Applications for the 2026 Autism Campus Inclusion (ACI) Leadership Academy are now closed. Applications for the 2027 program will open in January 2027.
ACI 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. After the Academy, students get help from ASAN to meet their advocacy goals at their college.
If you have any questions about ACI or need accommodations for the application, please contact Dean Strauss at [email protected].
Check out “What is ACI?”
This recorded webinar is a great chance to learn more about the program, hear what to expect from ACI, and get some questions answered. Watch “What is ACI?” here.
ACI Timeline
- Applications open: Monday, January 5, 2026
- Applications close: Sunday, March 8, 2026
- Interviews: Early- to mid-April
- Decisions sent out: Late April to early May
- Optional pre-ACI events: June
- ACI: Monday, July 13, 2026 to Sunday, July 19, 2026
Testimonials from Alumni
“During ACI, I was able to attend presentations and learn new information about the history of disability/neurodiversity, student groups, campaigns, communication, policy, legislative advocacy, and more.”
— Jenna Friedman, 2023 ACI Alum
“ACI was the first time in which I got to be in a space by autistic people for autistic people. It was an absolutely empowering and life-changing experience! I’ve finally found an autistic community that has given me friendship and support before, during, and after ACI. You will find a chosen family. I learned so much about activism, public policy, and identity. You don’t learn just about what activism and public policy are; you learn how to do them. I’m so honored that I had this opportunity and would recommend it to any autistic person who seeks to bring about systemic change.”
— Ezra Star, 2018 ACI Alum
“It was a very transformative experience in which I learned the importance of creating autistic space, fostering a neurodiverse learning environment, and meeting other non-speaking autistic people in higher education. Since this experience, I have become more confident in my self-advocacy and community advocacy. I continue to look at the workshops from ACI for guidance while creating and founding a disability rights group on my campus.”
— Huan Vuong, 2018 ACI Alum
Sample Schedule
You can get an idea of what a day at ACI looks like here! ACI does not always look the same, so the schedule can change a bit, but this sample can help you decide if ACI fits your schedule. ACI is done in Eastern Time. You do not need to live in Eastern Time. You do need to be able to attend ACI during Eastern Time hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ACI?
ACI is a weeklong leadership program for autistic college students. Students at ACI will learn about making student groups, understanding disability policy, and talking to people in power.
Who can apply for ACI?
There are two things you need to apply for Autism Campus Inclusion (ACI):
- You need to be autistic.
- You do not have to have an official autism diagnosis to apply.
- You can be self-diagnosed as autistic.
- You need to 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.
We especially want people who have less chances to do programs like ACI! That means:
- Students of color
- Students with intellectual disabilities
- Intellectual disabilities are disabilities that affect everyday life skills. People with intellectual disabilities might learn in a different way. They might say things in a different way. Or, they might need support with things like cooking and house cleaning.
- LGBT+ students
- LGBT+ is an acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and more.
- Low-income students
- Income is the money you make at a job. Low-income means you and any people you live with do not make a lot of money.
- Students who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
- AAC is different ways of communicating other than speaking with your mouth or using a sign language. AAC includes things like writing, pointing to pictures or letters, or typing words on a computer.
- Students from other marginalized communities
How do I apply for ACI?
There are three ways you can apply to ACI — pick only one. You can apply by downloading the plain language or Easy Read application, filling it out, and emailing it to [email protected] by the application deadline. Or you can fill out the application form at the link above. Please only choose one option.
What if I need accommodations for the application?
You can email [email protected] before the application deadline, and we can find another way to do the application process. Sometimes that means having a meeting on Zoom, and talking about the questions. We will work with you!
Why does the application ask about things like functioning labels and vaccines?
There are a lot of topics about autism that people don’t always agree about. These topics come up a lot in advocacy. We want to know what you think about some of these topics. ASAN talks about what we believe here.
What happens after ACI?
ACI alumni get support from ASAN staff through check-ins four times a year. They also have access to resources and opportunities for ACI alumni.