Conference 2026

Join us for an unforgettable keynote experience with Kate Swenson! 

Kate is the founder behind Finding Cooper’s Voice, a community of more than 1.5 million people built on honesty, vulnerability, and connection. 

Kate is raw, real, and deeply human as she shares information into what she calls The Secret World of Autism. Her work has been described as honest, polarizing, gritty, and breathtaking, resonating with educators, parents, caregivers, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of neurodiversity.

Her first book, Forever Boy: A Mother’s Memoir of Autism and Finding Joy, touched readers across the country and earned recognition from USA TODAY, The Wall Street Journal, NBC’s Today Show, and Amazon’s Best of the Month.  She released her next book, Autism Out Loud, in April 2025. 

Beyond her writing, Kate co-founded The More Than Project, a nonprofit providing free mental health counseling to caregivers. She also leads powerful retreat-style events that bring hundreds of women together to laugh, cry, learn, and heal.

This year, she brings her voice, her heart, and her mission to our stage, and you won’t want to miss it!

Sorry, in-person is closed. Please join us VIRTUALLY.

Free Pre-Conference Workshop

April 28th, 2026 at Illinois State University • Bone Student Center

Increasing Safety, Dignity, and Joy Across the Day: Universal Protocols

Presented by: Adithyan Rajaraman, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA of FTF Behavioral Consulting (2025 Autism Conference Keynote Speaker)

Universal Protocols are simple, shared guidelines for how adults interact with students throughout the day, especially during routines, transitions, and early signs of stress. They help teams reduce crises, increase joy, and keep classrooms calm and safe by supporting students to feel happy, relaxed, and engaged while strengthening trust, dignity, and staff satisfaction. This full-day workshop provides practical instruction through clear explanations, video examples, and hands-on collaboration, with participants creating a personalized Universal Protocol they can take back to their setting. Familiarity with the PFA/SBT processes is helpful; no prior experience is required to participate.