3rd Annual Autism at Work Research Workshop

The workshop will run over three days, each with its own agenda.

• Day 1: Community Building and Setting the Agenda (Open to all)
  • • This day will include a set of talks and panels given by employers, autism self-advocates, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and academics about the state of autism employment and their priorities for its future. There will be an online social event following this day’s activities.

  Time	Session Title
  11:00am PDT	Introduction and Keynote
  11:05am PDT	Keynote – Michael Bernick (opens in new tab) The State of Autism Employment
  11:25am PDT	Autism Self-Advocate Panel Paulette Penzvalto Aparna Kommineni Jason Lehmann Scott Karp
  11:50am PDT	Breakout Session
  12:05pm PDT	Break
  12:15pm PDT	Employer Panel Neil Barnett, Microsoft Teresa Thomas, Mitre Brad Cohen, Aspiritech Rajesh Anandan, Ultra Testing
  12:35pm PDT	Higher Education Panel Lee Burdette Williams, College Autism Network (NASPA) Sara Sanders Gardner, Bellevue College, Neurodiversity Navigators Program Thomas Beeson, Clemson University, Spectrum Program Lynn Gallagher, Loras University Nancy Forsythe, University of Maryland
  12:55pm PDT	Break
  1:05pm PDT	Facilitating Autistic Employee Inclusion in the Workplace Panel Kate Broeking, The How Skills Center Laura Weldon, Weldon Wellness Katie Oswald, Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults Jennifer Sarrett, Emory University Sally Lindsay, University of Toronto
  1:25pm PDT	Breakout Session
  1:40pm PDT	High School Autism and Inclusion Contest Winners
  1:55pm PDT	Conclusion
  2:00pm PDT	Break
  2:10pm PDT	Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center: Meaningful Connections Sensory-friendly Chamber Music Concert (30 minutes)

• Day 2: Research Opportunity and Development
  • On this day, clinicians, service providers, entrepreneurs, and researchers will come with ideas about potential research project proposals and connect with researchers to plan collaborations.

• Day 3: Deep Dive into Research
  • This day will give researchers an opportunity to introduce themselves and their work, discuss their research agenda, and present their recent work. There will also be round table discussions of research ideas, along with extended abstracts and research-in progress submissions.