Georgia Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce upcoming events

NeuroCONNECT - Game Night - September 14 (Monday, September 14, 2026)

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:30:00 GMT

We Welcome Everyone!

Level Up Your Social Networking Circle for Neurodivergent Adults 18+

GANCC Game Nights are Back!

Ready to roll the dice, strategize, and connect with awesome people? Join us for Georgia Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce (GANCC) Game Night at Jason's Deli in Dunwoody, GA!

This isn't just any game night—it's a chance to meet like-minded friends, build community, and have a blast in a welcoming, low-pressure environment. Whether you're into card games, movie trivia, or just hanging out, there's something for everyone.

Why Join?
Come experience a safe space, meet new friends, and enjoy games. If you arrive early, you can grab dinner before playing.
A great way for potential members to experience the GANCC community!
RSVP required—space is limited!

Don't miss out!

LOCATION: Jason's Deli: 4705 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30338

DATE: Monday, September 14, 2026

TIME: 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Come early and grab dinner before we begin play.

RSVP Information: RSVP is required as space is limited.

If you are not able to attend, please let us know as we will have a wait list. We want to afford the opportunity to everyone who is able to attend.

Email: jacey@gancc.org

Text: 404-998-2897

Important Note: GANCC events are unsupervised and designed for independent participation. If an attendee needs support for safety or accessibility, a qualified professional support person is welcome to attend with no registration fee.

Community Networking: Driving Readiness in Neurodiverse Young Adults - September 22 (Tuesday, September 22, 2026)

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:30:00 GMT

NETWORKING EVENT with ADAPTABLE DRIVING

Driving Readiness in Neurodiverse Young Adults:

Innovation, Research, Tools, and Pathways to Independence

September 22, 2026

8:30am - 10:30am

Exciting News from Adaptable Driving!

Julia McVicker, MS, OTR/L, DRP is thrilled to announce that Adaptable Driving is now the exclusive Georgia provider of the Neurodiverse Driving Simulator, developed by the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt University.

This innovative simulator is designed to support neurodiverse individuals as they build the skills and confidence needed for safe, independent driving. Adaptable Driving team is honored to bring this cutting-edge technology to Georgia and look forward to helping more drivers achieve their goals.

Be the first in Georgia to learn more about this innovative simulator by attending our GANCC event at Adaptable Driving for our September networking event.

Julia is the owner and Driving Rehabilitation Professional and an Occupational Therapist. She explores current research, evidence-based tools, and practical strategies that help individuals develop the skills and confidence needed to pursue driving. She will discuss how to determine the right timing, pace, and pathway for each person's unique needs and goals.

Participants will learn about Adaptable Driving's comprehensive approach, which combines online learning for home study, community-based driving simulation, and individualized driving evaluations and training. As she examines how this model supports neurodiverse individuals in building driving skills, GANCC attendees will learn more about how she promotes safety, independence, and self-determination with new neurodivergent drivers as they gain more independence!

Date: September 22, 2025

Time: 8:30am - 10:30am

Location: 200 Mansell Court East, Suite 305, Roswell, GA 30076

About Speaker: Julia McVicker, MS, OTR/L, DRP

Julia McVicker, MS, OTR/L, DRP, is the founder of Adaptable Driving and Adaptable Therapy Services. With over 21 years of experience as an occupational therapist, she specializes in driver rehabilitation, including comprehensive driver evaluations, driving simulator training, community-based rehabilitation, and behind-the-wheel instruction. Julia has served as the Georgia/ South Carolina Chapter President for the driving association (ADED), is currently working on the national best practice guidelines and regularly presents on driver rehabilitation and occupational therapy to businesses, colleges and community groups.

Click on the logo below to read more about Julia

NeuroCONNECT - Game Night - October 12 (Monday, October 12, 2026)

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 22:30:00 GMT

We Welcome Everyone!

Level Up Your Social Networking Circle for Neurodivergent Adults 18+

GANCC Game Nights are Back!

Ready to roll the dice, strategize, and connect with awesome people? Join us for Georgia Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce (GANCC) Game Night at Jason's Deli in Dunwoody, GA!

This isn't just any game night—it's a chance to meet like-minded friends, build community, and have a blast in a welcoming, low-pressure environment. Whether you're into card games, movie trivia, or just hanging out, there's something for everyone.

Why Join?
Come experience a safe space, meet new friends, and enjoy games. If you arrive early, you can grab dinner before playing.
A great way for potential members to experience the GANCC community!
RSVP required—space is limited!

Don't miss out!

LOCATION: Jason's Deli: 4705 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30338

DATE: Monday, October 12, 2026

TIME: 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Come early and grab dinner before we begin play.

RSVP Information: RSVP is required as space is limited.

If you are not able to attend, please let us know as we will have a wait list. We want to afford the opportunity to everyone who is able to attend.

Email: jacey@gancc.org

Text: 404-998-2897

Important Note: GANCC events are unsupervised and designed for independent participation. If an attendee needs support for safety or accessibility, a qualified professional support person is welcome to attend with no registration fee.

NeuroCONNECT Online: ADHD at Work: Getting Started and Finishing the Thing (Wednesday, October 14, 2026)

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

NEW!

GANCC NeuroCONNECT Online

"SPARK" Series

Strategies, Productivity, Accountability, Resilience, Knowledge

ADHD at Work

A Four Part Interactive Coaching Series for People with ADHD

Part 2: "Getting Started and Finishing the Thing"

October 14, 2026

12 Noon - 1:00 pm ET

Sometimes it looks like a focus problem when what is really stuck is the activation and action side of executive function. The part of your executive function, your brain’s control panel for getting started, sticking with it, and getting work out the door, can easily enter freeze mode.

This interactive Zoom group‑coaching session is for professionals who live with ADHD and other neurodivergent traits, diagnosed or strongly suspected, who are “on top of it and behind” at the same time. We will briefly explore how activation and action challenges can show up and how we label them, then shift into a coaching-based conversation.

Together, we look at what is happening in the real conditions of your work so you can name your own patterns as you in context, not you as a problem. Then we choose one realistic step (an ask, a shift in expectations, or a skill to build) to get your work moving again with a lot less scrambling and self‑judgment.

Note: Registrants will receive a link to the online session one week before and again one day before the event. Please be aware that sessions are recorded and will be stored on our GANCC Portal for GANCC Members to view. When you sign up, you're welcome to use no name and/or keep your camera off.

Presented By:

Tracy Lefebvre, PhD, PCC, is an ADHD‑focused coach - Ready For Reboot - educator, and researcher. Her work focuses on adults with ADHD and other neurodivergent traits (diagnosed or strongly suspected) who are doing a lot and still feeling like something isn’t working. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Tracy brings lived experience, years of coaching and group facilitation, and research on adults diagnosed in adulthood. She uses plain‑language science and real workplace stories to support clearer conversations, shifts in expectations, and small changes people can actually act on. Together, by looking at challenges in context, people can co‑create arrangements at work and at home that reduce unnecessary friction and make it easier to live without burning out or blaming themselves. Click logo below for more information about Tracy.

Parent Planning with Purpose Workshop: October 15, 2026 (Thursday, October 15, 2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT

The GANCC presents

Parent Planning with Purpose

A Hands-On Workshop for Parents of Adults with Disabilities

October 15, 2026

6:00pm - 8:30pm

Mill Springs Academy

13660 New Providence Road

Alpharetta, Georgia

Everyone Is Welcome

________________

At the end of the day, parents are the ones who must understand the highly specialized, complex long-term plan for their individual child, connect the pieces, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. That means coordinating a already highly complex legal, financial, and government support planning. When parents don't understand the intricacies of each area, the long term risk can be be devastating.

The GANCC Parent Planning with Purpose Workshops is built to help navigate.

We're bringing together a special needs attorney and a financial advisor who specializes in disability planning into one room, at one table, for parents - to teach everyone how the legal and financial sides of a disabled adult's plan works together ... and how to manage it going forward.

Right now, most parents are flying blind.

Parents may be starting or already have a special need trust — but do you understand how to fund it? You may be applying for or already have government benefits in place — but do you know what triggers a loss of SSI or Medicaid? You may be creating a will and an estate plan — but does your extended family know how to leave money to your child without destroying the benefits they depend on?

For example, Grandma passes away and leaves your child an inheritance directly - with nothing but love behind it. The money hits your child's bank account. Suddenly they're over the resource limit. SSI - gone. Medicaid - suspended. Support, medication, daily care - all at risk. Not because of bad intentions, but because the family didn't understand the highly complex rules.

This is preventable ... and we are here to help you understand how it all works.

What parents walk away with.

The knowledge to understand how your child's legal and financial plan works as one integrated system. A roadmap connecting the legal documents to a real funding strategy. The ability to ask the right questions, catch the gaps, and guide your family. The confidence to lead your child's planning team.

This workshop puts you in the driver's seat.

Our GANCC Parent Planning Workshop is here to teach you how the pieces fit together — trusts, government benefits, ABLE accounts, estate plans, inheritances, long-term funding — so that you can manage your child's plan with confidence. So you know what to ask your attorney. So you know what to tell your financial advisor. So you can sit down with your parents, your siblings, your family, and explain exactly how they can help without accidentally causing harm.

________________

The Presenters

DJ Jeyaram, JD

Mr. Jeyaram is with Jeyaram and Associates

Amanda Cocci0, ChFC, ChSNC

Ms. Coccia is with Edward Jones

________________

The Evening Agenda

6:00 - 6:20— Arrive, connect, enjoy a light dinner, snacks and beverages

6:20 – 6:30 — Opening remarks, Introductions

6:30– 6:55 — DJ Jeyaram, JD: Special Needs Attorney — Trusts, guardianship, inheritance protection

7:00 – 7:25 — Amanda Cocci0, ChFC, ChSNC, Chartered Special Needs Consultant and Financial Advisor — Funding strategies, long-term planning

7:30 – 8:00 — Small group session with one professional

8:00 – 8:30 — Groups rotate to second professional

8:30 — Closing remarks and end of event

________________

Finding Answers to Questions: What we hear from parents

"I have a special needs trust but I don't really understand how it works or how to fund it."

"My mother left money directly to my son. He lost his benefits for months."

"My attorney and financial advisor do not understand the complexities of special needs funding along with government barriers - and I don't know enough to bridge the gap."

"I don't know what questions I should be asking."

"My brother wants to leave something for my disabled daughter, and I have no idea how to guide him."

"I've been to the big seminars. I leave with information overload and no idea how it applies to my specific child and family’s situation."

This workshop is for you.

You're a parent or caregiver of an adult (or soon-to-be adult) with a disability. You have some pieces in place but don't fully understand how they connect. You want to learn how to manage and oversee your child's plan — not just delegate it. You want real answers to your specific questions in a room small enough to ask them.

And we're doing it the only way that works – keeping it small.

We cap this at 20 parents, broken into small groups of 10, working shoulder-to-shoulder with both professionals. Parents ask your questions. Parents hear other parents ask theirs. Everyone will begin to truly understand the legal and financial interconnectivity with more clarity and will leave understanding their own child's plan.

________________

The Details of Event

Date: Thursday, Ocotber 15, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Location: Mill Springs Academy, 13660 New Providence Road, Alpharetta GA 30004

Dinner: A Light Dinner is provided along with snacks and beverages.

Community Networking: Tommy Nobis Center "From Potential to Paycheck" (Tuesday, November 03, 2026)

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Tommy Nobis Center Presents The Academy Program

From Potential to Paycheck

Closing Georgia's Disability Employment Gap

November 3, 2026

8:30 am - 10:30 am

Tommy Nobis Center

240 Interstate N Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339

One in four adults in the U.S. lives with a disability, yet they face an unemployment rate nearly double that of the general population. Closing that gap is exactly what Tommy Nobis Center exists to do.

Join us to hear from Karen Dernavich, VP of Programs at Tommy Nobis Center, on how TNC is empowering people through employment across Georgia and beyond. For 50 years, TNC has helped individuals with disabilities move from potential to paycheck through a full continuum of support: guiding high schoolers through their first steps toward career readiness, building real-world skills through hands-on vocational training, and delivering job placement with job coaching for adults entering the workforce.

Employment isn't a one-way street. Karen will also share how TNC partners with employers, civic groups, and organizations across the state to turn inclusion into real business solutions, helping companies tap into a skilled, reliable, and often overlooked talent pool while building stronger, more resilient local economies.

This gathering will be hosted at Tommy Nobis Center, so attendees will get a firsthand tour of the campus and see this work in action!

If your life, community, or work touches the disability community in any way, you won't want to miss this conversation.

A light breakfast and coffee will be provided by Rise Coffee + Tea

REGISTER TODAY!

Date: November 3, 2026

Time: 8:30am - 10:30am

Address: Tommy Nobis Center, 240 Interstate N Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339

About: Karen Dernavich

About: The Academy Program

Program Model

The Academy offers a yearlong program of accelerated vocational education and training on life skills and job readiness.

EDUCATE: Curriculum-based vocational training. Topics include life skills, social skills for employment, self-advocacy, vocational skills, confidence, communication, and more! Instruction takes place in the classroom and in the community.

TRAIN: Job discovery that includes on-site and community-based instruction. Participants will be able to explore specific career pathways and learn about targeted vocational topics.

EMPLOY: Specialized employment support to ensure success. All participants who complete the program will be guaranteed employment.

NeuroCONNECT - Game Night - November 9 (Monday, November 09, 2026)

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

We Welcome Everyone!

Level Up Your Social Networking Circle for Neurodivergent Adults 18+

GANCC Game Nights are Back!

Ready to roll the dice, strategize, and connect with awesome people? Join us for Georgia Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce (GANCC) Game Night at Jason's Deli in Dunwoody, GA!

This isn't just any game night—it's a chance to meet like-minded friends, build community, and have a blast in a welcoming, low-pressure environment. Whether you're into card games, movie trivia, or just hanging out, there's something for everyone.

Why Join?
Come experience a safe space, meet new friends, and enjoy games. If you arrive early, you can grab dinner before playing.
A great way for potential members to experience the GANCC community!
RSVP required—space is limited!

Don't miss out!

LOCATION: Jason's Deli: 4705 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30338

DATE: Monday, November 9, 2026

TIME: 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Come early and grab dinner before we begin play.

RSVP Information: RSVP is required as space is limited.

If you are not able to attend, please let us know as we will have a wait list. We want to afford the opportunity to everyone who is able to attend.

Email: jacey@gancc.org

Text: 404-998-2897

Important Note: GANCC events are unsupervised and designed for independent participation. If an attendee needs support for safety or accessibility, a qualified professional support person is welcome to attend with no registration fee.

NeuroCONNECT Online: ADHD at Work - Focus, Interruptions, and the Open Tabs in Your Brain (Wednesday, November 11, 2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

NEW!

GANCC NeuroCONNECT Online

"SPARK" Series

Strategies, Productivity, Accountability, Resilience, Knowledge

ADHD at Work

A Four Part Interactive Coaching Series for People with ADHD

Part 3: "Focus, Interruptions, and the Open Tabs in Your Brain"

November 11, 2026

12 Noon - 1:00 pm ET

In the middle of email, chat, meetings, and notifications, it can feel almost impossible to hold on to what actually matters long enough to do something about it. The part of your executive function, your brain’s control panel for focus and memory, can easily become overwhelmed.

This interactive Zoom group‑coaching session is for professionals who live with ADHD and other neurodivergent traits, diagnosed or strongly suspected, who are “busy and not productive” at the same time. We will briefly explore how focus and memory challenges are amplified when the "always on" culture meets ADHD traits, then shift to a coaching-based conversation.

Together, we look at what is happening in the real conditions of your work so you can name your own patterns as you in context, not you as a problem. Then we choose one realistic adjustment (an ask, a shift in expectations, or a skill to build) to get your work moving again with a lot less self‑judgment.

Presented By:

NeuroCONNECT Online: ADHD at Work - Strong Emotions, Energy, and Being Seen at Work (Wednesday, December 09, 2026)

Wed, 09 Dec 2026 17:00:00 GMT

NEW!

GANCC NeuroCONNECT Online

"SPARK" Series

Strategies, Productivity, Accountability, Resilience, Knowledge

ADHD at Work

A Four Part Interactive Coaching Series for People with ADHD

Part 4: "Strong Emotions, Energy, and Being Seen at Work"

December 9, 2026

12 Noon - 1:00 pm ET

When there’s an unexpected obstacle or sudden shift in plans, it can trigger strong reactions and frustration that make starting or continuing tasks nearly impossible. The part of your executive function, your brain’s control panel for managing emotion and effort, can shut down.

This interactive Zoom group-coaching session is for professionals who live with ADHD and other neurodivergent traits, diagnosed or strongly suspected, who are “emotionally full and losing traction” at the same time. We will briefly explore how emotion and effort management challenges can show up and how we label them, then shift into a coaching-based conversation.

Together, we look at what is happening in the real conditions of your work so you can name your own patterns as you in context, not you as a problem. Then you choose one realistic step (an ask, a shift in expectations, or a skill to build) to move toward feeling more in charge of your emotions and energy.

Presented By:

Community Networking: Lionheart WORKS - January 26, 2027 (Tuesday, January 26, 2027)

Tue, 26 Jan 2027 13:30:00 GMT

Register TODAY for our January Community Networking Event at Lionheart WORKS. Meet new professionals, neurodivergent adults and parents looking for resources.

Everyone is welcome!

9:00 AM - Doors open, networking, and light breakfast with coffee + tea. Introductions.

9:30 AM - Welcome + Lionheart Presents

9:45 AM - Presentation Ends

9:45 AM - 9:50 AM - Q+A

9:50 AM - 10:10 AM - Networking

10:10 AM - Leave for Lionheart's The Cottage for a Tour

Address: Lionheart School, 225 Roswell St., Alpharetta, GA 30009

Community Networking: Jacob's Ladder - Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care - February 17, 2027 (Wednesday, February 17, 2027)

Wed, 17 Feb 2027 13:30:00 GMT

NETWORKING EVENT at THE JACOB'S LADDER GROUP

The GANCC presents our February 2027 All Community Connect Networking Event at The Jacob's Ladder Group:

The Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care in Action

The Compass Program: From Skills to Vocation to Community - A Whole New Path to Adulthood

What supports a young neurodivergent adult in building a life of genuine independence?

Our visit to Jacob's Ladder Group will introduce attendees to their framework at the center of everything they do: the Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care® (IWBMC™). They will walk through how the IWBMC™ shapes evaluation, individualized goal-setting, and intervention across their full continuum of care; from early childhood through adulthood.

With that foundation in place, their Compass Program begins fostering independence through their experiential learning program for teens and young adults ages 16+ who are transitioning into adulthood. Compass helps clients build personal living skills, vocational training, community engagement, and educational planning through its focus areas — including job coaching, community-based enrichment, and overnight independence skill development — all guided by the IWBMC™'s Independence Navigator.

We'll also briefly spotlight the broader ecosystem that supports this work:

Jacob's Ladder School — a SAIS-Cognia accredited program serving clients pre-K through 12th grade, applying the IWBMC™ in daily educational practice.

Pillar Research Institute — their research arm, building the evidence base behind their clinical and educational approach.

Ascend Training Institute — how they train and certify clinicians, educators, and evaluators to deliver the IWBMC™ with fidelity.

AHAVA Software — their digital platform extending the IWBMC™ methodology to providers and families worldwide.

Attendees will leave with a clear picture of how their model, Compass program, research, training, and technology work together to support neurodivergent individuals and families, specifically those moving into adulthood.

Date: February 17, 2027

Time: 8:30am - 10:30am

Location: Jacob's Ladder Group, 407 Hardscrabble Rd, Roswell, GA 30075

About Speaker: Megan Finnegan, BA, LBS-I, IWBMC-CE

Director of Outreach

As Director of Outreach for The Jacob's Ladder Group and a Certified Evaluator in the Jacob's Ladder Interpersonal Whole Brain Model of Care® (IWBMC™), Megan leads professional training, strategic partnerships, and policy engagement while helping expand awareness of the organization's innovative clinical model. She regularly presents Jacob's Ladder's research, clinical outcomes, and whole-person approach to educators, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and national conference audiences, translating research into practical strategies that improve outcomes for individuals and families.

She is also a member of the GANCC Policy Committee.

More about The Jacob's Ladder Group

Compass School, click below.

Georgia Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce upcoming events

NeuroCONNECT - Game Night - September 14 (Monday, September 14, 2026)

We Welcome Everyone!

Level Up Your Social Networking Circle for Neurodivergent Adults 18+

GANCC Game Nights are Back!

Why Join?Come experience a safe space, meet new friends, and enjoy games. If you arrive early, you can grab dinner before playing. A great way for potential members to experience the GANCC community! RSVP required—space is limited! Don't miss out!

Community Networking: Driving Readiness in Neurodiverse Young Adults - September 22 (Tuesday, September 22, 2026)

NeuroCONNECT - Game Night - October 12 (Monday, October 12, 2026)

We Welcome Everyone!

Level Up Your Social Networking Circle for Neurodivergent Adults 18+

GANCC Game Nights are Back!

Why Join?Come experience a safe space, meet new friends, and enjoy games. If you arrive early, you can grab dinner before playing. A great way for potential members to experience the GANCC community! RSVP required—space is limited! Don't miss out!

NeuroCONNECT Online: ADHD at Work: Getting Started and Finishing the Thing (Wednesday, October 14, 2026)

Parent Planning with Purpose Workshop: October 15, 2026 (Thursday, October 15, 2026)

Community Networking: Tommy Nobis Center "From Potential to Paycheck" (Tuesday, November 03, 2026)

From Potential to Paycheck

Closing Georgia's Disability Employment Gap

Program Model

NeuroCONNECT - Game Night - November 9 (Monday, November 09, 2026)

We Welcome Everyone!

Level Up Your Social Networking Circle for Neurodivergent Adults 18+

GANCC Game Nights are Back!

Why Join?Come experience a safe space, meet new friends, and enjoy games. If you arrive early, you can grab dinner before playing. A great way for potential members to experience the GANCC community! RSVP required—space is limited! Don't miss out!

NeuroCONNECT Online: ADHD at Work - Focus, Interruptions, and the Open Tabs in Your Brain (Wednesday, November 11, 2026)

NeuroCONNECT Online: ADHD at Work - Strong Emotions, Energy, and Being Seen at Work (Wednesday, December 09, 2026)

Community Networking: Lionheart WORKS - January 26, 2027 (Tuesday, January 26, 2027)

Community Networking: Jacob's Ladder - Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care - February 17, 2027 (Wednesday, February 17, 2027)

Why Join?
Come experience a safe space, meet new friends, and enjoy games. If you arrive early, you can grab dinner before playing.
A great way for potential members to experience the GANCC community!
RSVP required—space is limited!

Don't miss out!

Why Join?
Come experience a safe space, meet new friends, and enjoy games. If you arrive early, you can grab dinner before playing.
A great way for potential members to experience the GANCC community!
RSVP required—space is limited!

Don't miss out!

Why Join?
Come experience a safe space, meet new friends, and enjoy games. If you arrive early, you can grab dinner before playing.
A great way for potential members to experience the GANCC community!
RSVP required—space is limited!

Don't miss out!