This session will explore what is known through research about the way the Gut, Brain, and Nervous System are all working together at all times, nourishing and informing each other in real time.

Music Therapist and Founder and CEO of Voices Together Yasmine White shares key elements of her proprietary Voices Together music therapy model, which has gained approval and funding by multiple North Carolina Public School Systems, the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the North Carolina State Department of Health and Human Services as an approved and evidence-based treatment program for learners across the autism spectrum.

In this fun and interactive discussion with Alexander Landa, father of an autistic son, CEO, and co-founder of the Akiva Virtual Reality world, he shares his own story and the story of Akiva to give new hope to parents who have struggled within other modalities with achieving educational and therapeutic gains for their children.

In this follow-up session detailing her research in autism, Dr. Valerie Hu discusses the role that various endocrine disrupting chemicals can play in at least one of the primary autism subtypes.

Join us for an insightful discussion on neurodiversity and the arts, including savantism. Dr. Laurence Becker, cinematographer Ron Zimmerman, and Dr. Michael McManmon join Dr. Marlo Thurman to explore the power of neurodiversity in the arts as they discuss nurturing creativity and talent.

In this session on music and its effects for those on the autism spectrum, Jacqueline Birnbaum, music therapist and expert on the ways that music enhances the lives of individuals with disabilities, shares her professional experiences and insights.

Jacqueline Birnbaum, a Board-Certified Music Therapist, Administrative Coordinator and a Senior Therapist at the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at New York University, and Dr. Jeanne Eichler, Occupational Therapist, Music Therapist, and Assistant Research Professor at the University of Arkansas, detail various aspects of music therapy and its usefulness for all ages.

In this remarkable interview, Dr. Laurence Becker is joined by cinematographer Ron Zimmerman for an inside look into the film Fierce Love and Art. The film, narrated by Dr. Temple Grandin, shares the stories of 9 world-famous artists, who had the support of “fierce love” parents who didn’t give up on helping them to find their hidden talents.

Renowned producer, director, and journalist Ron Zimmerman’s interview provides a behind the scenes glimpse of the life and career of Mickey Rowe, autistic and multiply disabled Broadway star who is also a disability and accessibility expert.

In this engaging keynote, Mickey Rowe shares his deeply personal story of growing up autistic and pushing beyond the restrictions of a special education classroom to shine on the Broadway stage.

Dr. Stephen Shore, Rob Bernstein and US Autism President Marlo Payne Thurman discuss social skills training with Dr. Jed Baker. Dr. Baker is the director of the Social Skills Training Project, an organization serving individuals with autism and social communication problems.

In this cutting-edge session, leading researcher (and mother of an autistic adult) Dr. Valerie Hu shares her life-long research on subtypes of autism.