The Neurodiversity Alliance
National Neurodiversity Leadership Summit August 6-9, 2026 · Denver, Colorado
We are currently at capacity and unable to select more folks to attend this year's event. Submitting an application now will put you on the waitlist, and we will be in touch if a spot becomes available.
Have Questions?
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
A Look at Our 2025 Summit
The 2025 National Neurodiversity Leadership Summit brought together an incredible group of students and recent graduates stepping into leadership roles with The Neurodiversity Alliance. Over the course of the event, our student leaders gained the skills, tools, and training they need to launch successful chapters on their campuses and represent our movement nationwide. It was a powerful kickoff to the year ahead—be sure to check out our Day-In-The-Life Summit vlog and some of our favorite photos from the 2025 Summit!
What to Expect
Schedule at a Glance
- Arrival & Settling In: Participants arrive and check in throughout the morning and early afternoon.
- Post-Travel Wellness: Dedicated sessions help students regulate and decompress after their journey.
- What to Expect: An orientation session to walk through the weekend's flow and sensory supports.
Community Building: Kick off to the Summit experience and facilitated time to meet peers and begin building a national network in a low-pressure environment.
- Morning & Evening Activities: Optional activities for those who want extra engagement and community.
- Group & Learning Sessions: Rotating programmatic sessions, including keynote sessions, collaborative learning, and small group sessions.
Celebration: A talent show and awards ceremony to honor the unique strengths of our community.
- Morning & Evening Activities: Optional activities for those who want extra engagement and community.
- Group & Learning Sessions: Rotating programmatic sessions, including keynote sessions, collaborative learning, and small group sessions.
Celebration: A talent show and awards ceremony to honor the unique strengths of our community.
Travel & Lodging
Travel
All travel is coordinated by The Neurodiversity Alliance. For attendees under the age of 18, a parent/guardian will be included on all travel-related communications.
The Neurodiversity Alliance team will arrange your travel to Denver for you, including either a plane or train ticket to Denver as well as a shuttle from the airport or train to the University of Denver campus. A member of the team will reach out to confirm your travel details as soon as possible.
We try our best to “bundle” travel so that young adults travel together, and we’ll let you know if someone else from The Neurodiversity Alliance is on your train or flight!
Once booked, we will send you your travel information within 24 hours of confirmation. Look out for emails from our events team and/or airline companies. As we get closer to the travel dates, we will also email you instructions and details about how to find your shuttle at the airport or train station. Additionally, we will not pay for additional baggage fees or amenities purchased during travel (such as snacks or seat upgrades).
If you are driving yourself, please let us know as soon as possible to ensure you have the right directions and a complimentary parking pass for the event. Arrival and departure times will be communicated the week of the event.
Shuttles will drop participants off at a designated shuttle drop-off location on the University of Denver campus and there will be clear signage directing you to the check-in area upon arrival, as well as contact information if you are in need of assistance or arrive after regular check-in hours due to travel delays.
There will also be signs directing you from the parking lot to the check-in area for those who are driving themselves by car.
You will receive more detailed information about the check-in process the week of the event.
To request reasonable accommodations related to travel, please contact Emma Cardona at [email protected] to discuss options to best meet your needs.
To request reasonable accommodations related to travel, please contact Emma Cardona at [email protected] to discuss options to best meet your needs.
Lodging
All participants will stay in the Dimond Family Residential Village on the Denver University campus. These residential spaces are fully accessible, equipped with air conditioning, with bedding and linens provided.
Participants are assigned lodging based on age and gender to ensure everyone feels at ease.
- Age-Specific Floors: Participants under 18 stay on separate floors from those over 18. Participants under the age of 18 will be required to check in with staff nightly.
- Gender-Inclusive Spaces: Hallways are also organized by gender, including dedicated non-binary sections. Assignments are made based on the information provided in your registration form.
- Dedicated Facilities: To ensure safety, minors do not share bathroom facilities with adults, and bathrooms are designated by gender (including non-binary).
The safety of our student leaders is our absolute priority. We have established a multi-layered support system to cover every scenario:
- 24/7 On-Site Desk Attendant: The University of Denver’s summer conference team staffs the front desk 24/7 to assist with any immediate housing issues.
- Overnight Resident Advisors: On-site Resident Advisors in each building are resources for participants staying in the dorms overnight and ensure all participants under 18 check-in each night before bed.
- On-Site & On-Call Nurse: A Registered Nurse is on-site from 8am to 8pm each day of the event, and available on-call overnight to assist with anxiety, altitude sickness, home sickness, treating minor injuries (cuts, bug bites, sprains), and coordinating with parents and guardians in the event of any serious health related concerns.
- ND Alliance On-Site Staff Team: Beyond housing, our dedicated ND Alliance staff is on-call at all hours to assist with everyday needs, emotional support, or any other situations that may arise.
To request reasonable accommodations related to lodging, please contact Emma Cardona at [email protected] to discuss options to best meet your needs.
Food & Drink
Participant dorm key cards also work as their meal cards for the week. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner are provided free of charge each day and are eaten in the Community Commons Dining Hall, located directly across the street from the Dimond Family Residential Village.
The dining hall is set-up like a food court with various stations and dishes to choose from, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. There will also be catered snacks and drinks in the hallways during breakout sessions, as well as snacks and drinks available on tables in each room throughout the event.
Given the heat and higher elevation in Denver, participants will be provided with reusable water bottles and encouraged to drink more water and fluids than usual.
We will collect all dietary restrictions from participants in the registration form. All dietary restrictions will be submitted to the University of Denver, who coordinates meals and catering orders. We will work to ensure that all dietary restrictions are being met and no issues arise. Rest assured that we also have a certified nurse on staff to support any urgent or medical needs.
To request reasonable accommodations related to meals, please contact Emma Cardona at [email protected] to discuss options to best meet your needs.
Event Overview
The nation’s largest gathering of Neurodivergent students
The Neurodiversity Alliance’s National Neurodiversity Leadership Summit is the nation’s largest gathering of neurodivergent student and young adult leaders.
Our annual event features inspiring speakers and special guests, engaging workshops and hands-on activities, and opportunities to connect with other students, recent graduates, and leaders in the neurodiversity movement!
Students, recent graduates, and leaders from across the country will gather to build confidence and community, develop leadership and professional skills, share resources and promote peer-to-peer support, and raise awareness.
The summit also serves as our training institute for The Neurodiversity Alliance’s Chapter Leaders to gain the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to lead programming on their campuses as well as Eye to Eye Chapter Leaders, interns in our internship program, neurodiversity scholarship recipients, and other students active in the ND Alliance's network of clubs.
All students selected to attend will receive:
- All-inclusive trip! Flights, ground transportation, meals, and supplies all included upon registration.
- Exclusive ND Alliance-branded apparel and promotional items, specific to this event.
- Rotating programmatic sessions, including keynote sessions, collaborative learning, and small group sessions with opportunities to hear from ND leaders, community members, special guests, and more.
To be eligible to attend The National Neurodiversity Leadership Summit, you must:
- Be between the ages of 16 and 26.
- Identify as Neurodivergent or have been identified with one or more learning disabilities or challenges, such as Dyslexia, ADHD, Processing Disorders, Autism, or similar learning disabilities or challenges. Formal diagnosis is not required.
Priority consideration to attend is given to those who are actively involved in The Neurodiversity Alliance community, including current club leaders and members active in their local ND Alliance Chapter or in our online community. Attendance at the National Summit is guaranteed for our upcoming cohorts of Mentoring Chapter Leaders, Interns, and Scholarship Recipients.
Don’t have a local chapter in your area? Join our online community today to get involved through virtual activities, events, and more!
Thanks to our sponsors at The LEGO Foundation, we are able to cover the full cost for a select number of participants. Additional paid spaces are also available. Apply to represent your campus today!
The application will be available within The Neurodiversity Alliance online portal and mobile app beginning April 1, 2026. Once logged in, look for the link to the “Summit Application” on the left menu bar.
Already Registered? Click here to log in and look for the "Summit Application" link in the left menu.
Need to register? Registration is free and easy - get started today!!