Biennial Spring Autism Conference

Announcing the VTCAR Biennial Spring Conference: Promoting Well-being for Autistic People Across the Lifespan

Monday, March 24, 2025

8am - 4:30pm

The Inn at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

This day-long event is open to autistic individuals, parents/caregivers, researchers, students, providers and anyone interested and will be held at the Inn at Virginia Tech.  Registration will open on January 6 on this website.  Seats are limited.

The event is free with an optional recommended donation of $20 per person ($5 per student) and can be made through the Virginia Tech Gift Accounting page or our VTCAR Make a Donation page.

Our opening research keynote speaker will be Dr. Vanessa Bal, associate professor in the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers. Dr. Bal's research aims to advance understanding of autism in adulthood. The morning sessions will offer research talks by VTCAR affiliates and students. After lunch you will hear from speakers from the Organization for Autism Research's Hire Autism program and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's Neurodiversity Program. We will host a panel discussion and finish up with self-advocate keynote speaker Kelcey Majors, MBA, and program coordinator at Duke University. Ms. Majors will speak to the importance of community, understanding and acceptance on her journey of self-discovery.

Your registration includes refreshments throughout the day and a buffet lunch.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact us at 540-231-8747 or email vtautismcenter@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

We are grateful for the generous and continued support from the Washington Group Special Care Planning Team and for grant funding from the Oak Ridge Associated Universities Innovation Partnerships Grant Program award.