Applicants should complete and submit this form

Submissions will be evaluated on relevance, clarity, and potential to improve the lives of Autistic people and their families.

Submission deadline: Friday, January 30, 2026 (11:59 p.m. E.S.T)

Notification of decision: the week of February 13, 2026

The CALS 2026 Financial Accessibility Bursary Program is designed to help reduce financial barriers and support the meaningful participation of an autistic person and/or a caregiver or support person. To learn more, click HERE.

Bursary application deadline: Wednesday, January 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. E.S.T).

Notification of decision: the week of January 26, 2026

Researchers will display their posters in-person at the Fairmont Château Laurier during the CALS2026 Member Showcase:  Networking Session with Research Posters and Visual Displays.

Dates: April 14, 15, and 16 

Time: 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Please note that selected presenters are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements, as well as their registration fees to attend the Summit.

Why Present Your Work?

Presenting your research at CALS2026 provides a unique opportunity to share your work with Autistic people, their families or support persons, community leaders, policymakers, and other researchers dedicated to improving autism supports across Canada.

At CALS 2026, you can:

• Showcase Your Impact – Share your work with a diverse audience eager to learn about the latest, emerging, and promising research.
• Expand Your Network – Build connections with leaders in healthcare, education, advocacy, government, and more. Discuss research findings, forge partnerships, and strengthen the link between research and real-world solutions.

We look forward to receiving your submission.

Selected presenters will be assigned to a table where they can share their visual display. As CALS attendees walk throughout the Member Showcase, presenters will have the opportunity to discuss their work and share their experience.

Dates: April 14, 15, and 16

Presenters will need to attend the CALS2026 Member Showcase in-person at the Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa, Ontario. It is encouraged that presenters attend the Member Showcase on all three evenings. If this requirement creates a barrier to your participation, please let us know in section five of your application.

Please note that selected presenters are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements, as well as their registration fees to attend the Summit.

The CALS 2026 Financial Accessibility Bursary Program is designed to help reduce financial barriers and support the meaningful participation of an Autistic person and/or a caregiver or support person. Learn more here.

Bursary application deadline: Thursday, January 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. E.S.T).

Notification of decision: the week of January 26, 2026

Applicants should complete and submit this form.

Submission deadline: Friday, January 30, 2026 (11:59 p.m. E.S.T)

Notification of decision: the week of February 13, 2026

Submissions will be evaluated on relevance, clarity, and potential to improve the lives of Autistic people and their families. 

Please note that we will not consider submissions that:

• Advertise specific treatments, interventions, or research
• Advertise a business or product

If you require additional support to complete the application, please don’t hesitate to contact us at summit@autismalliance.ca

Why Share Your Experience at CALS2026?

Sharing your experience during the Member Showcase provides a unique opportunity to connect with Autistic people, their families or support persons, community leaders, policymakers, and researchers who are dedicated to improving autism-related supports and services across Canada.

We look forward to receiving your submission.

Applicants should complete and submit this form.

Submissions will be evaluated on relevance, clarity, and potential to improve the lives of Autistic people and their families.

Submission deadline: Friday, January 30, 2026 (11:59 p.m. E.S.T)

Notification of decision: the week of February 13, 2026

The CALS 2026 Financial Accessibility Bursary Program is designed to help reduce financial barriers and support the meaningful participation of an autistic person and/or a caregiver or support person. Learn more here.

Bursary application deadline: Thursday, January 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. E.S.T)

Notification of decision: the week of January 26, 2026

Organizational members will share their organizational displays in-person at the Fairmont Château Laurier during the CALS2026 Member Showcase.

Dates: April 14, 15, and 16 
Please note that selected presenters are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements, as well as their registration fees to attend CALS.

Why Share Your Work?

Presenting an organizational display at CALS2026 provides a unique opportunity to share your work with Autistic people, their families or support persons, community leaders, policymakers, researchers, and other organizations dedicated to improving autism supports across Canada.

At CALS 2026, you can:

• Showcase Your Impact – Share your work with a diverse audience eager to learn about all your organization has to offer.
• Expand Your Network – Build connections, discuss shared goals, and forge partnerships with other leaders in healthcare, social services, education, advocacy, government, and more.

We look forward to receiving your submission.

Applicants should complete and submit this form.

Submissions will be evaluated on relevance, clarity, and potential to improve the lives of Autistic people and their families.

Submission deadline: Friday, January 30, 2026  (11:59 p.m. E.S.T.)

Notification of decision: the week of February 13, 2026
Please refer to the guidelines for speakers for more information regarding associated fees. Note that selected presenters are responsible for making their own travel and accommodation arrangements.

The CALS 2026 Financial Accessibility Bursary Program is designed to help reduce financial barriers and support the meaningful participation of an autistic person and/or a caregiver or support person. To learn more, click HERE.

Bursary application deadline: Thursday, January 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. E.S.T.)

Notification of decision: the week of January 26, 2026

Spotlight presentations will take place on the main stage throughout the AI Symposium. Presentations will be a maximum of 10 minutes. Visual components such as presentation slides are encouraged. Presentations should follow a spotlight format: 

1. Who You Are: Briefly introduce who you are, your organizational affiliation (if applicable), and your role in the work being presented.
2. Purpose: Describe the overall purpose of your work and articulate the problem or opportunity it seeks to address. Explain why this work matters for Autistic people, their families, service providers, and/or broader systems.
3. What You Did/What You Built: Outline what you developed, implemented, or studied, including key activities, methodologies, or tools.
4. What You Learned: Summarize the most important findings/lessons learned (2-3). Include any unexpected learnings, breakthroughs, or emerging insights.
5. Why This Matters for the Future: Describe how innovation, particularly AI-enabled or technology-driven approaches, could scale, strengthen, or transform this area of work.

6. What This Means: Highlight how this work can inform or influence national conversations and/or conversations about Canada’s National Autism Strategy.

Date: Tuesday April 14, 2026

Time: Exact time between 10:00am-4:30pm is TBD

Note: One presenter will be chosen for each spotlight presentation. The presenter can represent work done by a team/group and/or be accompanied by a support person.

Alternative presentation formats may be available for those selected. Please note in your application if an alternative form of presentation is required to remove accessibility barriers so we can contact you with more information. Otherwise, selected presenters are expected to present in-person at the Fairmont Château Laurier.

Why Present Your Work?

Presenting at CALS2026 provides a unique opportunity to share your work with Autistic people, their families or support persons, community leaders, policymakers, researchers, and other topic experts dedicated to improving autism supports across Canada.

At CALS 2026, you can:

• Showcase Your Impact – Share your work with a diverse audience eager to learn about emerging and promising AI innovations.

Expand Your Network – Build connections, discuss shared goals, and forge partnerships with leaders in healthcare, education, advocacy, government, academia, and more.

CALS2026 also offers the opportunity to present your work at the CALS2026 Member Showcase.

There are three open calls for visual displays: Research Posters, Organizational Displays, and Autistic and Caregiver Viewpoints. Please note that each call requires a separate application, and applicants for the Member Showcase must be or become a member of Autism Alliance of Canada. 

We look forward to receiving your submission(s).

We welcome collaborative proposals from groups of 3-5 people that:

• Demonstrate experience or leadership in system navigation or care coordination
• Represent multiple regions across the country (i.e., Atlantic Provinces, Central Canada, Prairies, West Coast, Northern Territories)
• Work in two or more sectors (i.e., healthcare, education, social services, community supports, policy, funding, research)
• Include one or more Autistic person and/or a family member/caregivers of someone who is Autistic

Note: Groups can be from one or more organizations, as long as they meet the above criteria.

1. Big Ideas– The panel may incorporate these topics:

• Empowering Practices: Navigation practices that empower Autistic people and their families/caregivers to secure the supports and services they need
• Reducing Fragmentation: Approaches that reduce fragmentation between systems and improve coordination of care in Canada and/or abroad
• A “No Wrong Door” Approach: Shared learnings across regions that demonstrate the need for a “no wrong door” approach to autism services and supports in Canada
• Scalable Innovations: Innovations in autism service or support navigation that can be scaled or adapted across provinces and territories
• Formalizing Innovation Through Policy: Policy and practice innovations that formalize equitable access to care and align with Canada’s Autism Strategy 

2. Equity Focus – The panel spotlights one or more of these equity perspectives:

• Navigation supports that were developed and designed with/by Autistic people and/or their family members/caregivers 
• Navigation specifically for rural, Indigenous, racialized, minority language, 2SLGBTQIA+, and/or other equity-deserving communities
• Strategies for integrating supports and services for all ages

3. Translate Ideas Into Action – The panel guides the audience through these steps:

• Identify what needs to change at provincial, territorial, or national levels to make navigation more equitable and accessible
• Describe the specific features of their navigation model(s) or approach(es)
• Share practical examples of what has worked in their sector(s) and region(s)
• Highlight lessons learned, including challenges and how they were addressed
• Offer advice or guidance that could help others implement or scale similar solutions
• Provide actionable next steps or recommendations for leaders, organizations, and service providers

The selected panel will deliver a 1-hour interactive session including short presentations, moderated discussion, and a 20-30-minute audience Q&A.

Panelists must be on-site and are encouraged to attend the full Summit.

Applicants should complete and submit the Panel Proposal Summary.

Panel submissions will be evaluated on relevance, clarity, and potential to improve the lives of Autistic people and their families.

Submission deadline: Friday, January 30, 2026  (11:59 p.m. E.S.T.)

Notification of decision: the week of February 13, 2026

Please refer to the guidelines for speakers for more information regarding associated fees. Note that selected presenters are responsible for making their own travel and accommodation arrangements. 

The CALS 2026 Financial Accessibility Bursary Program is designed to help reduce financial barriers and support the meaningful participation of an autistic person and/or a caregiver or support person. Learn more here.

Bursary application deadline: Thursday, January 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. E.S.T.)

Notification of Decision: the week of January 26, 2026

Why Lead the CALS2026 Rethinking System Navigation Panel Discussion?

Presenting your research at CALS2026 provides a unique opportunity to share your work with Autistic people, their families or support persons, community leaders, policymakers, and other researchers dedicated to improving autism supports across Canada.

At CALS 2026, you will be able to:

• Showcase Your Impact – Share your work with a diverse audience eager to learn about the latest research in autism screening, diagnosis, inclusion services, economic empowerment, data innovation, public awareness, and more.

Expand Your Network – Build connections with leaders in healthcare, education, advocacy, and government. Discuss research findings, forge partnerships, and strengthen the link between research and real-world solutions.

Additional Opportunities to Share Your Work

CALS2026 also offers the opportunity to present your work at the CALS2026 Member Showcase. There are three open calls for visual displays: Research Posters, Organizational Displays, and Autistic and Caregiver Viewpoints. Please note that each call requires a separate application, and applicants for the Member Showcase must be or become a member of Autism Alliance of Canada. 

We look forward to receiving your submission(s).