Autistic Community Summit Schedule
Detailed 2026 Autistic Community Summit Schedule
Scroll below to see a full description of each session, and hover over the name of each presenter to read their bio. Information may change or be updated, so check back often! All sessions will be livestreamed and recorded, available for viewing for one month after the Summit.
To register for the Summit, click here.
9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Registration opens
9:30 – 10:15 a.m. Breakout Sessions 1
1. In the Theater: MNprov Live! – An Unscripted Performance from Minnesota’s First Neurodivergent Improv Team – Presented by MNprov
Join MNprov Live! for some fun improv games. The cast will perform and invite the audience to join in the fun. Nothing is scripted; everything is supportive and inclusive. Come play with us!
2. In Room 190: Inside the Autism Mentorship Program – Presented by Presented by Emily Goldberg, AJ Hokland, and Daren Howard, with Jayanna Davis and Adriana Aldridge
In 2026, the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) elected, for the first time in the organization’s history, a majority of openly autistic adults to its Board of Directors. One of the Board’s first actions was to approve AuSM’s acquisition of the Autism Mentorship Program (AMP), a unique program piloted in 2019, that pairs autistic youth with autistic adults for one-to-one mentorship. Adults with disabilities are rarely placed in positions of leadership in our society, but AMP demonstrates that autistic adults can and should share their wisdom with the next generation. Join AuSM for a panel discussion with the Founder of AMP, Emily Goldberg, an award-winning session facilitator, AJ Hokland, and two program participants for a look inside AuSM’s newest program.
10:30 – 11:45 a.m. Opening Session – Start Seeing the Spectrum in Full Color Presented by Sami Jama
In the Theater
For decades, public perception and media portrayals have displayed a black and white and one dimensional picture of autism, one heavily dominated by a single demographic. In this session, neurodivergence advocate Sami Jama unmasks the “visibility bias” that leaves autistic individuals of color feeling like ghosts in our society. By talking about the critical and often undiscussed intersection of neurodivergence and the Black experience, this presentation uncovers the root causes of systemic erasure.
Attendees will explore how a historical lack of diverse medical research and diagnostic criteria have created harmful barriers, leading to clinical and community consequences. Discussing her own lived experience as a late diagnosed Black woman, Sami challenges participants to reflect outdated tropes/bias and systemic stigmas. This session provides insights for educators and community members looking to build safe and inclusive spaces so that we can finally begin to see the spectrum in full color.
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch Break
Lunch is not provided by AuSM. You have the option to add a boxed lunch to your registration for $20. There are some restaurants within driving distance. You can also order Door Dash, Grub Hub, or another delivery service. You are also welcome to bring your own food.
12:45 – 1:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions 2
1. In Room 196: Storytelling & Self-Advocacy with Cow Tipping Press – Presented by Maeve McDevitt & Natalie Martell
This session will delve into how creative writing can support agency, identity, and connection for neurodivergent communities. We’ll share examples of published writing from Cow Tipping Press and hear from an author with Autism to discuss inclusion and representation. Participants with and without disabilities will take part in a guided writing activity to explore storytelling as a tool for self-expression and advocacy.
2. In Room 190: Autistic Matrescence: Rewriting the Stories We Tell Ourselves about Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenthood – Presented by Courtney Sailer
Matrescence is understood as the convergence of physiological, psychological, and sociological shifts that are brought about through one’s transition into parenthood. Drawing on lived experience, clinical expertise, and existing research, this session will unpack the influence of autism–both diagnosed and undiagnosed–on parents’ experiences during this transformational time. This session will explore how differences in sensory
needs, executive functioning, and emotional regulation can impact autistic individuals’ earliest perceptions of parenthood, and how this can differ drastically from allistic expectations, norms, and perceptions.
1:45 – 2:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions 3
1. In Room 196: Pancakes, Pizza, and Processed Foods: Lived Experience and Professional Perspective on ARFID – Presented by Sam Stein
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, or ARFID, is a highly stigmatized diagnosis that has only been in the DSM since 2013 and has only recently begun to gain some public recognition. Sam grew up believing they were picky, fussy, or at worst bratty, and yet knew on the inside that the way they ate was not a choice. Now an autism teacher and consultant, Sam has both personal and professional experiences with ARFID. This seminar will provide an overview of ARFID, break down how it intersects and connects with autism, and give practical recommendations for how you can best support people you love and/or care for of all ages and abilities with ARFID.
2. In Room 190: Navigating Executive Functioning with Neurodivergence – Presented by Kendrick Hogue, MA, LPCC
This presentation on Executive Functions covers topics including the impacts of brain structure differences, different coping techniques, and acceptance of neurodiversity and its positive and negative effects on lived experience. Kendrick Hogue is a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) and a neurodivergent nerd who loves helping folks across the gender and sexuality spectrums get to know themselves more, practice self-acceptance, and thrive. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology, Secondary Education, and Classics from St. Joseph’s College of Maine, and his Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling from Southern New Hampshire University.