Sarah Heuser was tired of events centered on people with autism, organized by those without firsthand experience of the condition. She envisioned something different—events created “by and for” people with autism.
She and her college friend, Kari Bushman, often dreamed of hosting a convention specifically for adults with autism. Their dream became a reality in 2018 when they partnered with ScenicView Academy in Provo to launch the first annual AutCon, described as “an unconventional convention for adults with autism.”
For Heuser, who was diagnosed with autism at 18, the convention was about more than just activities and sessions; it was about creating a safe, welcoming space for like-minded neurodivergent individuals.
“When I was diagnosed, there were a few times I got to go to majority autistic spaces,” she explained. “That was overwhelmingly emotional for me because it was almost like going home.”
The sense of belonging and connection is a cornerstone of AutCon’s success. This year’s sold-out, two-day event featured a Dungeons and Dragons theme and began with a group session that drew enthusiastic participation. The highlight of the kickoff was unveiling a $500 Dungeons and Dragons LEGO set as a raffle prize, which was met with thunderous cheers and applause.
While there are other conferences about autism, AutCon is unique because it is designed specifically for people with autism to attend. According to Bushman, organizers believe it is the largest event of its kind in the world.
Adults with autism traveled from across the country to participate, with most attendees hailing from Utah. The sessions offered a variety of topics relevant to adults with autism, including parenting, dating, making friends, being LGBT and autistic, career opportunities, therapy, Dungeons and Dragons, emotional regulation, and navigating membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while autistic.
What sets AutCon apart is its commitment to ensuring that all session presenters are autistic themselves. Jared Stewart, a director at ScenicView Academy and an autistic adult, emphasized the importance of this approach. “It’s important for people with autism to see other autists who are further down the road,” he said.
Stewart also highlighted the challenges many adults with autism face. “We always feel kind of on the edge, always a little marginalized … trying to fit in, trying to camouflage,” he shared. “It’s such a powerful thing to feel like I’m not alone.”
The event’s organizers go to great lengths to accommodate the diverse needs of attendees, recognizing that “everyone’s flavor of autism is a little different,” Stewart noted. Attendees have the freedom to come and go as they need, without judgment. Non-harmful stimming—repetitive movements or nonverbal sounds that are common among individuals with autism—is allowed. Headphones, doodling, and moving chairs to more comfortable positions are all encouraged. Additionally, each attendee is provided with two name tags, one to signal when they are open to conversations and another to indicate when they need space.
“The world may not be built for us, but we can build our world and community,” Stewart added.
The keynote speaker, Maureen Dunne, brought further inspiration to the event. Dunne, a cognitive scientist, neurodiversity expert, and autistic individual, urged attendees to find ways to contribute to their communities despite feeling different.
Dunne shared her own journey, which began at a community college that allowed her to tailor her schedule to her needs. From there, she became the first community college graduate to be a Rhodes Scholar. Today, she consults with companies that are eager to hire neurodivergent employees but need guidance on how to support them.
“We need a paradigm shift in how the world views autism, how people think about autism, how people talk about autism,” Dunne said.
Signs of this shift are already evident. Texas Instruments, for example, attended AutCon to recruit people with autism for semiconductor manufacturing roles. The company recently broke ground on an $11 billion semiconductor wafer fabrication plant in northern Utah County, which will complement its existing plant in Lehi.
Demand for more AutCons is also on the rise. The organization is exploring opportunities to expand the event to Salt Lake City and potentially to the Phoenix area, making it accessible to even more adults with autism.
“Even though it only happens once a year … I hope they have found a place that they can go and feel like they went home,” Heuser reflected.
As AutCon continues to grow, it serves as a beacon of hope and connection for adults with autism, proving that with the right community and support, they can thrive and create a space where everyone feels they belong.
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