CAARES Celebrates Neurodiversity with April Events for University Community
(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — April 9, 2025) Empire State University’s Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports (CAARES) has a busy month ahead. In recognition of April as Autism Acceptance Month, the organization—which also recognizes the April anniversary of the 504 Sit-Ins that led to the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act—has planned an extensive lineup of events. Designed to celebrate neurodiversity, the gatherings will include a panel discussion, an author talk, an in-person interactive game, and more.
Read on for a full list of events and details for attendees, provided by CAARES.
Employee-focused events:
Learning from the Neurodiversity Movement: How to Develop Neurodiversity Affirmative Practices
Date: Thursday, April 10
Time and Location: 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET | Teams
Please join us for a discussion on developing neurodiversity affirmative practices. We will have distinguished speakers including Daniel Batkin (CUNY Grad Center), Nidal Daou (SUNY Empire), Kristen Gillespie-Lynch (CUNY Grad Center), and Elizabeth Kilgallon (UMass Boston).
A Practical Toolkit for Universal Design
Date: Friday, April 11
Time and Location: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET | Teams
Please join the Center for Teaching and Learning for an event co-hosted by CAARES and the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services. The session will offer a deep dive into applications of universal design within coursework and mentorship/advisement. Examples including materials and templates will be shared and discussed. Participants are invited to share questions from their own classroom and professional experiences and workshop solutions to improve accessibility.
Student-focused events:
Author Andrew Joseph White in conversation on his novel “Compound Fracture”
Date: Thursday, April 17
Time and Location: 5:00-6:00 p.m. ET | Teams
CAARES welcomes Andrew Joseph White for a virtual author talk. White will join us for a brief reading and an extensive conversation and Q&A on his most recent novel, “Compound Fracture.”
Andrew Joseph White is the trans, autistic, and bestselling author of “Hell Followed With Us,” “The Spirit Bares Its Teeth,” “Compound Fracture,” and more. “Compound Fracture” (Peachtree, 2024) is a queer Appalachian thriller that pulls no punches, following a trans autistic teen who’s drawn into the generational struggle between the rural poor and those who exploit them.
Read more about White and find content notes for his books at andrewjosephwhite.com.
For accommodations, to submit your questions for the Q&A, or to request one of a limited number of free hard copies of “Compound Fracture,” email autism@sunyempire.edu.
Win a copy of the book signed by the author! RSVP on Empire Connects for the meeting link and your chance at a signed copy.
THE MOVEMENT: 504
Date: Thursday, April 24
Time and Location: 6:00-8:15 p.m. ET | On-site at SUNY Empire at Rochester
“The Movement: 504” is an immersive theater game inspired by the San Francisco 504 Sit-Ins of April 1977, the birthplace of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Designed and led by Intrigue eXperiences, a neurodivergent-supportive design and production company, this interactive event is not to be missed!
After solving the game, participants will be joined in conversation on the disability rights movement by Empire’s own Dr Bernadet DeJonge.
Food will be provided. Seats are limited. RSVP on Empire Connects to reserve your place.
For accommodations requests, email autism@sunyempire.edu by April 17.
Show & Tell with CAARES
Date: Tuesday, April 29
Time and Location: 12:00-1:00 p.m. ET | Teams
Back by popular demand! Do you know everything about sea otters? Have you added a new Funko Pop to your collection? Did you map out a better bus system? Do you want to share your passion and learn about others’?
Join CAARES for a virtual Show & Tell, where everyone is the expert in their own special interest. Share slides about Ancient Egypt, teach us your favorite K-Pop dance moves, or bring your bearded dragon on camera — whatever you’re excited about, we want to learn about it!
For accommodations requests, please email autism@sunyempire.edu by April 22. RSVP on Empire Connects for the meeting link.
Peer2Peer Student Connection Program
Date, Time, and Location: Ongoing and virtual
CAARES is actively recruiting for its Peer2Peer Student Connection Program! We’re aiming to welcome a robust cohort of facilitators and mentees — join today!
The Peer2Peer Student Connection Program seeks to foster relationship building, social support, and connections for students to improve their retention and experience at SUNY Empire. Peer2Peer welcomes:
- Students of all neurotypes to serve as peer facilitators and peer mentees.
- Students in undergraduate or graduate school.
- Students in any year of their schooling.
Program Goals:
- Establish connections and relationships that will last beyond SUNY Empire.
- Provide consistent and reliable sources of compassion for students.
- Create an inclusive environment that allows peer facilitators and peer mentees an opportunity to learn about each other’s cultures and identities through shared learning experiences.
We’re recruiting both peer facilitators (students with some experience at SUNY Empire who want to mentor other students) and peer mentors (students who want mentorship from other students).
Students can fill out the recruitment survey to get involved!
Employees can fill out the referral survey to recommend a student facilitator. Questions about the program? Contact autism@sunyempire.edu.