A decade of doing things differently

It is officially time to dust off the laptop and start typing because the 10th National Autism Symposium is on the horizon. Scheduled for 28 and 29 August 2026, the event marks over a decade of advocacy and collaboration. This year, the team has settled on the theme "Celebrating Autism: Next Steps," which is a polite way of saying it is time to stop talking about what needs to happen and actually start doing it.

The symposium is being hosted in Potchefstroom, and while the venue is sorted, the programme still has a few openings for those who have something useful to say.

Call for proposals is open

The organising committee is currently hunting for workshop presentations that are practical rather than just theoretical. They are looking for abstracts from a wide range of people, including researchers, clinicians, educators, and social workers. Most importantly, they want to hear from parents, caregivers, and neurodiverse adults who actually live the experience every day.

The goal is to move away from the old-fashioned "deficit-based" approach. Instead of focusing on what people cannot do, the symposium aims to highlight strengths and how autistic ways of thinking actually make schools and workplaces more interesting.

Pick a sub-theme

If someone has a brilliant idea for a workshop, they need to make sure it fits into one of the four main categories:

• Unlocking Strengths: Valuing diverse perspectives and enabling people to thrive.

• Supporting Every Journey: Practical strategies that respect autonomy and dignity across a person’s whole life.

• Building Inclusive Futures: Designing a world where inclusion is the standard, not a special request.

• Evidence Sparks Action: Taking academic research and turning it into something that actually works in a real classroom or clinic.

The nitty-gritty of submissions

There is a bit of homework involved for those wishing to present. Abstracts must be submitted as a Word document to Hanlie Degenaar via email at Hanlie.Degenaar@nwu.ac.za.

The deadline for submissions is 31 May 2026. Successful applicants will be notified by 30 June, and those selected will need to register by 30 July. Submissions need to be thorough, including a summary of no more than 300 words, a short biography, and a high-quality photo that does not look like it was taken in a dark cupboard.

Get in touch

For those who are not fans of email, Hanlie can be reached on 018-299-1737. Alternatively, the team at C2K@nwu.ac.za is available to answer questions. More details can be found on the official event website or their Facebook page.

It is a significant milestone for the local community, and with the "Next Steps" theme, it looks like 2026 will be more about action and less about just ticking boxes.

Image: NWU Centre for Health and Human Performance Facebook