Where Inclusive Values Become Meaningful Practice
The 2026 PINE Summit: Inclusion in Action
The PINE Summit is a virtual conference dedicated to building neuro-affirming communities—together.
About the Summit
April 23, 2026
Can’t join live? Register for access to recordings and additional resources!
The PINE Summit brings together educators, clinicians, caregivers, and self-advocates dedicated to building neuro-affirming communities where every child belongs.
This year’s theme, Inclusion in Action, models what inclusion looks like in practice - not just in discussion. In four engaging sessions, attendees will explore strategies, real-world examples, and practical tools to create consistent, inclusive experiences for neurodivergent children wherever they learn, play, and connect.
Event Details
When: April 23, 2026. Can’t make it live? Recordings and resources will be available to registrants!
Cost: PINE Members receive free entrance to all sessions! The cost per session is $25 for non-members.
Who it’s for: Everyone! Whether you are an educator, admin, parent, or community member interested in the latest in inclusion, the PINE Summit is for you.
What’s Ahead: Explore the Sessions
Meet Our Lineup
Angela Taylor
Sesame snaps sweet cake biscuit cookie wafer cake. Jujubes carrot cake jelly-o candy canes fruitcake jelly biscuit toffee. Danish dragée chocolate cake pudding oat cake jelly-o. Wafer cupcake liquorice candy pie cake sweet roll jelly-o jujubes. Ice cream gingerbread cookie jujubes cotton candy dragée toffee toffee jelly-o. Marshmallow cupcake apple pie gingerbread macaroon jelly-o bonbon. Cake jelly-o cake carrot cake cake. Chocolate chocolate cake muffin toffee fruitcake bonbon. Chocolate cake tart candy canes carrot cake sesame snaps shortbread croissant biscuit lemon drops.
In this sessions, attendees will:
LO1
LO2
LO3
About Angela (she/her)
Angela Taylor is a mental health and accessibility expert, who lives on treaty 1 territory. She is a PhD Candidate, multiply neurodivergent (including AuDHD), a mother to 6, an author and artist. She is passionate about the neurodivergent definition of meaningful care and education, celebrating over 27 years of service. She is the founder of Supporting Community Together, as well as the Canadian Charity Inspire Community Outreach, and consults for multiple organizations across Canada and beyond. She has authored numerous books, including Embracing Neurodiversity- Supporting children and youth to celebrate neurodivergence.
Presents: TITLE HERE | 10 AM ET
Sarah Hays
Presents: Title Here | 12 PM ETSesame snaps sweet cake biscuit cookie wafer cake. Jujubes carrot cake jelly-o candy canes fruitcake jelly biscuit toffee. Danish dragée chocolate cake pudding oat cake jelly-o. Wafer cupcake liquorice candy pie cake sweet roll jelly-o jujubes. Ice cream gingerbread cookie jujubes cotton candy dragée toffee toffee jelly-o. Marshmallow cupcake apple pie gingerbread macaroon jelly-o bonbon. Cake jelly-o cake carrot cake cake. Chocolate chocolate cake muffin toffee fruitcake bonbon. Chocolate cake tart candy canes carrot cake sesame snaps shortbread croissant biscuit lemon drops.
In this sessions, attendees will:
LO1
LO2
LO3
About Sarah (she/her)
Sarah A. Hays, PsyD is a Doctor of Counseling Psychology and licensed mental health counselor in Washington State. Her passion for serving the gaming community has been clear since before she started working for Take This in 2018 as a clinical contributor, and focusing heavily on her passion of sharing expertise: consulting on multiple well- known video games, co-authoring expert content; and delivering live, educational content like workshops, panels, and co-hosting Take This’ Twitch stream. She has since taken on the role of Accelerate Program Manager, creating the first-of-its-kind mentorship program for individuals pursuing careers at the intersection of gaming and mental health. In her spare time, Dr. Hays is an outpatient therapist for Respec Psychological Services, specializing in working with games industry, ADHD, and LGBTQIA+ populations. She is one of the editors of the first edition of the groundbreaking book A Clinician’s Guide to Geek Therapy. Dr. Hays has authored excerpts in Psychgeist of Pop Culture: The Witcher, Psychgeist of Pop Culture: Stardew Valley, Psychgeist of Pop Culture: Disney Villains, Video Games and Well-Being, and The Art of Psychonauts 2. She is also the editor of Psychgeist of Pop Culture: Black Mirror.
Presents: TITLE HERE | 12 PM ETSandhya Menon
Sesame snaps sweet cake biscuit cookie wafer cake. Jujubes carrot cake jelly-o candy canes fruitcake jelly biscuit toffee. Danish dragée chocolate cake pudding oat cake jelly-o. Wafer cupcake liquorice candy pie cake sweet roll jelly-o jujubes. Ice cream gingerbread cookie jujubes cotton candy dragée toffee toffee jelly-o. Marshmallow cupcake apple pie gingerbread macaroon jelly-o bonbon. Cake jelly-o cake carrot cake cake. Chocolate chocolate cake muffin toffee fruitcake bonbon. Chocolate cake tart candy canes carrot cake sesame snaps shortbread croissant biscuit lemon drops.
In this sessions, attendees will:
LO1
LO2
LO3
About Sandhya (she/her)
Sandhya Menon is an AuDHD Developmental Psychologist and Author of the much-loved kids’ books The Brain Forest, The Rainbow Brain, and her latest creation, My Body’s Power Pack. She spends her days helping children and families build strong self-identities that celebrate and know their neurotype before the world tries to tell them otherwise.
Her work is a mash-up of sharp clinical knowledge, lived experience, and just enough whimsy to make even the trickiest concepts feel human (and yes, actually fun). She draws from her collectivist family roots in Singapore and her neurodivergent self to call out Western and neuronorms that don’t serve our communities and make conversations truly inclusive and representative of our different realities.
Presents: Title Here | 2 PM ETKade Friedman
Sesame snaps sweet cake biscuit cookie wafer cake. Jujubes carrot cake jelly-o candy canes fruitcake jelly biscuit toffee. Danish dragée chocolate cake pudding oat cake jelly-o. Wafer cupcake liquorice candy pie cake sweet roll jelly-o jujubes. Ice cream gingerbread cookie jujubes cotton candy dragée toffee toffee jelly-o. Marshmallow cupcake apple pie gingerbread macaroon jelly-o bonbon. Cake jelly-o cake carrot cake cake. Chocolate chocolate cake muffin toffee fruitcake bonbon. Chocolate cake tart candy canes carrot cake sesame snaps shortbread croissant biscuit lemon drops.
In this sessions, attendees will:
LO1
LO2
LO3
About Kade (they/them)
Kade Friedman (they/them) is a white, non-binary, autistic, New York-based educator with 20 years of experience teaching pre-K through higher ed. They work with teachers to uncover their biases so they can co-create equitable and inclusive learning communities with neurodivergent, disabled, and gender expansive students. Kade's work is rooted in disability justice, abolitionist pedagogy, trans-inclusive pedagogy, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and universal design for learning.
Registration opens this March! Come back to visit us!
“This conference was transformational! My staff and parents were inspired to continue this work. Thank you for helping us to move past Awareness through Acceptance to Affirmation, Appreciation and Celebration of differences. Kudos for modeling space where everyone belongs, everyone learns, and everyone is celebrated.”
— Yvette Goorevitch, Chief, Specialized Learning, Norwalk Public Schools
“I can't begin to tell you how inspiring the conference was. It was full of practical information and strategies. But even more important was the overall orientation it gave to help autistic folks and their co-travelers map a positive and productive course through all aspects of each day and onward. My compass is permanently set towards recognizing strengths, presuming competence, welcoming interests, listening, and collaborating. I left feeling so deeply thankful for the work I do and the people I get to work with.”
— Janet Weeks, Parent and Special Education Teacher
“For me, this event couldn't have come at a better time. Although it was during my break from school, I left with a reminder once again of my purpose for teaching. Today, as I walked back into my classroom, I was looking forward to continue to make meaningful relationships with my students, families and fellow teachers.”
— Michelle Vera, Teacher