Call for Presenter Proposals

Annual Wisconsin “Staycation” and Autism Summit
Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells, WI
Thursday, March 20 – Saturday, March 22, 2025 

Deadline for Proposal Submissions: Monday, December 16, 2024 

The Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin (ASSEW) is currently accepting proposals for its annual statewide Autism Summit. Our goal is to empower individuals by fostering a sense of community, connecting them with valuable services and supports, all while offering a fun, safe, and sensory-friendly environment. 

The conference will feature breakout sessions on Thursday, March 20 through Saturday, March 22, 2025. All selected presenters will receive discounted registration.  

We encourage all interested individuals and organizations within the Autism community to submit their proposals for this exciting event. This conference aims to be a valuable resource for attendees, and we look forward to reviewing your submissions.  

Come meet over half of the state’s Autism population!

Seeking Dynamic and Empowering Proposals 

We are seeking proposals that showcase dynamic and empowering strategies to address the diverse needs of individuals with Autism, their families, and support networks. These proposals should be grounded in practical, evidence-based practices that encompass the challenges faced by the Autism community. 

  • Academic Supports  
  • Accessibility 
  • Adolescence/Puberty 
  • Advocacy 
  • Assistive Technology 
  • Autistic Culture and Perspectives 
  • Communication 
  • Culturally Responsive Practices 
  • Diversity and Intersectionality 
  • Employment/Vocational Training 
  • Executive Function 
  • Family Engagement and Supports 
  • Inclusive Practices 
  • Independent Living, Housing, Transportation 
  • Long-Term Planning 
  • Medical/Healthcare 
  • Mental Health 
  • Sensory Processing/Self-Regulation 
  • Sessions with Advanced Level Content 
  • Social Connection & Inclusion 
  • Transition to Adulthood 
  • Self Determination 

Presenter Roles & Responsibilities 

All presenters will: 

  • Confirm commitment to present within one week of notification of selection. 
  • Refrain from changing the title and content of the session after the proposal has been accepted. 
  • Provide a presentation after the proposal has been accepted.  All selected presenters are required to email their presentation handouts in PowerPoint format to rechelle@assew.org by February 1, 2025.  The handouts will be converted to PDF handouts and placed on a secure website for conference attendees to print on their own. 
  • Use respectful language while presenting. We ask that all presenters:
     
    • Please use Neurodiverse affirming verbiage. Avoiding functioning labels (high, low, mild, severe, etc), and instead discuss relevant supports or services for targeted needs of individuals.  
    • Refrain from using the r-word in any context. 
    • Please avoid possible triggering terminology. Including but not limited to mentions of; restraint, seclusion, self-harm, or other types of abuses. If these topics are part of your presentation, please list them in your submission. 
  • Provide their own laptop computer at the conference.  A screen, projector, slide advancer, and microphone will be provided in each breakout session room. MAC users are required to bring the appropriate adapter to hook up to the LCD or VGA projector. The Autism Society SE WI cannot guarantee the Wilderness Resort will have additional adapters for use. 
  • Adhere to all deadlines specified in the proposal form. 

 

Factors Affecting Selection 

The purpose of the Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin’s Annual Summit is to provide a wide range of information to those within the Autism community. Our goal is to provide relevant information for attendees at all levels, including those who are new to Autism and those who have years of experience. The following factors will be considered when selecting proposals: 

  • Thoughtful completion of ALL sections of the proposal and adherence to directions. 
  • Relevance to conference attendees. 
  • Number of presentations on the same or similar topics and/or subtopics. 
  • Content-area coverage. 
  • Presenters’ apparent level of expertise. 
  • Professional and geographic distribution of presenters. 

Selection Timeline 

  • December 2024 – Deadline to submit proposal 
  • December 2024 – Decision notices are sent 
  • January 2025 – Time/day of sessions are sent 
  • February 1, 2025 – Presentations of accepted proposals due for online handouts