REEL at the 2025 Stanford Neurodiversity Summit

The Stanford Neurodiversity Summit, held earlier this month, brought together practitioners, caregivers, parents, employers, self-advocates, and educators from around the world to advance the conversation around neurodiversity. Each year, the Summit centers around a unifying theme; this year’s focus was on building systems of support that enable neurodivergent individuals to thrive in education, the workplace, and the community.

Over the course of several days, participants engaged in keynote talks, workshops, and panel discussions spanning a wide range of topics—from K–12 and higher education, to mental health, employment, research, and public policy. The Summit continues to grow as a global gathering place for sharing ideas and building bridges between neurodivergent people and the communities around them.

It was inspiring to be in a space filled with so much passion, knowledge, and commitment to creating more inclusive systems. We were grateful to meet so many of you in person—thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth to connect. REEL exists because of your continued support.

This year, REEL was honored to play an active role in the Summit. Our team served on the organizing committee, moderated conversations, and participated in a K–12 education panel with Stanford Online High School. Together, we highlighted how our collaboration with their educators is shaping more inclusive classrooms and how REEL’s strength-based approach is becoming part of their everyday teaching culture.

The Summit’s K–12 track was especially rich this year. Panels such as “Neurodiversity in K–12 Education: Parent and Teacher Perspectives” and “Creating Inclusive Classrooms” gave voice to the experiences of families, educators, and students themselves. These sessions underscored the pressing need for practices that move beyond accommodations alone, toward fostering environments where neurodivergent learners are recognized for their strengths and supported in their challenges—work that is at the heart of REEL’s mission.

We were also proud to host a screening of Left Behind, the powerful documentary telling the story of mothers who came together to open New York City’s first public school for dyslexic students. Following the screening, we moderated a Summit panel with the filmmakers, keeping this important conversation moving forward.

For those who couldn’t attend live, session recordings will be made available to the public in the coming months—we’ll be sure to share them with our community once they’re released.

The Summit reinforced what we at REEL deeply believe: when families, educators, researchers, and advocates come together, meaningful change for neurodivergent learners is not only possible—it’s already happening.