Apply to Speak at the Own Your Difference Summit
Where Neurodivergent Voices Matter
Are you a speaker, author, parent, professional, educator, therapist, advocate, coach, or lived-experience voice with a message that can support, encourage, educate, or empower the autism, ADHD, and neurodivergent community?
We’re now accepting speaker applications for the Own Your Difference Summit, a virtual summit created to amplify meaningful conversations around autism, ADHD, neurodivergence, family support, inclusion, identity, advocacy, and the power of owning what makes each of us different.
This summit is designed for people who believe that different does not mean less.
It means worthy.
It means valuable.
It means needed.
It means there is room for every voice, every story, and every piece of the bigger picture.
About the Summit
The Own Your Difference Summit: Where Neurodivergent Voices Matter is a virtual event bringing together powerful speakers, professionals, parents, caregivers, advocates, educators, therapists, authors, and lived-experience leaders who are passionate about supporting neurodivergent individuals and the families who love them.
Our mission is to create a space where important conversations can happen, where practical tools can be shared, and where speakers can use their voice to make a difference.
This summit will highlight topics connected to autism, ADHD, neurodivergence, family life, education, transition planning, advocacy, identity, employment, inclusion, emotional well-being, and the lived experiences that help others feel less alone.
The event is planned for October 23, 2026 and will run virtually from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Speaker opportunities include standard speaking spots as well as upgraded visibility opportunities through media and promotional tiers.
Why This Summit Matters
Families are looking for guidance.
Autistic teens and adults are looking for understanding.
Parents are looking for hope.
Professionals are looking for better ways to serve.
Communities are looking for conversations that move beyond awareness and into real support, real inclusion, and real change.
The Own Your Difference Summit was created to bring those voices together in one powerful virtual event.
This is not just another online summit.
This is a platform for speakers who want their message to matter.
Who We’re Looking For
We’re looking for speakers who can bring heart, wisdom, lived experience, professional insight, practical strategies, or powerful storytelling to the neurodivergent community.
You may be a great fit if you are a:
Parent or caregiver with a powerful story or lesson to share
Autistic adult or neurodivergent speaker
Author with a message connected to identity, resilience, advocacy, parenting, disability, education, or inclusion
Therapist, coach, educator, counselor, or service provider
Advocate or professional supporting autistic individuals, ADHDers, or neurodivergent families
Speaker who teaches on confidence, self-advocacy, belonging, mental health, family support, transition planning, employment, or inclusion
Leader who believes neurodivergent voices deserve to be heard, respected, and elevated
You don’t have to have everything perfect.
You do need to have a message that serves.
Possible Speaking Topics
We are especially interested in presentations connected to:
Autism and ADHD
Neurodivergent identity
Parenting autistic teens and young adults
Transition planning into adulthood
Education and advocacy
IEPs and school support
Life skills and independence
Employment readiness
Mental health and emotional well-being
Faith, resilience, and purpose
Inclusion and belonging
Disability advocacy
Family support and caregiver burnout
Autistic voices and lived experience
Women and girls with autism or ADHD
Masking, acceptance, and self-understanding
Building confidence and self-advocacy
Stories of overcoming, growth, and owning your difference
Your topic does not have to fit this list exactly. If your message supports the mission of the summit, we’d love to hear about it.
What Speakers Receive
Selected speakers will receive the opportunity to share their message with an audience that cares deeply about autism, ADHD, neurodivergence, family support, and inclusion.
Speaker opportunities may include:
A virtual speaking spot during the Own Your Difference Summit
A digital speaker badge to promote your participation
Promotional graphics to help you share the event with your audience
Visibility on the summit webpage
Opportunity to connect with other speakers and aligned professionals
Potential media visibility through upgraded speaker tiers
Opportunity to position yourself as a trusted voice in the neurodivergent community
A chance to contribute to a meaningful event designed to educate, empower, and elevate
This summit is designed to create value for attendees and visibility for speakers.
Speaker Participation Details
Standard speaker spots are designed for speakers who want to share a focused, meaningful message with summit attendees.
Standard speakers will receive a speaking slot during the virtual summit and promotional materials to help share their participation.
There is a nominal speaker participation fee of $97 for selected speakers. This helps support summit operations, promotional materials, speaker visibility assets, and event preparation.
Want More Visibility? Upgrade Opportunities May Be Available
For speakers who want additional exposure, media visibility, and promotional support, upgraded visibility packages may be available.
These may include opportunities such as:
Extended speaking time
Panel discussion participation
Website feature
Digital media badge
Promotional graphics
Magazine article or feature opportunity
Podcast or media appearance
Additional visibility before, during, and after the summit
These opportunities are designed for speakers who want to use the summit not only as a speaking opportunity, but also as a visibility-building platform.
Details will be shared with selected applicants.
A Strong Fit Looks Like This…
You have a message that can encourage, educate, or empower others
You care about neurodivergent people being seen, heard, and valued
You want to be part of a mission-driven event
You’re willing to promote your participation to your audience
You can speak with clarity, compassion, and purpose
You want to connect with other aligned voices in the autism, ADHD, and neurodivergent community
You believe that stories, strategies, and lived experience can create real impact
Why Apply Now?
Speaker spots are limited.
We are curating the summit intentionally so the day feels balanced, valuable, and aligned with the mission.
Applying early gives us time to review your topic, understand your message, and determine whether your voice is the right fit for this event.
If selected, you’ll also have time to prepare your presentation, receive promotional materials, and begin sharing the summit with your audience.
Speaker Expectations
Prepare a focused presentation for the summit
Participate professionally and respectfully
Share the summit with their audience
Invite their community to attend
Submit needed speaker information by the required deadlines
Help create a positive and impactful experience for attendees
Speakers may also be asked to help sell or promote a minimum number of attendee tickets, depending on final summit structure and selected package. This helps ensure the event reaches the people who need it most.
Your Message Belongs in This Conversation
If you feel called to share your voice, story, expertise, or message at the Own Your Difference Summit, we invite you to apply.
We are looking for speakers who are not only passionate about their message, but also aligned with the heart of this event: creating a space where neurodivergent voices matter, families feel supported, and differences are honored.
Your story may be the encouragement someone needs.
Your expertise may be the answer a family has been searching for.
Your voice may help someone feel less alone.
Your Voice Could Be the One Someone Needs
Different voices matter.
Different stories matter.
Different experiences matter.
And when we bring those voices together, we create more than an event.
We create understanding.
We create connection.
We create impact.
We create a space where people can finally say:
“I see myself here.”
If that’s the kind of space you want to help create, we’d be honored to consider your application.
Ready to Share Your Voice?
Complete the speaker application below. Once your application is reviewed, you will be notified if you have been selected. Selected speakers will receive next steps, participation details, and available visibility opportunities.