Augustana will once again host the Lighting the Way (LTW) Autism Conference “Pathways to Wellness” on Friday, June 6, in the Fryxell Humanities Center on the university’s campus. Free and open to the public, the Lighting the Way Autism Walk will then take place on Saturday, June 7, from 10 a.m. - noon, on the Morrison Commons Patio. Rather than just a fundraising effort, the LTW Autism Walk provides resources for attendees to sign up for scholarships for therapies, special equipment or camps, and include an array of fun activities.
“This is an opportunity to learn about a variety of resources and programming, network with other families and members of the autism community, as well as enjoy a plethora of fun activities,” said Dr. Julie Ashworth, Augustana assistant professor emerita of education.
The 16th annual LTW Autism Conference is for parents, caregivers, self advocates, educators, social workers, counselors and therapists, adult service providers, as well as business and community members. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about supporting individuals with autism and their families, as well as best practices in education, health and wellness.
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.
For more information on the 2025 Lighting the Way Autism Conference and its breakout sessions, as well as to register for the event, visit augie.edu/LightingtheWay.