Call for Award Nominations

In order to recognize the outstanding work being done by our colleagues, the College Autism Network seeks nominations for our annual College Autism Network Excellence in Autism Practice and Research Awards. Nominations may be submitted by colleagues, though self-nominations will also be accepted. Recipients will be recognized at the 2026 College Autism Summit in Baltimore, November 8-11.

• Deadline for nominations:  June 15, with the exception of Promising Professionals which has a deadline of September 1
• Recipients will be notified by August 15; Promising Professionals will be notified by September 15,

Outstanding Autism Support Program
This award is given to a campus-based support program or initiative that has demonstrated excellence in implementation of evidence-guided practices. These may include some or all of the following:

Individual practices, clusters or combination of activities
Programs or initiatives that focus on autistic students directly, neurotypical students/peers or faculty/staff in relation to autistic        students, or relevant to/about other key stakeholders
Program may be longstanding or newly-created
Program may be implemented by campus-based units, departments, or other programs, or may be initiated by independent entities    that focus on college students and the higher education setting

Outstanding Neurodiversity Workplace Initiative
This award is given to an employer who has established a workplace initiative that recruits and supports autistic and other neurodivergent employees and encourages professional growth and advancement. These may include some or all of the following:

Support of, and connection to, campus resources and initiatives
Effective recruiting of neurodivergent applicants
Outreach and education to all employees about neurodiversity
Initiatives, policies and processes that demonstrate ongoing support of, and attention to, neurodivergent employees in their          professional growth and advancement

Bradley E. Cox Outstanding Research on Autism in Higher Education
This award is given to an individual (or research team) who has, in the previous year (2025-26), produced original scholarship advancing research, policy, and/or practice in ways that facilitate college success for autistic students. Such scholarship may include any/all of the following:

Journal articles
Project reports
Books
Research briefs

CAN Contributor of the Year
This award is given to an individual whose contributions to the College Autism Network, its members, and its mission, have been outstanding during the previous year. Contributions may include: 

Presentations at College Autism Summit or other event
Consultations with other campuses 
Contributions to CAN’s mission to support autistic college students and the professionals who work with them
Engagement and/or service in CAN programming, including CANVAS, Program Director Calls, Summit planning

Promising Professionals in College Autism Support Annual Award

This award recognizes and encourages the field’s future leaders, up to three individuals who have demonstrated early in their career a capacity for broad thinking, collaborative effort and excellent skills, all built on a foundation of ongoing learning and professional development.

Recipients will have demonstrated:

• A capacity to consider their work in a broader national context;

• The ability to connect across campus and beyond, building alliances that support this work;

• Excellent workplace skills that have improved their organization, program, or institution;

• An ongoing commitment to professional development in this field.

Criteria:

• Nominees should be emerging professionals with four or fewer years’ of professional experience supporting autistic college students;

• Nominees should have at least a bachelor’s degree prior to professional work;

• Nominees’ role should be primarily, though not necessarily exclusively, in working with autistic college students. This may be on campus or with an organization or business, as a consultant/advocate, or a combination of these.

Nominations may be made by supervisors, colleagues or the nominee. Up to three letters of support are welcome, but not required. Recipients will receive a 50 percent discount on Summit member rate registration.

Submit a Nomination 

Nominate a Promising Professional

Timeline:
April 15: Call for nominations
June 15: Deadline, except for Promising Professionals which has a deadline of September 1
Aug 1:  Winners selected
Aug 15:  Winners notified
Nov 8-11:  College Autism Summit, Baltimore, MD