There are moments in teaching that never leave you. For me, one of those moments happened on the classroom floor.
A little boy was banging his head, and I remember sitting beside him with tears running down my face. In that moment, I wasn't thinking about data sheets, behavior plans, or what strategy I was supposed to try next.
The only words I could find were… “How can I help you?”
Not, “How do I make this stop?” or, “How do I get him to comply?”
Just… “How can I help you?”
Looking back, I think that simple question changed the course of my career.
It changed how I viewed behavior, and how I understood communication. Ultimately, it changed how I would spend the next 25 years supporting autistic preschoolers, their families, and the incredible educators and therapists who love them.
Why I Created the Preschool Autism Summit
When I first started teaching, there weren't online memberships or virtual conferences.
There wasn't a place where preschool educators could learn practical strategies specifically designed for autistic young children.
So I did what many teachers do.
- I started creating my own resources.
- I made my own visuals.
- I adapted my own books.
- I learned from my students every single day.
Little by little, I realized something. I wasn't the only one searching for better ways to support autistic children. There were thousands of educators, therapists, and caregivers asking the very same questions I had once asked.
Many of them felt like they were doing this work alone.
If you've ever been the only teacher in your building trying to move toward more neuroaffirming practices…
- If you've ever wished you had someone to bounce ideas off of…
- If you've ever wondered, “Am I doing enough?”
I want you to know you're not alone. That's why I created the Preschool Autism Summit. Not simply to provide professional development. To build a community. Because none of us should have to figure this work out by ourselves.
This Is More Than Just Another Autism Conference
I've attended enough conferences over the years to know the feeling.
- You sit through presentation after presentation.
- You take pages of notes.
- You leave feeling inspired…and then Monday morning comes, and you're left wondering how any of it fits into your classroom.
That isn't what I wanted this summit to be. Every presentation has been carefully chosen because I want you to walk away with ideas you can actually use.
- Ideas that support communication.
- Those that help children feel safe and regulated.
- Activities that honor play, relationships, and connection.
- Strategies that make Monday morning feel just a little bit easier.
One of the things I'm most proud of is that every presentation is reviewed by autistic adults before it's shared. Being neuro-affirming isn't just something we say. It's something we're committed to practicing.
Why the Summit Is Free
People ask me this every year. “Why do you give away something this valuable for free?”
The answer is simple.
Because I know what happens when one educator learns something that changes the way they support children.
It doesn't stop with that educator.
- It reaches every child who walks into their classroom.
- Every family they encourage.
- Every team they collaborate with.
That's why this year's mission feels so important to me. Together, we're working toward reaching one million autistic children. Not because I'll ever meet one million children myself. But because I believe in the incredible ripple effect that happens when we equip the adults who already love and support them every day.
As I'm writing this… More than 27,000 educators have already registered for this year's summit. Together, they'll impact an estimated 274,000 children.
Every new registration moves us one step closer to that million-child goal. And I think that's something pretty incredible to be part of.
What You'll Learn
This year's summit brings together more than 30 incredible presenters who share a common belief: Autistic children deserve to be understood, supported, and celebrated.
You'll also find live keynote sessions, Make & Takes, conversations with autistic adults, and opportunities to learn alongside thousands of educators who care just as deeply as you do.
My hope isn't that you leave with a notebook full of ideas. Instead, I wish for you to leave feeling encouraged, equipped, and reminded that this work truly matters.
I'd Love for You to Join Us
If you've been wondering whether the Preschool Autism Summit is for you…It is.
Whether you're a teacher, therapist, administrator, paraprofessional, caregiver, or simply someone who wants to better understand and support autistic children, you belong here.
The Preschool Autism Summit focuses on the early childhood years, many of the strategies shared apply far beyond preschool.
If you work with students who benefit from additional supports such as visual supports, AAC, adapted books, repeatable routines, play-based learning, or communication supports, you’ll find plenty of ideas you can bring back to your classroom.
Many attendees work with students across a wide range of ages. What often matters most is not a child’s chronological age, but their learning needs, communication profile, and the supports that help them access their day successfully.
If your students would benefit from strategies that support communication, engagement, regulation, independence, and participation, I think you’ll find a lot of value in the Summit.
Your free ticket gives you access to each day's presentations for 24 hours, making it easy to learn wherever you are this summer.
And if you decide you'd like more time, certificates of completion, and additional live experiences, the All Access Pass will be waiting for you.
But it all starts with one simple step. Registering for your free ticket.
One Million Children Starts With One Educator
When I think about reaching one million autistic children, I don't picture a number.
- I picture classrooms.
- I picture children who feel understood instead of misunderstood.
- I picture educators who feel confident instead of overwhelmed.
- I picture families who finally feel seen.
Every child deserves adults who are willing to keep learning. If you're reading this today, I have a feeling you're one of those adults.
I'd love for you to join us. Together, let's create more classrooms where autistic children are understood, supported, and celebrated.
And together, let's take one more step toward reaching one million children.
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