with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental profiles. Planning works best when it starts early and is built around the person's own goals, strengths, and autonomy, using the least restrictive supports that fit.

  • Autism Society Alberta – Transitioning to Adulthood Toolkit
    An Alberta-specific transition checklist covering identification, AISH, PDD, guardianship and trusteeship, employment, housing, and other adult supports.
    Useful for: Teens · Adults · Parents

    Alis Alberta – Youth With a Disability: Transition to Career & Independence
    Practical Alberta guidance on what changes before and after age 18, including employment, disclosure, accommodations, AISH, and disability resources.
    Useful for: Teens · Parents

    Alberta Supports
    The provincial starting point for disability income assistance, FSCD, PDD, employment services, and other supports.
    Useful for: Teens · Adults · Parents

  • Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD)
    For eligible adults with developmental disabilities. Services can include home living, community access, and employment supports. Applications can begin at age 16, with services starting at 18. See the eligibility page for current criteria.
    Useful for: Teens · Adults

    Disability Related Employment Supports (DRES)
    Alberta funding for disability-related barriers to employment or education and training. Eligibility generally begins at age 16.
    Useful for: Teens · Adults

    Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee of Alberta
    Information about supported decision-making, co-decision-making, guardianship, trusteeship, and related adult legal arrangements. Not every young adult with a disability needs these, and planning can begin with the least restrictive option.
    Useful for: Parents · Adults

  • The Sinneave Family Foundation
    One of Calgary's strongest transition resources for Autistic and neurodivergent youth age 15 and up and adults, with a focus on post-secondary education, employment, independent living, and skill development.
    Useful for: Teens · Adults

    Sinneave – Launch + Skills
    Neuroaffirming coaching for Albertans age 15 and up pursuing education, employment, or more independent community living. Useful for young people who may not qualify for PDD.
    Useful for: Teens · Adults

    Sinneave – EmploymentWorks
    Personalized employment support for Autistic, neurodivergent, and disabled job seekers age 15 and up, including job goals, search strategies, workplace skills, and job-retention support.
    Useful for: Teens · Adults

    SASS – Adolescent & Adult Programs
    Employment-readiness and work-experience programming in Calgary for Autistic individuals age 15 and up. Self-identification is sufficient for this program.
    Useful for: Teens · Adults

    Spectrum Advantage (Autism Calgary)
    An autism-focused employment initiative offering job-readiness and supported work experience for eligible young adults.
    Useful for: Adults

  • Sinneave – Futures: Goal-Focused Peer Support
    Free Calgary peer support for Autistic and neurodivergent people age 15 and up working toward employment, education, or housing goals.
    Useful for: Teens · Adults

    Autism Calgary – Adult Support
    Local navigation and peer and community support for Autistic young adults moving into adult systems.
    Useful for: Adults

    Gateway Association
    An Alberta disability organization offering family support, employment, and inclusion services, including a Calgary workforce program for people with disabilities.
    Useful for: Teens · Adults · Parents

    Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre of Calgary (DDRC)
    A Calgary non-profit supporting inclusion and quality of life for people with developmental disabilities, including community living and individualized supports.
    Useful for: Adults

    Calgary Alternative Support Services (CASS)
    A Calgary non-profit offering supported employment, residential, day and community, and case-management services for adults with disabilities. Some programs depend on funding and eligibility.
    Useful for: Adults

The resources listed on this page are provided for general educational and informational purposes. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement of all information, programs, products, or services offered by an organization. Program eligibility, availability, funding criteria, and fees can change, so please confirm current information directly with each organization. Online information is not a substitute for individualized assessment, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health professional.