Virtual Autism Summit

The Easterseals Midwest Virtual Autism Summit brings together families, caregivers, and professionals to learn from experts who understand autism from both clinical and lived experience. Over two mornings, attendees will explore practical tools for supporting children, teens, and adults with autism through every stage of life. Whether you're a parent looking for answers or a professional building your skills, you'll leave with ideas you can put to use right away.

Conference Dates

November 5, 2026 | 8:30 am - 11:45 am 
November 6, 2026 | 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

Cost for Attendees

Professionals: $55 for both days 
Group Rate (six or more professionals): $275 for both days
Families and Individuals: Free  

Recordings of each session will be available to registrants for six months after the event. 

Click here to download the Registration Packet which includes full speaker bios and session descriptions. 

November 5, 2026

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM | Opening Keynote Speaker: A Neuroaffirmative Approach to Increasing Quality of Life Outcomes for Individuals with ASD Empowerment Speaker

This presentation outlines Dr. Jed Baker’s neuroaffirmative framework focused on helping clients reach their goals rather than trying to make clients look “neurotypical.” Predictors of successful outcome are reviewed, informing caregivers on what kinds of supports to focus on throughout life. Finally, specific ways caregivers can think about and respond to challenging moments in order to get better outcomes are outlined.

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM | Break

10:15 AM - 11:45 AM | Breakout Session 1

Session A: Building Emotional-Regulation, Supportive Environments, and Fostering Social Connection

This presentation details ways to deescalate meltdowns and prevent challenging moments by altering common triggers and building coping strategies. In addition to addressing challenging emotional moments, this session details ways to help clients make meaningful connections with others through shared interests and developing relationship skills to reach their goals. 

Session B: Is it ADHD? A Parent’s Guide to Attention, Focus, and Distractibility in Children and Teens

Why can a child with ADHD struggle to focus on homework, but concentrate for hours on something they enjoy? Why do ADHD and autism so often occur together? Drawing on more than 25 years of clinical experience, neuropsychological testing, and thousands of electroencephalograms (qEEG) brain studies, pediatric psychologist Dr. Robert Kline will help parents understand what may be happening behind their child’s behavior. He will explain how dopamine, motivation, rewards, and brain pathways influence attention, impulsivity, and “dopamineseeking” behavior. This session will also explore the overlap between ADHD and autism and discuss practical treatment options, including behavioral strategies, medication, and newer non-medication approaches, such as external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) and prescription digital therapeutics (video games). Parents will leave with a better understanding of why their child struggles with attention and what they can do to help.

November 6, 2026 

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM | Breakout Session 2

Session A:  Preparing Yourself and/or a Loved One with Autism for Contact with Law Enforcement 

During this session, Alison Anderson will teach tips to prepare you for law enforcement interactions prior to a contact occurring. You will be provided with practical steps you can take to help identify yourself or your loved one as a person with autism during a law enforcement contact. We will also discuss steps you can take to keep yourself or loved one safe during law enforcement interactions. This session includes viewing a video scenario of actors with autism during an encounter with law enforcement. 

Session B: Making SENSE of Puberty in Autistic Girls and Boys

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by social challenges and difficulty with transitions. Puberty—a time of remarkable physical, psychosocial and physiological changes—is a pivotal and precarious transition for autistic youth, especially girls. Dr. Blythe Corbett will discuss insights from comprehensive, multilevel, longitudinal studies to elucidate, educate, and support this vital developmental period. 

9:30 AM - 9:45 AM | Break

9:45 AM - 10:45 AM | Breakout Session 3

Session A: How Kids Grieve and Supporting Grieving Kids with Autism

Children of all ages experience grief, but it may look different depending on their developmental age. In this presentation, Kaitlyn Paton will explore how children grieve across developmental age ranges, common grief-related behaviors, and key considerations for supporting children and teens with autism. Resources will also be shared for families and professionals supporting grieving neurodiverse children

Session B: Moving Outside the ABA Bubble: Transitioning from a Comprehensive ABA Program

Knowing what the available paths are after attending a comprehensive early intervention Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program can feel stressful. In this session, Amanda Prater and Lindsay Muncey address the following considerations and details of potential pathways to explore including a transition to school: 

• Potential paths after being in an early intervention ABA program 
• How to know if your child is ready for school 
• Steps to a smooth transition to school 
• Steps of the IEP process 
• Preparing for success in school 
• Troubleshooting a difficult transition to school 
• Importance of a team approach

Parents are the most important members of the child’s team. We will also discuss the importance of a team approach to maximize areas of expertise for all involved

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM | Break

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM | Closing Keynote Speaker: Boxes or Bridges: The Art of Effective Advocacy 

What happens when the systems created to support people become the very boxes that limit them, and what becomes possible when we choose to build bridges instead? In this session, Lyla Novakowski combines lived experience, storytelling, and practical advocacy skills to explore how the way we see, communicate with, and advocate for people can shape the opportunities available to them. 

Through her own journey and experiences, Lyla challenges attendees to consider the impact of labels, assumptions, and systems that can sometimes focus more on fitting people into existing boxes than understanding the individual in front of them. Attendees will explore practical foundations of effective advocacy, including understanding communication styles, preparing for important conversations, organizing records and information, and communicating needs clearly and effectively. 

This session invites us to look differently at advocacy, not simply as fighting a system, but as learning how to navigate it, communicate within it, and build bridges toward greater opportunity, understanding, and belonging.

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