Lighting The Way Autism Conference & Walk

Augustana University presents the 2025 Lighting the Way Autism Conference. Join us for "Pathways to Wellness," featuring keynote speaker Brian Be.

• Friday, June 6 | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Fryxell Humanities Center, Augustana University | 2120 S. Grange Ave. | Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Educators, caregivers, parents, self advocates, medical providers, counselors, therapists, social workers, adult service providers, support personnel and business and community members are invited to attend. Continuing education units are available.

This year, the LTW Autism Conference will feature keynote speaker Brian Be, with his talk entitled "Wellness, Understanding and Resiliency in our Autism Community; How we share BEing."

Be is an artist, co-presenter,  autism/neurodiversity self-advocate, performer and creative writer from Colorado. He is the first self-advocacy coordinator for JFK Partners at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disability (LEND) alumnus. Brian fosters community wellness with outreach, engagement and uses edutainment, including people with different abilities— meaning people with and without disability. As a Poetry for Personal Power (P3) Artist/Advocate & Project Manager, he continues to work on program design, recovery, peer support, networking, accessibility, impact stories, outcomes, implementation and fidelity monitoring.
 

Gabby Melnick will serve as a graphic recorder for this year’s LTW Autism Conference. Melnick is a visual practitioner who has been specializing in graphic facilitation since 2017, focusing on supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in envisioning positive futures. Over the years, she has applied her graphic skills in a variety of group settings, including workshops, retreats, listening sessions, meetings and other collaborative events. Her expertise extends to creating engaging illustrations and infographics for digital platforms and publications. Her work has gained global recognition, and she is dedicated to using visual communication to nurture inclusive environments.

Free and open to the public, please join us for a fun-filled gathering for everyone on Saturday, June 7, from 10 a.m. - noon on the Morrison Commons Patio at Augustana University.

The event, focused on those touched by autism, will include:

• Door prizes, including gift cards and prizes from local businesses
• Scholarship drawings ($500 local scholarships for approved services, activities or equipment)
• Community resource booths (local organizations that are resources to the autism community will be present)
• A raffle (made possible by donations; proceeds will go to the LTW Autism Walk fund which is used for scholarships and the cost of the walk)
• Live music, community visitors, fun activities and more

For questions, comments or to discuss non-monetary donation or sponsorship possibilities, email LTWAutismWalkSD@gmail.com or call 605.215.1591.