BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 METHOD:PUBLISH PRODID:-//Telerik Inc.//Sitefinity CMS 14.4//EN BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Mountain Standard Time BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20251102T020000 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=1SU;BYHOUR=2;BYMINUTE=0;BYMONTH=11 TZNAME:Mountain Standard Time TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20250301T020000 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=2SU;BYHOUR=2;BYMINUTE=0;BYMONTH=3 TZNAME:Mountain Daylight Time TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DESCRIPTION: \;Wednesday\, July 8\, 2026 -- This session is tailored fo r autistic teens and young adultsWednesday\, July 15\, 2026 -- This sessio n is tailored for family\, friends\, educators\, and/or service providers who work with autistic youth and young adults3:30 - 5:00 p.m. (MT)Explore autism through a new lens. These webinars introduce a more affirming frame work for understanding autism that acknowledges the real challenges while also recognizing the power within the unique traits. Many autistic individ uals feel pressured to suppress their natural ways of engaging with the wo rld to meet social expectations. How autism is understood shapes autistic well-being\, how they value their autistic self\, and the value communitie s gain from neurodiversity. Through research findings\, relatable examples \, and lived experiences\, participants will gain appreciation for autism and a more empowering perspective on misunderstood autistic characteristic s. Individuals with autism will find strength and value in their autistic identity. Family\, friends\, educators\, and providers will gain a deeper understanding of autism and learn to recognize and support the strengths o f autistic individuals\, fostering greater inclusion.Learning objectives:& nbsp\;Describe the contrast between traditional deficit-based models of au tism with a neurodiversity-affirming paradigmExamine four key autistic tra its through a neurodiversity-affirming lens\, understand how they are shap ed by natural variations in the human brain\, and identify the strengths a ssociated with eachExplore how well-known autistic individuals harnessed t heir unique traits as strengths and made a meaningful impactSpeaker:Benino Coscia is a 15-year-old student and advocate who is passionate about help ing others see autism through a strength-based lens\, drawing from his per sonal experiences and research. He is the author of The Music Within and t he founder of &ldquo\;Different\, Not Less\,&rdquo\; a nonprofit through w hich he has developed and delivered neurodiversity-affirming autism worksh ops.Intended audience: \;&bull\; July 8 webinar &ndash\; This session is tailored for autistic teens and young adults&bull\; July 15 webinar &nd ash\; This session is tailored for family\, friends\, educators\, and/or s ervice providers who work with autistic youth and young adultsRegistration : Please click here. \;During registration\, please select the date an d plan to attend the webinar for the audience type that best describes you : \; \;July 8 for autistic teens and adultsJuly 15 for family\, fr iends\, educators and service providersQuestions may be directed to Christ ine.Cook@cuanschutz.edu. \; \; DTEND:20260715T230000Z DTSTAMP:20260712T001254Z DTSTART:20260715T213000Z LOCATION: SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Beyond Awareness: Discovering and Celebrating Autistic Strengths - Family\, Friends\, Educators\, Service Providers who Work with Autistic Yo uth & Young Adults UID:RFCALITEM639194119749179229 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

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Wedn esday\, July 8\, 2026 -- This session is tailored for autistic te ens and young adults

Wednesday\, July 15\, 2026 -- This session is tailored for family\, friends\, educators\, and/or s ervice providers who work with autistic youth and young adults

3:30 - 5:00 p.m. (MT)

Explore autism through a new lens. These webinars introduce a more affirming framework for understanding autism th at acknowledges the real challenges while also recognizing the power withi n the unique traits. Many autistic individuals feel pressured to suppress their natural ways of engaging with the world to meet social expectations.

How autism is understood shapes autistic well-being\, how they val ue their autistic self\, and the value communities gain from neurodiversit y. Through research findings\, relatable examples\, and lived experiences\ , participants will gain appreciation for autism and a more empowering per spective on misunderstood autistic characteristics. Individuals with autis m will find strength and value in their autistic identity. Family\, friend s\, educators\, and providers will gain a deeper understanding of autism a nd learn to recognize and support the strengths of autistic individuals\, fostering greater inclusion.

Learning objectives: \;

Speaker:
Benino Coscia i s a 15-year-old student and advocate who is passionate about helping other s see autism through a strength-based lens\, drawing from his personal exp eriences and research. He is the author of The Music Within and the founde r of &ldquo\;Different\, Not Less\,&rdquo\; a nonprofit through which he h as developed and delivered neurodiversity-affirming autism workshops.

Intended audience: \;
&bull\; July 8 webinar &ndash\; This session is tailor ed for autistic teens and young adults
&bull\; July 15 webinar &ndash\; This session is tailored for fam ily\, friends\, educators\, and/or service providers who work with autisti c youth and young adults

Registration: Please click here. \;

During registration\, p lease select the date and plan to attend the webinar for the audience type that best describes you: \; \;
July 8 for autistic teens and adults
July 15 for family\, friends\, educators and service provider s

Questions may be directed to Christine.Cook@cuanschutz.edu.

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