World Autism Conference
Details about the next in-person World Autism Conference are coming soon. Sign up today for our newsletter to receive conference announcements and access to our deeply discounted, early bird registration.
Video Streaming Library
Unable to attend an in-person conference? Over 150 hours of our best, on-demand, expert-driven content is now available to watch online in the world’s largest, autism-specific video streaming library. Thanks to the US Autism Association, our speakers, paid content subscribers, donors, and sponsors every session is now free and accessible with no registration, log-in, subscription, or fee.
Divergent Learning World: An Online Professional Development Training Program
Individual and group US Autism Training Certificate Programs coming soon.
Now accepting customized training and professional development requests.
Now Announcing…
US Autism World Alliance
Bringing over 25 years of US Autism content, legacy, and expertise to an expanded global audience to ensure access to expert-driven training and resources for all who are divergent, their families, and the professionals who support them.
About US Autism Association
1995-2025
Providing information and resources for over 25 years to ensure that all individuals across the spectrum have the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential.
Our History
Founded by Dr. Lawrence P. Kaplan in 1995 as Special Abilities, then evolved in 2005 as the US Autism & Asperger Association, the organization was created to help individuals navigate the challenges of autism and related disorders. Team members Dr. Kaplan, Dr. Phillip C. DeMio, Theresa Wrangham, Dr. Marlo Payne Thurman, and Dr. Stephen Shore, along with dozens of contributing speakers and volunteers hosted sixteen World Autism Conferences between the years of 2005 and 2018. The 2010 World Autism Conference that was streamed live around the world, reached hundreds of thousands, making it the most viewed autism conference in history.
In 2018, the organization evolved into the US Autism Association. Then in 2020, Dr. Kaplan passed the torch of leadership to Dr. Marlo Payne Thurman who forwarded the mission during the Covid-19 Pandemic. From 2020 to 2025, Dr. Thurman also interviewed and recorded the world’s leading autism experts, many who were either on the spectrum themselves or were parents of those diagnosed. This led to the creation of the US Autism Association’s Video Streaming Library which features over 150 hours of expert-driven content. In 2023, the organization hosted its 17th World Autism Conference in Loveland, Colorado.
Our Future
Following an organizational restructuring and under the shared leadership of Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Thurman, the US Autism Association has now joined US Autism World Alliance and Divergent Learning World to meet the shared goal of expanding the content, legacy, and expert-driven training of the US Autism Association to a more divergent global audience. Both new entities, along with all previous US Autism associated names, brands, and projects, are now together under our new 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Divergent World Collective, Tax ID 39-2414816.
Under Divergent World Collective, US Autism Association, US Autism World Alliance, Different Minded Renaissance, World Autism Conference, US Autism Learning, US Autism Training, and Divergent Learning World will soon be joined by several new entities and projects to serve all who are divergent, worldwide, to continue to achieve their fullest potential.
