Join us for an in-person event! We are offering a preconference workshop on building or improving a program, over 30 general sessions, excellent major speakers, and too many networking opportunities to count. More info below.
Improving practice involves knowing the research, understanding the implementation, and making modifications for continuous improvement.
Research: What do we know?
Implementation: How do we know it?
Modification: How do we make it better?
This summit is providing the chance to learn about emerging research, share perspectives, and give attendees the opportunity to walk away with an applicable toolkit. During the working summit, you will be given the chance to improve your practices and reconnect with colleagues from around the world.
Improving practice involves knowing the research, understanding the implementation, and making modifications for continuous improvement.
Research: What do we know?
Implementation: How do we know it?
Modification: How do we make it better?
Proposals can include any one or more of the following:
| Focus Areas | Descriptors |
| Program Development and Adaptation |
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| Student Community & Perspectives |
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| Career Readiness & Employment |
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To submit a proposal, you will need the following:
Proposal Deadline is June 5 at midnight. Notification of acceptance will be on or about July 2.
Thank you for your interest & contributions to the 2022 College Autism Summit!
We look forward to seeing you in Nashville!
Eric Garcia is the senior Washington correspondent for The Independent. He is the author of We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation, which was released in August 2021 by Mariner Books. He previously worked at The Washington Post, The Hill, Roll Call, National Journal and MarketWatch. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about Eric Garcia and his book, you can visit his website.
Sponsored by:
If you’ve not yet watched Amazon’s terrific original series, “As We See It,” the story of three autistic young adults trying to figure out how to live their best lives, you’re missing something special. Join us for a conversation with three autistic actors about their work, their newfound fame, and their hopes for other autistic performers and artists. Actors Rick Glassman, Sue Ann Pien and Albert Rutecki and series creator Jason Katims will join us via Zoom on Friday afternoon.
Sponsored by:
The pressure on campus professionals to prepare and move students toward employment is intense. The desire by employers to attract, hire and retain talented employees is strong. In between are capable, eager and occasionally overwhelmed applicants trying to make good decisions for their futures. This panel will feature campus professionals, neurodiversity-focused employers, and those who work in between, both on the campus/applicant side and on the employer/organization side. Be part of this conversation about what works, what doesn’t, what’s needed, what’s not, and how these partners, and the neurodivergent students and employees they serve, can align their efforts and expectations.
Moderator:
Panelists:
Sponsored by:
As higher education becomes more accessible to autistic students, members of the autism spectrum are entering graduate and professional programs in greater numbers. These programs often are centered around a close mentorship between mentors and students. In this plenary panel, mentors and mentees will sit down to discuss what worked and didn’t work in their experiences.
Panelists Include:
Sponsored by:
1-4 p.m. ET
Limited to 50 participants.
Many colleges, universities and programs for students with autism are looking for unique ways to provide supports. This preconference workshop will assist participants in planning creative supports using examples from around the country. Topics will include: establishing a campus wide response; options for developing a mentoring program; the importance of keeping a career ready focus, and using key performance indicators to evaluate program effectiveness and improve existing supports. The presenter will address many of the above issues, and more.
Laurie Ackles, Rochester Institute of Technology
Laurie Ackles, MSW, is Director of the Spectrum Support Program at Rochester Institute of Technology and a leading authority on college autism programs.
These three hotels are offering discounted rates for Summit attendees beginning October 11 (arrival) through October 14 (departure). You must use the link here and book your rooms by the dates indicated. All three hotels are within half a mile of the Summit venue, and all offer shuttle service.
(0.4 m from Student Life Center)
2330 Elliston Pl.
Nashville, TN 37203
Rate: $179/double (book by September 6 to be guaranteed group rate)
(0.4 m from Student Life Center)
2613 West End Ave
Nashville, TN 37203
Rate: $179/double (book by September 12 to be guaranteed group rate)
(0.3 m from Student Life Center)
2525 West End Ave
Nashville, TN 37203
Rate: $234/double (book by September 13 to be guaranteed group rate)
ROLE | NAME | INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION |
| Co-chair | Amy Radochonski | College Living Experience |
| Co-chair | Cherie Fishbaugh | WCUPA |
| Lindsay Hill | Michigan State University | |
| Amy Vander Busard | University of Iowa | |
| Samantha Prentice | Gateway Academy | |
| Amber Meyers | Tarrant Community College District | |
| Emily Raclaw | Marquette University | |
| Julie Humbel-Courtney | The Ohio State University | |
| Emily Paulson | ||
| Dave Caudel | Frist Center at Vanderbilt University | |
| Jordan Spencer | Mississippi State University |
ROLE | NAME | INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION |
| Co-chair | John Caldora | University of Kentucky |
| Co-chair | Matt Segall | Emory University |
| Alli Gatta | St. Joseph’s University | |
| Beth Felsen | Spectrum Transition Coaching | |
| Tre’Von Robinson | Mansfield Hall | |
| Vickie Moss | Tarrant Community College | |
| Ashley Richardson | University of Texas Austin |
| ROLE | NAME | INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION |
| Chair | Bridget McElroy | NITW |
| Helen Rottier | University of Illinois at Chicago | |
| Amy Rutherford | University of Tennessee Chattanooga | |
| Kelsey Roberson | CAN Intern |
ROLE | NAME | INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION |
| Co-chair | Michele Marjason | LeTourneau University |
| Co-chair | Annette Kendall | University of Missouri |
| Lynn Gallagher | Loras College | |
| Megan Davis | University of Alabama | |
| Michelle Elkins | Western Kentucky University |
ROLE | NAME | INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION |
| Chair | Brett Nachman | CAN/NCSU |
| Jess Monahan | University of Delaware | |
| Jodi Duke | George Mason University | |
| Carol Rogers-Shaw | University of Dayton | |
| Karen Krainz Edison | The Ohio State University | |
| Lauren Allen | SUNY Empire State College |
ROLE | NAME | INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION |
| Chair | Brittany Jackson | CAN/Hiram College |
| Courtney Butler | Rutgers University | |
| Courtney Francis | Florida State University |
Begin networking before the conference even begins! Continue to network throughout the conference! Carry on conversations and connections even after the conference has ended! Need additional categories added? Reach out to College Autism Summit Logistics Committee Chair, Dr. Brittany Jackson, with the category you would like to add!
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Would you like to share your organization’s work with Summit attendees? You can do that as an exhibitor. The exhibitor fee is $1000 which means you will be a “bronze level” sponsor. Your fee will include:
One free registration
Organization name listed in the program (paper and virtual)
Organization mentioned in an email to attendees
Exhibit space throughout the Summit (virtual and/or in-person). Exhibit times will be Thursday, October 13 and Friday, October 14, 8:30 am until 5 pm.
A Very Special Thank You to the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt University for all its support for the College Autism Network and the College Autism Summit!
Below you will find links to a variety of maps to help you navigate Vanderbilt’s campus, parking, and our venue the Student Life Center.
We are doing our best to stay up to date on current CDC and state guidelines regarding Covid safety. These are our current requests and plans:
Should we receive information that a Summit attendee has tested positive for Covid during or immediately after the Summit, we will notify all attendees by email.
