April is Neurodiversity Acceptance Month — but for our community, it’s more than just a moment. It’s a call to action, a chance to shift the narrative, and a reminder that neurodivergent people deserve not just awareness, but access, opportunity, and belonging.

This year, The Neurodiversity Alliance celebrated the month with a powerful mix of in-person events, student-led initiatives, and digital storytelling — all designed to celebrate strengths, challenge stigma, and build spaces where neurodivergent students are seen, heard, and valued.

From panel conversations in New York City to viral ambassador spotlights, here’s a look at how we highlighted ND Acceptance Month — and why it matters.

NYC Inclusion Summit | April 4

Held at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, the Inclusion Summit brought together educators, advocates, and community leaders for a day of creativity and collaboration. Highlights included an Art-Room Workshop with the Roadmap Project with Amanda Feliciano, Outreach and Engagement Manager, and Corina, a student ambassador who invited attendees to imagine inclusive futures through art and shared visioning. 

Learn Different Day | April 26

On April 26, students and families from across New York City gathered to celebrate Learn Different Day—a celebration of community, learning, art, and fun for students and their families, dedicated to supporting and uplifting neurodiverse individuals.

The day featured interactive workshops and a powerful panel discussion led by Jesse Sanchez, our Managing Director of Programs, featuring:

• Natalie Diaz, Chief of Staff, NYC Her Future
• Suzanne Sanchez, Chief of Special Education, NYC Public Schools
• Nicole Azran, Student Disability Services Specialist
• Amanda Weare, Parent, Advocate, and General Counsel at Collibra

Panelists shared expertise and lived experiences on how schools, workplaces, and families can better support neurodivergent individuals. The event is part of a citywide initiative to launch inclusive ND clubs in NYC high schools and colleges.

From Awareness to Action: Advocacy Webinar | April 22

Led by members of our National Student Advisory Council, this virtual event gave students and allies a platform to explore advocacy through storytelling. Attendees walked away with practical tools for raising awareness and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with lived experience.

Digital Campaign: “What Our Ambassadors Are Saying”

Throughout the month, we spotlighted the voices of the ND Alliance Ambassadors in a social media campaign focused on identity, pride, and breaking stigma. Their words captured the strength and diversity of our community — and served as daily reminders of why this work matters.

Read their stories: What Our Ambassadors Are Saying About Living With Their ND

Neurodiversity Acceptance Month may be over, but our work is just beginning. The conversations sparked in classrooms, the stories shared online, and the connections made at events like Learn Different Day are all part of a larger movement — one that centers lived experience, champions inclusion, and builds real community.

We’re grateful to everyone who showed up, spoke out, and helped make April a month of impact.