Empowering the Future: A Recap of our Leadership Summit 2024

This year’s Leadership Summit, an ambassador training event, was a resounding success. It brought together a diverse group of neurodiverse leaders from across the country.
The summit, which aims to foster leadership, advocacy, and communication skills, highlighted the power of community. From students to senior ambassadors to alumni and staff, our network continues to grow and strengthen, showcasing the impact of neurodiverse leaders in their communities and beyond.
25 students and alumni participated in the training, along with 20 senior ambassadors and staff, representing a mix of neurodiverse high school students, college students, and young professionals. The event provided a space for them to connect, learn, and develop crucial leadership skills. Meet our student leaders here.
Industry Professionals and Alumni Representing Neurodiversity
Our event featured a series of impactful sessions led by industry professionals and alumni, each offering unique insights and skills for attendees to apply in their leadership journeys.
- Press & Media Training: Sarah Armstrong, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, led this engaging session. Sarah, an alumna of The Neurodiversity Alliance’s Eye to Eye Mentoring program, shared her expertise on navigating media interactions and using the press effectively to advocate for important causes.
- Creating Engaging Social Media Content: Garrett Beltis, Senior Producer at Nickelodeon, hosted a dynamic session on the art of social media. His insights into crafting engaging, relatable content inspired the Social Media Ambassadors to use social media as a platform to tell their stories and spread awareness about neurodiversity.
- Storytelling & Public Speaking: Joshua Landay, former Broadway actor in Disney’s The Lion King and nonprofit executive, shared his journey and taught the art of powerful storytelling with the Public Speaking Ambassadors. His session emphasized the importance of effective public speaking and storytelling as a way to advocate, educate, and inspire.
We were also honored to have guests from the NYC Public Schools Special Education Office Division of Inclusive & Accessible Learning (DIAL) join us!
The Power of Community Over the Years
What truly sets our training event apart is the strength of our community. Several of our attendees started as mentees, went through our programs, and are now leading the charge for a more inclusive world. Their journey is a testament to the lasting impact of our programs. As we continue to grow, we are proud to see former mentees becoming leaders and shaping the future of our organization.
- 15 states were represented by attendees, showcasing the national reach and impact of our community.
- 20 senior ambassadors and staff attended the event at various points, providing guidance, support, and mentorship to the younger attendees. Their involvement was a key factor in making this year’s training a success.
- 3 mentees who are now leaders: One of the most inspiring aspects of the event was seeing former mentees come full circle and step into leadership roles. These individuals are a testament to the lasting impact of The Neurodiversity Alliance’s Eye to Eye Mentoring program, as they now mentor others and contribute to the growth of our neurodiverse community.

Join Our Mission: Empower the Next Generation of Neurodiverse Leaders
As we reflect on this year’s event, we are grateful to everyone who made it possible.
If you’re interested in joining this movement, we invite you to start or join a club, attend future events, or support our programs. Together, we can continue to build a strong, inclusive community where neurodiverse individuals thrive.





