This year's hybrid Let's Talk LD 2022 Post-Secondary Planning & Transition Conference for Neurodivergent Youth and Young Adults will occur virtually on Monday, September 26, 2022 through Friday, September 30, 2022, and in-person/live-streamed on Saturday, October 1, 2022. Our conference theme is “Community Building to Strengthen Self-Determination: Closing Equity, Opportunity, and Achievement Gaps for Neurodivergent Youth and Young Adults.”

For many neurodivergent individuals, the journey from college student access, through college student success, to career success can prove difficult to navigate successfully. During our conference, in accordance with our conference theme, we will examine the importance of community-building as a critical element of the post-secondary transition journey and how self-determination (both as a process in human development, and as a formal Regional Center program designed to implement a person-centered plan) is a critically important factor in supporting a successful post-secondary transition.

Factors that undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts can serve as  barriers to the advancement of neurodivergent individuals. If we are to consider fully the impact of these inequities, we must also consider how we might work as a community to identify and remedy educational and social injustices that undermine the college access and college success,  career success, and civic engagement of neurodivergent people. As presenters, we would like you to consider how you might offer a compelling presentation that explores how to build on the important work of American disability rights activists like the incomparable Judith Heumann, by focusing attention on how to identify and navigate the factors and circumstances that may serve as barriers to neurodivergent individuals as they attempt to transition successfully into post-secondary life. You may also choose to examine the kind of specific actions that are required to improve post-secondary access and opportunity for neurodivergent individuals. We strongly encourage you to develop a presentation that is consistent with our conference theme.

Our Post-Secondary Planning & Transition Conference for Neurodivergent Youth and Young Adults is one of only a few full-day post-secondary transition conferences in the nation that is designed and produced specifically to encourage and guide neurodivergent youth and young adults in developing an effective plan for appropriate post-secondary pursuits in the areas of: educational, technical education, and vocational training; job and career planning and development, and; civic engagement. Our conference has always featured an exciting community of thought leaders, practitioners, and transition professionals who are leaders in their fields. Our presenters will focus attention on identifying and navigating those factors and circumstances that serve as barriers to successful college and career transition and active civic engagement. Conference attendees will be invited to consider and discover the kind of action that is required to improve college and career access for individuals who are neurodiverse. Please refer to the Request for Proposals for the specific details that will be important to guide your proposal.