The Autism Campus Inclusion (ACI) Leadership Academy helps autistic students learn to make their college campuses better for people with disabilities. ACI participants learn about making student groups, understanding disability policy, and talking to people in power.

Past students have learned new skills and information about:

• Developmental Disability Policy
• SMART Goals and Action Plans
• Meetings and Facilitation
• Building Your Student Group
• Building Relationships and Campaigns Using Intersectionality
• Strategic Relationship-Building
• Campaign Strategies
• ASAN Policy Goals
• Sharing Your Story For a Political Purpose
• Effective Debunking

After ACI, students get help from ASAN to meet their advocacy goals at their college. ACI 2025 will be held from July 14 – July 20, 2025.

This year’s ACI program will be held virtually.

To apply for Autism Campus Inclusion (ACI) you must:

• Be autistic.
  • You do not have to have an official autism diagnosis to apply.
  • You can be self-diagnosed as autistic.
• Be a student at a college or university with at least one year left before you graduate.
  • Students in TPSID (Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities) programs can apply.
  • Students in 2-year community colleges can apply.
  • Students in 4-year colleges can apply.
  • Students in graduate school can apply.
• Live in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
  • You do not have to be a citizen of the US, Canada, or Mexico, you only need to live there.
  • The US here means all 50 states and all US territories.
  • Canada here means all provinces and all Canadian territories.
  • Mexico here means all states and all Mexican territories.
  • (Please note: ACI is presented entirely in English and the policy sections of ACI will only talk about the United States)

Students of color, LGBT students, low-income students, students with intellectual disabilities, AAC users, and students from other marginalized communities to apply are especially encouraged to apply.

Deadline: Sun., March 9th, 2025

Email to: Dean Strauss, dstrauss@autisticadvocacy.org.

Contact: If you need assistance or accommodations at any stage, or have any questions about ACI, contact Dean Strauss, dstrauss@autisticadvocacy.org.