Autistic Community Summit

Find your community – and your voice in it.

Thank you for joining us for the 7th Annual Autistic Community Summit!

On Nov. 9, our community came together for an amazing day of education, community, support, and connection. While AuSM is the host of the event, the people who make it truly special are the autistic community members who build the space together: speakers, volunteers, attendees, and more! We heard from speakers with wonderful insight, saw new friendships and connections, and found new ways to support each other.

Recordings of all sessions are available for purchase. They will be available through Dec. 11
Price: $35

Created and curated by people with autism and for people with autism, the purpose of the Autistic Community Summit is to provide a space for community building and sharing the knowledge and perspectives of Minnesota’s autistic community. This year’s summit is dedicated to amplifying the voices of autistic individuals and fostering a supportive community that embraces diversity, inclusion, and empowerment.

Register

2024 Keynote: AJ Locashio

Join us for a groundbreaking keynote speech exploring the concept of work through a neuro-affirmative lens. This presentation challenges traditional definitions and expands the concept of “work” to encompass a wider range of activities that contribute to a person’s well-being, purpose, and sense of self.

What to Expect at the Autistic Community Summit 2024

The Schedule

See what to expect for the day, including detailed session descriptions, speaker bios, and information about social opportunities. This is your best guide to the Summit, and will give you a sense of what to expect. Check back regularly as we’ll be making updates and adding more information.

View the Schedule

Accessibility

AuSM is committed to making the Autistic Community Summit an accessible event. To see all the currently available accommodations, please click below. This also includes our Code of Conduct, which will help you understand what behavior is expected during the event. This is also where neurotypical participants can learn how we expect them to engage in the Summit. If you have questions about accommodations or accessibility, please contact Zephyr at zjames@ausm.org.

View the social narrative.

Accessibility Guide

Speed Friending and Pizza

Join MNeurodivergent after the Summit for a chance to hang out and get to know your fellow autistics. The event will include a chance to do Speed Friending, plus time to hang out and eat pizza in a less structured setting. Speed Friending is similar in structure to Speed Dating. There will be two lines of people sitting across from each other. The participants will then talk to the person across from them for 5 minutes. At the end of the five minutes, the participants will rotate. They will continue rotating until the end of the event. Unlike Speed dating, evert participant will talk with every other participant, time permitting. The event will not be split by gender, age, race, etc.

Time: 5-8 p.m.
Location: Davanni’s, 5124 Gus Young Ln, Minneapolis, MN 55436
Cost: $15 (includes pizza)

Register for Speed Friending

A Fully Hybrid Event

The Autistic Community Summit is a hybrid event: The keynote presentation and all breakout sessions will be livestreamed and recorded. In addition, the Support Check In and the Powerpoint Party will be livestreamed. All livestreamed sessions will also be recorded and the links shared with both virtual and in-person attendees. If you register for in-person and decide to change to virtual, you can always make that change at any time.

The Venue

This year’s Autistic Community Summit will take place at Woodlake Church, 2120 W 76th St, Richfield, MN 55423. The Summit Committee recognizes that this is a religious building, and not all our attendees will feel comfortable in a religious setting. The decision to move forward with this venue was made to provide more space to our attendees, keep registration costs low, and prioritize accessibility. No part of the Summit will be held in worship spaces, and Woodlake Church is a welcoming denomination that is LGBTQ+ affirming.

The Metro Green Line stops approximately half a mile from the venue, and the 540 busline stops directly in front of the venue. There is plenty of free parking available.