2026 College Autism Summit

Why Sponsor? Why Exhibit?

It's a great way to demonstrate your support of the Summit and your commitment to empowering autistic students. The Summit's attendees--around 400--come from higher education, employment, coaching and consulting, and engage in leading-edge conversations and learning about supporting autistic college students. Those students join us too!

Sponsorship levels (all sponsors receive exhibit space if requested, as long as space remains available)

Diamond:  $20,000. One spot remaining. Five participant registrations included.

Platinum:  $10,000. One spot remaining. Four participant registrations included.

Gold: $5000. Three participant registrations included.

Silver: $2500. Two participant registrations included.

Bronze:  $1000. One participant registration included.

For more details about what each level includes, please download the document below.

To exhibit at the Summit, please register at least as a Bronze Sponsor ($1000). Bronze Sponsors receive one registration and exhibit space. A six-foot table will be available, with access to power if needed. Exhibits can be set up on Sunday, November 8 between 1 pm and 5 pm, or on Monday morning beginning at 8 am.  Exhibit hours will be Monday and Tuesday, 9 am until 6 pm, and Wednesday, 9 am until 12 pm.  

Exhibit Table Availability

While we don't anticipate running short of exhibit space, it is possible, so we will confirm table space on a first-come, first-served basis. If we run out of space, we will indicate that here on this page. 

To register as a sponsor (and attend the Summit)

To sponsor without attending the Summit

Diamond Level (Presenting Partner)

DIAMOND PRESENTING LEVEL

PLATINUM LEVEL

GOLD LEVEL

SILVER LEVEL

BRONZE LEVEL

Want to be a Summit sponsor? We would be grateful for your support. More info HERE.

We hope to offer continuing education credit, but cannot know for sure until program sessions have been determined and accreditors have approved. Please check back in early fall to confirm CEU availability.

Call for Award Nominations

In order to recognize the outstanding work being done by our colleagues, the College Autism Network seeks nominations for our annual College Autism Network Excellence in Autism Practice and Research Awards. Nominations may be submitted by colleagues, though self-nominations will also be accepted. Recipients will be recognized at the 2026 College Autism Summit in Baltimore, November 8-11.

Deadline for nominations:  June 15

Recipients will be notified by August 15

To submit a nomination for one or more of CAN's awards, use this form. 

Outstanding Autism Support Program

This award is given to a campus-based support program or initiative that has demonstrated excellence in implementation of evidence-guided practices. These may include some or all of the following:

• Individual practices, clusters or combination of activities

• Programs or initiatives that focus on autistic students directly, neurotypical students/peers or faculty/staff in relation to autistic students, or relevant to/about other key stakeholders

• Program may be longstanding or newly-created

• Program may be implemented by campus-based units, departments, or other programs, or may be initiated by independent entities that focus on college students and the higher education setting

Outstanding Neurodiversity Workplace Initiative

This award is given to an employer who has established a workplace initiative that recruits and supports autistic and other neurodivergent employees and encourages professional growth and advancement. These may include some or all of the following:

• Support of, and connection to, campus resources and initiatives

• Effective recruiting of neurodivergent applicants

• Outreach and education to all employees about neurodiversity

• Initiatives, policies and processes that demonstrate ongoing support of, and attention to, neurodivergent employees in their professional growth and advancement

Outstanding Research on Autism in Higher Education

This award is given to an individual (or research team) who has, in the previous year (2022-23), produced original scholarship advancing research, policy, and/or practice in ways that facilitate college success for autistic students. Such scholarship may include any/all of the following:

• Journal articles

• Project reports

• Books

• Research briefs

CAN Contributor of the Year

This award is given to an individual whose contributions to the College Autism Network, its members, and its mission, have been outstanding during the previous year. Contributions may include:

• Presentations at College Autism Summit or other event

• Consultations with other campuses 

• Contributions to CAN’s mission to support autistic college students and the professionals who work with them

• Engagement and/or service in CAN programming, including CANVAS, Program Director Calls, Summit planning

Timeline:

April 15: Call for nominations

June 15: Deadline

Aug 1:  Winners selected

Aug 15:  Winners notified

Nov 8-11:  College Autism Summit, Baltimore, MD 

Preconference Sessions

We will offer three preconference activities: The Program Leaders' Collaborative, Building Blocks for New Programs, and the Summit Student Experience, all scheduled from 1 pm until 5 pm (with a light reception for Collaborative and Building Blocks participants from 5 until 6). Pre-registration is required for all three.

The Program Leaders' Collaborative

Sponsored by Curry College and Arizona State University

If you are the leader of a campus autism or neurodiversity program/initiative, please join your colleagues for an afternoon of networking and valuable information sharing. This year's focus is program evaluation, an important component of any college autism program. It equips program staff with the information needed to make data informed decisions, strengthen services, and advocate effectively for resources. This workshop will introduce the fundamentals of program evaluation, with a focus on practical approaches for programs that do not have a dedicated evaluator. You'll leave with practical strategies and ready-to-use resources that you can begin implementing immediately. 

The workshop will be led by Jess Monahan, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor,  University of Maryland.

This event also provides ample opportunity to converse with program leaders from around the country, and the valuable connections you’ll make will pay dividends throughout the year as you become part of a network of committed professionals who share your challenges and value your insights. An off-site reception follows with participants from Building Blocks.

Registration:

CAN members early (Sept 7):  $95. regular (Oct 7): $125; late: $150

Non-members early (Sept 7): $135, regular (Oct 7): $165; late: $195

Building Blocks for New Programs     

Sponsored by Western Kentucky University Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex  

Autism support programs take many forms, from small initiatives located in a disability services office to a fully-staffed stand-alone program serving many students across campus. All of these programs have one thing in common: they began with an idea and a plan to implement that idea. Presenters will assist participants in determining campus needs, setting goals, gaining buy-in, budgeting and financing options, exploring different staffing models, the role of parents, mentoring and coaching supports, and effective campus training. In addition, presenters will address information on gathering data to evaluate success and work toward continuous improvement. An off-site reception with participants from the Program Leaders' Collaborative will follow.

The workshop will be facilitated by Jane Thierfeld Brown, Ed.D., and Amy Rutherford, LPC-MHSP, ACS.

Registration:

CAN members early (Sept 7):  $95. regular (Oct 7): $125; late: $150

Non-members early (Sept 7): $135, regular (Oct 7): $165; late: $195

Summit Student Experience

As we celebrate the 10th College Autism Summit, we will be providing a more advanced Summit Student Experience for Graduate students.  This graduate student experience provides opportunities to build professional networks, refine and share research ideas, and explore the scholarly writing and publishing process. Participants will engage with professionals, researchers, and peers while learning how research can inform policy and practice. Through guided discussions and hands-on activities, students will develop skills in translating research into actionable recommendations and will create their own policy brief, strengthening their ability to communicate research to diverse audiences and contribute to meaningful change.

Facilitators:

• • John Caldora, Dartmouth University

  • Cherie Fishbaugh, West Chester University of Pennsylvania

  • Michael Ota, Kennesaw State University 

  • Brady Esham, Albus NeuroPolicy Solutions

• Registration cost:

  • The Summit Student Experience is free to graduate students who are registered for the Summit. You must also select this option when registering  if you wish to attend. Only those who are registered for this preconference workshop and the other components of the Summit Student Experience may attend this preconference workshop. This workshop is limited to 40 participants.

Opening Session:  Monday, November 9, 10:00 am-11:30 am

Forward and Back: A Conversation About Autism, Higher Education and the College Autism Network

Sponsored by Landmark College     

The College Autism Network and the Summit are both celebrating ten years of making a difference in the lives of autistic college students. Three voices that have helped shape the field, the organization, and this event will share their perspectives on this journey. Looking back over ten years, they will consider the varied paths we all have traveled to be here today and how this field has evolved. Looking forward, they will consider the possibilities, potential and challenges we face as a community in the future. And looking at this very moment, well--that will be the fun part.

The conversation will be facilitated group will be wrangled, probably unsuccessfully, by CAN’s Executive Director, Lee Burdette Williams, who will be joined by:

• Bradley E. Cox, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Higher Education at Michigan State University, co-principal investigator of the PEACES Study (the largest research study of autistic college students) and the founder of the College Autism Network;
• Perry LaRoque, Ph.D., Founder and President of Mansfield Hall, a groundbreaking independent program for neurodivergent college students, the author of “Taking Flight: The Guide to College for Diverse Learners and Non-Traditional Students” and part of the planning team, with Brad and Lee, of the first College Autism Summit in 2017; and
• Jane Thierfeld Brown, Ed.D., Founder of College Autism Spectrum and co-author (with Lorraine Wolf and Ruth Bork) of “Students with Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for College Personnel,” published in 2009, that was the first text of its kind to offer guidance to higher education professionals supporting autistic students.

Closing Session:  Wednesday, November 11, 12:00 pm-1:15 pm

The Invisible Rulebook: An Interactive Toolbox for Supporting Autistic Students

Sponsored by 

The world runs on rules that nobody wrote down. The problem is, we don't all know the same rules.

For autistic students, those unwritten expectations can turn campus moments into obstacles that are easy to miss from the outside: the group project, relationships with friends and professors, the career fair. In this interactive closing keynote, Natalie Diggins, autistic adult and author of The Autistic Adult's Toolbox, will show you what these moments look like from the inside and give you practical ways to approach them differently. 

You'll leave lunch with tools you can use with autistic students as soon as you're back on campus.

Natalie Diggins is an autistic adult, technologist, deep tech angel investor, and board member. She has spent her career solving complex systems problems, and she solved one for herself: diagnosed as an adult, she realized she'd spent decades building the tools and processes she needed in a neurotypical world, long before she had a name for why she needed them. She is the author of The Autistic Adult's Toolbox, the resource she wishes she'd had, a practical, strengths-based guide for autistic adults. Natalie is one of 261 "SuperForecaster" investors worldwide, identified by a predictive venture model for a rare track record of spotting startups before they become unicorns, as reported by Business Insider. She credits that track record to the way her autistic brain works.

Plenary 1: Monday, 4:00-4:50 pm

Meaningful Connections:  The Power of Mentorship

In this plenary session, partners in three unique mentoring relationships will share their experiences and perspectives on what makes mentorship truly meaningful throughout the undergraduate and graduate student experience.   Sponsored by the University of Maryland College Park

Plenary 2:  Tuesday, 9:00-9:50 am

Tech-n-Tools Demo Deep Dive:  Hear from some of our exhibitors as they share brief descriptions of their products, services and tools.  Sponsored by Dell Technologies

Plenary 3:  Tuesday, 4:30-5:20 pm

Not Your Average Career Path:  Empowering Autistic Students to Redefine Professional Success.

When supporting neurodivergent students, the standard campus career advice often misses the mark. For many autistic students, the traditional workforce pipeline can feel inaccessible, overwhelming, or misaligned with their needs. So, how do we support students find success when the traditional route isn't the right fit? And how do we keep them motivated when their immediate next step isn't their "dream job"? This panel brings together labor market expertise, vocational counseling, and the lived experiences of autistic professionals to discuss how to empower students to look outside the standard pipeline. We will explore how to help students leverage their deep personal interests into professional capabilities, and how to frame stepping-stone roles as valuable pieces of a broader professional journey.  Sponsored by the Southern Great Lakes Neurodiversity at Work Hub   

Plenary 4: Wednesday, 9:00-9:50 am

Finding Connection and Comfort:  Belonging and Sensory Wellbeing on Campus

This interactive panel explores how colleges and universities can foster genuine belonging and sensory comfort for autistic students. Panelists — including autistic self-advocates, campus professionals, and community voices — will discuss practical strategies for building friendship, creating accessible sensory spaces, and supporting students in feeling truly at ease on campus. Attendees will engage directly with panelists through table discussions and hands-on activities, leaving with concrete ideas to bring back to their own institutions.

ONLY Coordinating Presenters are listed here. More details will be on the mobile app.

ONLY Coordinating Presenters are listed here. More details will be on the mobile app.

ONLY Coordinating Presenters are listed here. More details will be on the mobile app.

Poster Session (Monday, November 9, 5:00-6:30 pm)

Sponsored by Microsoft

Only coordinating presenters are listed here. Full list of poster authors will be available in the mobile app. 

• Access Is Infrastructure Reframing Neurodivergent Support Beyond “Special Treatment”  Raymond Anderson
• Advocacy, Autism, and the Transition to College: Building Confidence, Communication, and Independence  Tara Williams
• Climbing the Endless Staircase: Full Time Job Seeking Experiences for Neurodivergents  Mark Tapia
• College Connections: Program Development to Support College Readiness and Postsecondary Success in Autistic Young Adults  Eileen Farmer
• Communication Modality and Narrative Production Across Neurotypes: Considerations for Accessible College Learning Environments  Cary Hundley
• Confidence and Community in Autistic Job Seekers: Insights from Participant Feedback on an Employment Support Program for Autistic Adults  Mary Rose Winters
• Disability Identity Development in a STEM Summer Camp for High School Students with Disabilities  Matias Solorzano
• Empowering Autistic College Students: A Call-to-Action for the Increase of Specialized Support Programs in Higher Education  Marilyn Barge
• Experiences of Late & Undiagnosed Autistic Women in Higher Education   Clarissa Correa
• Exploring the Imposter Phenomenon Among Neurodivergent Students  Adam Lalor
• ID and ASD Cross-Program Collaboration at the University of Delaware  Wes Garton
• Informing ASCEND@Carolina: Using Student Voices to Shape a Multi-Tiered System of Support for Neurodivergent Students  Lindsay McCary
• Invisible at the Intersection: Neurodiversity, Cultural Stigma, and Institutional Barriers for African International Students in U.S. Higher Education  Francis Dugbartey
• LuminousPath: Adaptive AI Tutoring Designed for Autistic and Neurodivergent College Students  Misty Hogg
• Neurodivergence's Surprising Co-morbidities Kathleen Ignatoski
• Neurodivergent Voices:  What Neurodivergent Students Are Saying About How Neurodivergence Affects Higher Education Experiences and Processes Vickie Ng
• “Nothing About Us Without Us”: Co-Designing a Neuroinclusive Summer Transition Program Tracy Urban
• Peer Liaisons Revisited: Advancing a Neuro-Affirming Mentoring Model for Autistic College Students  Michael Ota
• Social Work Education and Disability Justice: A Scoping Literature Review on the Experiences and Impacts of Ableism  Tiffany Banks
• The Odds: Empowering Neurodivergent Youth Through Comics  Pen Baxter
• The Quants Edge: Leveraging Neurodivergent Strengths in Development & Research  Kenneth Mims
• Universal Design for Learning, Universal Design for Life: Centering Lived Experience to Transform Coursework into Tools for Educational Success  Sylvie Hoffman
• Unpacking attrition: An Examination of K-12 Educational Trauma in Neurodivergent Youth  Gabrielle Ewall  

The Employer Connection Series: A One-Day Event for Employers and Employment Professionals

Wednesday, November 11, 9 am to 5 pm

Join leading neuroinclusion group of experts with professional expertise and lived experience for an engaging discussion that will equip your organization with practical insights and build connections with higher education professionals who work with exceptional talent.

Who should attend: Employers and recruitment leaders seeking practical insights to connect with neurodivergent talent. Open to those who are just learning and those looking to build on their current practices in building neuroinclusive workplaces. 

Session topics include:

1. Neuroinclusion: An Essential Business Strategy

2. Concrete Neuroinclusive Strategies Across the Employee Life Cycle

3. Autism Support Programs 101: What Employers Need to Know

4. “We Know Someone:” Building Employer Connections That Matter

5. Bridging Pathways: Neurodivergent Journeys into Employment

Designed for employers, HR leaders, and managers looking to build neuroinclusive talent pipelines and workplaces. 

$225 per person; nonprofits may be eligible for a reduced rate. Contact Amy Tavares at atavares@andrew.cmu.edu

To register, select the "Employment Series Only" ticket, which includes lunch and a networking reception at the end of the day. Full Summit attendees are welcome to join the afternoon free of charge (the morning session is more appropriate for employers, especially those new to neurodiversity hiring). Nonprofit participants may request a discounted ticket by contacting co-chair Amy Tavares at atavares@andrew.cmu.edu

As we celebrate the 10th College Autism Summit, we will be providing a more advanced Summit Student Experience for Graduate Students.  Advanced undergraduates may also participate. This graduate student experience provides opportunities to build professional networks, refine and share research ideas, and explore the scholarly writing and publishing process. Participants will engage with professionals, researchers, and peers while learning how research can inform policy and practice. Through guided discussions and hands-on activities, students will develop skills in translating research into actionable recommendations and will create their own policy brief, strengthening their ability to communicate research to diverse audiences and contribute to meaningful change. These opportunities begin with a preconference workshop on Sunday, November 8 from 1 pm until 5 pm. Facilitators will be: 

• • • John Caldora, Dartmouth University
    • Cherie Fishbaugh, West Chester University of Pennsylvania
    • Michael Ota, Kennesaw State University 
    • Brady Esham, Albus NeuroPolicy Solutions
  • Registration cost:
    • The Summit Student Experience is free to graduate students who are registered for the Summit. You must also select this option when registering if you wish to participate. Only those who are registered for this preconference workshop and the other components of the Summit Student Experience may attend this preconference workshop. This workshop is limited to 40 participants.

The College Autism Network is awarding several student travel scholarships up to $750 plus waived registration fee for high-achieving/presenting undergraduates and graduate students planning to contribute to research or practice within the college autism support field.  These scholarships have been awarded for the 2026 Summit.

The Summit mobile app will be available for download in the early fall. 

Are you a new professional? A graduate student? Attending your first Summit? Participating in the Mentor/Mentee Match is a great way to connect with a more experienced professional throughout the Summit. It’s someone to sit with at lunch, chat up in the hallway, even meet for coffee. There will be some scheduled activities--always optional--for making connections.

If you’re an experienced professional, please consider signing up to be a Mentor. We’ll pair you with a new professional or graduate student to make a connection during the Summit. We hope you’ll use your wisdom and experience to help welcome someone into the CAN and Summit communities.

Sign up to be a mentor or a mentee during the registration process. We’ll be in touch when pairs are determined.

The Summit will take place at the Renaissance HarborPlace Hotel, 202 E. Pratt St, Baltimore. Rooms are available at a conference rate (See Hotel Reservation link). Other hotel rooms within walking distance of the Renaissance are available, though not at a discounted rate, and you'll need to make that reservation independently. The hotel is about a 25-minute ride from Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI), and about a ten minute drive from Baltimore's Penn Station if you travel by train. Driving? It's a fairly easy route from I-95 to the hotel. Parking is available at the hotel for a fee (check back closer to the Summit for pricing).   

Visit Baltimore has created a guide curated for Summit attendees with everything you need to plan your visit, including hotel booking, dining recommendations, neighborhood guides, maps, and deals on top attractions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Submissions