Thank You for Making the1 in 31 Connection Autism Summit Extraordinary
This summit was created through the voices, expertise, courage, and generosity of advocates, autistic individuals, families, professionals, speakers, cohosts, sponsors, and viewers around the world. The live event may be complete, but its impact is still growing.
Empowering the 1. Connecting the Many.
A global virtual summit that brought together advocates, educators, researchers, families, autistic voices, and neurodiversity leaders from around the world. Every session is now available as a free on-demand replay.
Main Host
Sara Bradford
Creator and Host of The 1 in 31 Connection Autism Summit 2026
Founder of The SJ Childs Global Network
Free Summit Replays Available Now
No registration is required to watch. Explore the conversations, resources, panels, and advocate presentations at your own pace.
A Global Virtual Autism Summit
The 1 in 31 Connection Summit 2026 was created to bring education, connection, accessibility, and lasting change to a global audience. This virtual gathering brought together lived experience, professional insight, research, family support, communication access, and innovation in one shared space — and every session is now available as a free on-demand replay.
Four Days of Connection
The summit unfolded across two summer weekends of panels, presentations, and Spotlight premieres. Every session is now available on demand — tap a day to explore what happened.
Meet Our Sponsors
Thank you to the incredible sponsors and partners who made the 1 in 31 Connection Autism Summit possible.
Explore the Summit Exhibit Hall
Browse exhibits from the businesses, organizations, and community resources supporting the Summit.
Visit All Exhibits
Introducing AXSID: Communication Access in One Tap
Created by SJ Childs Global Network, AXSID is a next-generation accessibility platform that helps autistic and disabled individuals securely share communication preferences and support information with first responders, educators, healthcare providers, employers, and trusted supporters.
Digital Access ID
A secure digital profile for sharing key communication and support information.
One-Tap Access
Important information available instantly through a simple tap or scan.
AAC Ready
Designed to support augmentative and alternative communication needs.
Accessibility & Privacy
Built with privacy, dignity, and accessibility at the center.
Built by an Autism Family
Created from lived experience by SJ Childs Global Network.
Launching Soon
Currently in prototype testing — join the interest list for updates.
Innovation doesn't stop with conversations. The 1 in 31 Connection Autism Summit also showcases solutions that are changing lives.
Help Us Reach Our 2026 Sponsorship Goal
Every sponsorship helps us create a more accessible, inclusive, and globally connected 1 in 31 Connection Autism Summit.
$1,725 RAISED
8.62% of goal
GOAL: $20,000
Progress reflects confirmed cash sponsorships. Community, resource, and in-kind partners are celebrated separately on our Sponsors page.
Your support helps fund:
Accessibility and accommodations
Educational programming
Technology and streaming platforms
Speaker support
Community outreach
Resource development
Future advocacy initiatives
Whether you're a business, organization, nonprofit, family, or individual supporter, your contribution helps create opportunities that extend far beyond a single event.
Empowering the 1. Connecting the Many.
Summit Co-Hosts
Guiding conversations across all four days
- Emmy Award-Winning Dr. Stephen Mark Shore
- Rob Bernstein
- Danielle Terrell
- Mia Dawson
- Amy Kriewaldt
- Jan Schlueter
- Shalise Lopez
- Maryse Alexander
- Tom Hoskins (UK)
- Carol Waldman
Special Guests: To Be Announced
Advocate Spotlight Series
Continue the conversation beyond our live panels through the Advocate Spotlight Series—a collection of inspiring prerecorded presentations from autistic self-advocates, parents, educators, professionals, innovators, and community leaders from around the world.
These presentations share lived experiences, practical strategies, personal journeys, research, advocacy, and hope while celebrating the diversity and strength of our global autism community.
Spotlight presentations premiered throughout the Summit and remain available as part of the free on-demand replay experience.
VIP Spotlight
Meet featured voices whose work, leadership, and lived experience are helping shape a more accessible and inclusive future.
Elizabeth Bonker
Communication 4 ALL
Nonspeaking Autism, Presuming Competence & Communication
30-minute prerecorded presentation
Premiered Friday, July 31, 2026 • 3:00 PM MT — replay available now
International Spotlight
Celebrating voices and perspectives from across the globe, helping us build a truly connected autism community.
The Summit connects autistic voices, families, advocates, educators, and innovators across borders and communities worldwide.
- International Spotlight
Anila Khan
Pakistan
- International Spotlight
Lindsay Malkinson
Canada
- International Spotlight
Ebony Birch-Hanger
Australia
- International Spotlight
Shamus Hart
Australia
- International Spotlight
Dr. Angela Kingdon
United Kingdom
- International Spotlight
Tarassa Qinthara
Indonesia
Featured Advocate Spotlight Presenters
- Andrew Arboe
- Carl Reneman
- Connor Trang
- Daniel Durany
- Eric Wyatt
- Evan Barnwell
- Gyasi Burks-Abbott
- Heidi Balmer
- Jeff Snyder
- Jessica Block
- Jocelyn Sanders
- Joel Kottman
- Kara Kolmar
- Dr. Kelvin Smith
- Lynne (Awesomism)
- Morgan Bevell
- Muzna Kazim
- Peyton (Awesomism)
- Samantha Leonard
- Shea Belsky
- Stephanie Helene Lewis
- Tarassa Qinthara
Every voice matters. Every story inspires. Every connection strengthens our community.
Summit Schedule
Four days of panels, presentations, and exclusive spotlight content across two weekends.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Research: Science, Policy & Discovery
Exploring research, lived experience, policy, and discoveries shaping the future of autism and neurodiversity.
Spellers & Supported Communication
Centering communication access, spelling, nonspeaking voices, and the right to be heard.
Family & Community Connections
Practical conversations for families, caregivers, providers, and communities supporting neurodivergent people.
Lunch Break
AI, Innovation & the Future of Accessibility
How technology, AI, and inclusive design are transforming access, communication, and opportunity.
Advocacy: Voices Creating Change
Autistic advocates and changemakers sharing stories, strategies, and action for a more inclusive future.
Live Sessions End
Advocate Spotlight Series & International Spotlight Premieres
3:00 PM MT — Elizabeth Bonker (VIP Spotlight): Nonspeaking Autism, Presuming Competence & Communication · 3:45 PM MT — Team Awesomism · 4:15 PM MT — Ebony Birch-Hanger, Daniel Durany & Dr. Kelvin Smith.
The Impact Is Still Growing
- 177
- Summit Website Visits Last Week
- 4
- Days of Live Summit Programming
- Free
- Global Access to Summit Replays
Numbers reflect currently available platform analytics and will continue to be updated as people discover, watch, and share the summit replays.
To Our Community
- Autistic and neurodivergent speakers and advocates
- Families and caregivers
- Researchers, educators, clinicians, and service providers
- Cohosts and production supporters
- Sponsors and community partners
- Livestream and replay viewers
- Everyone who shared the summit
To every speaker who shared their experience, every cohost who helped guide the conversation, every sponsor and partner who made access possible, and every person who watched, commented, shared, or joined us—thank you. You helped create something much bigger than an event. You helped build connection.
The conversations continue. The resources remain available. The community keeps growing.
Partner With Purpose
Sponsors help support accessibility, amplify autistic voices, and make inclusive education available to more families, professionals, and communities.
Support Accessibility
Help fund captioning, accessible platforms, and inclusive participation tools.
Amplify Autistic Voices
Enable more advocates and self-advocates to share their stories and insights.
Create Lasting Change
Contribute to education that reaches families and professionals worldwide.
Community Ambassador Honorarium
Martin Slyngstad
Community Ambassador
We are proud to recognize Martin Slyngstad as a Community Ambassador for The 1 in 31 Connection. Community Ambassadors help us grow the summit by making meaningful connections, sharing the mission, and helping bring sponsors and supporters into the work.
Through our Community Ambassador Honorarium program, eligible community members may receive a small thank-you honorarium when their connection leads to confirmed sponsor support.
Want to help grow the summit? Learn how you can become a Community Ambassador too.
Become a Community AmbassadorPartner With Us for Future Accessible Events
Sponsorship keeps our future summits, panels, and community programming free and accessible. If you would like to help fund what comes next, we would love to hear from you.
Accessibility Information
The Summit is built for connection and inclusion. Every page includes a native Accessibility Options panel with adjustable text size, high contrast, a sensory-friendly calm mode, and more — your preferences are saved as you move through the site.
Live sessions include closed captions, and all session times are shown in Mountain Time.
Read Our Accessibility Statement