10/04/2026
Toward Neuroharmony: Welcome to the Autism Renaissance was more than a conference. It was a room full of people willing to listen differently, learn from one another, and imagine what’s possible when we center communication, autonomy, lived experience, and connection.
And somehow, even with the rain coming down around us, you showed up. 💜
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this year’s Summit such a meaningful and successful experience.
A very special thank you to our incredible speakers:
✨ Dr. Elizabeth Torres — Professor at Rutgers University and Director of the Sensory Motor Integration Lab, whose groundbreaking research explores movement, sensation, and the nervous system to advance new ways of understanding autism
✨ Rosemary White, OTR/L — Occupational therapist and longtime leader in sensory integration and DIR®/Floortime practice
✨ Rebecca Engle, M.Ed. — Autistic educator, author, speaker, and advocate
✨ Tiffany Hammond — New York Times bestselling author, autistic advocate, storyteller, and mother of two sons on the spectrum.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, your expertise, your stories, and your perspectives with our community.
To our Expertise by Experience panelists and our "Every Voice Matters" panelists and professional contributors — thank you for bringing your voices, your lived experiences, your questions, and your wisdom to the conversation. These conversations are at the heart of what makes this Summit so special.
To our ACN staff — the planning, coordinating, problem-solving, early mornings, late nights, and countless details behind the scenes do not go unnoticed. You poured so much into creating this experience, and it showed. 🐘💜
To our UT Health students and volunteers — thank you for giving your time, your energy, and your helping hands to make the day welcoming and run smoothly.
To our Ally Award recipients, thank you for the work you do every day to build connection, belonging, and opportunity in our community. We are honored to celebrate you.
To our community partners, vendors, and organizations who took time away from their own work and schedules to join us, learn with us, and support the Summit — thank you for showing up for this community. A special thank you to San Antonio Ballet School for sharing your beautiful performance with our attendees and adding such a meaningful moment of movement, connection, and joy to our day. 💜
And most importantly, to the families, parents, caregivers, and autistic individuals who joined us:
Thank you. Thank you for braving the weather, making the trip, asking questions, sharing your experiences, and being part of the conversation. Your presence is why we do this.
A heartfelt thank you to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts for welcoming us and helping us create such a beautiful setting for a day centered around learning, connection, and community.
We left the Summit with full hearts, new ideas, deeper connections, and so much to carry forward.
Thank you for being part of the Autism Renaissance.
Here’s to continuing to listen differently, learn together, and create BIG futures. 🐘💜
