13th Annual Chattanooga Autism Conference 

20 presentations! Dozens of exhibitors! Continuing education credits! Lunch included! 

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Click Aqui - Registrate AHORA!

La pista en español es única pista con opción virtual.

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Scroll down for conference details. 

 

Registration closed 

as of Sept. 1 at 5pm

We are unable to register

people at this time.

There is no late registration or

registration option at the event.

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When: Friday, September 8, 2023
Where: Chattanooga Convention Center

Who should attend? Parents, teachers, clinicians, autistic adults, medical professionals, family members...

Agenda: Click for a DRAFT version of presentation agenda.

Registro en español: LINK

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CONFERENCE DETAILS

The four tracks in English are In-Person Only. The Spanish Track has a virtual version. 

Parking: 

Attendees are responsible for the cost of parking. Here are some options:

• The garage at the Marriott and Convention Center is the closest and most convenient. Address: 2 Carter Plaza, Chattanooga, TN, 37402

• The Republic lot at 11th and Carter Street is the next closest parking area. It is outdoors but close.

• You might be able to find metered street parking or other options nearby earlier in the morning.

 

Check-In:

• Check-in opens at 7:45am. Lines are shorter early on and get longer later in the morning.

• You do not need to bring a ticket or registration confirmation. 

• You’ll pick up your goody bag, program, and name badge at check-in.

• The check in tables are located outside Exhibit Hall C/D. Follow the signs for the Chattanooga Autism Conference.

• Presentations start at 8:30 sharp, so you’ll want to arrive early enough to check in before that starts.

 

Certificates of Attendance: Teachers and some other professionals can use these for continuing education credits. Certificates are free and will be available at the end of the conference at the check-in table. Only one per person. These certificates will not be given out early. They are meant to certify that the person attended the full conference.

Exhibitor room: Exhibitors will be set up by 7:45. There are over 70 local autism-related agencies represented! Go check them out after checking in, between presentations, and during lunch. Coffee and water will be available in the Exhibit Hall all day. Click here to see a list of exhibitors.

Conference Agenda: The agenda is attached and shows the rooms and times for each presentation. You do not have to stay in one track all day, and you don't have to stick with the one you picked during registration. In fact, we highly encourage you to attend whichever talks sound like the best fit, even if they are in different tracks. Click here for descriptions of each talk.

Presentations and Etiquette:

• Welcome announcements start at 8:25am in the rooms and presentations start at 8:30.

• Phones should be turned to vibrate and people should leave the room to use phones or talk.

• We respectfully ask attendees to not talk with each other during presentations. These are very important sessions for many parents, teachers, and other people who are very eager to be attending and learning.

• Noises and side conversations may be especially distracting to neurodivergent people who may be in the audience.

• We've also been asked by some autistic adults to request that attendees not wear too much perfume. Strong perfume can often be very aversive to some people with sensory issues.

 

We do not provide childcare or kids activities: This conference is best for adults and sometimes older teens. Please plan for childcare accordingly.

Lunch:

• Lunch will be served buffet style and will include picnic foods such as salad, assorted breads, assorted sandwich meats and toppings, pasta salad, potato salad, potato chips, cookies, brownies, and iced tea. 

• Attendees can get their lunches as soon as the presentation ends at noon.

• We will have short announcements during lunch. Attendees are encouraged to check out exhibitors and visit the silent auction. There will not be a keynote speaker or any presentations during this time.

 

Dietary Restrictions: If you need a gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, or vegan lunch option, please request a dietary restriction voucher at the check-in table when you arrive in the morning. You can use this voucher to get your lunch at a special serving table that will cater to dietary food restrictions. 

 

Coffee / Water: Coffee and water will be available for free in the exhibitor hall all day. 

 

Silent Auction:

• Items will be set up on tables in the hallway outside presentation rooms.

• Write bids on bid sheets next to items throughout the morning.

• Auction ends at 1:20pm sharp. Highest bids on sheets are winners.

• Attendees can stop by during breaks between presentations to pay for their winning item. Credit cards/cash/checks accepted.

• Proceeds go to the Chattanooga Autism Center.

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​CEUs: We are unable to offer CEUs this year. The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is no longer certifying independent conferences and other providers have cut back on certifying entire conferences as well. We are very sorry for this inconvenience and we will continue to search for ways to bring back Continuing Education Unit certification. 

 

GCA Meet-and-Greet will take place after the conference:

Tentatively, their meet-and-greet will be in room 16 at approximately 3:45 or a little later depending when presentations finish up. There is a chance it will move to room 11, which is right across the hall.

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Need a Hotel Room for Conference?

We don't have special rates to offer this year. The Staybridge suites are across the street from the Convention Center. Chattanooga has many downtown hotels to choose from. 

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Questions? Contact Amber Doolittle at amber@chattanoogaautismcenter.org or 423-531-6961, opt. 3.

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