LIVE WEBINAR
Beyond Words: Listening to Neurodivergent Voices in the Workplace
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 @ 12:00 PM EST
LIVE WEBINAR - Beyond Words: Listening to Neurodivergent Voices in the Workplace
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2025 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST
In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, join us for a powerful webinar conversation about one of the most underrated drivers of workplace inclusion: listening.
For neurodivergent employees, clients, and customers, being truly heard is more than a courtesy; it’s the foundation of belonging, trust, and innovation. This panel brings together neurodivergent professionals and inclusive workplace leaders to explore how culture and communication shape experiences at every level of an organization.
Together, we’ll explore:
- Why traditional norms around “professionalism” can silence neurodivergent voices
- How to build team cultures that center on psychological safety and authenticity
- The ripple effect of listening—from internal teams to customer relationships
- What it means to listen to nonspeaking individuals and support alternative communication
- Practical tools to strengthen inclusive communication across roles and industries
Whether you're leading people, shaping policies, or supporting clients, this conversation will spark new ways to listen deeply, lead differently, and create cultures where neurodivergent people thrive.
YOUR HOSTS
NEXT for AUTISM believes that everyone deserves to live a productive and fulfilling life. For many people, that means the opportunity to work. To help facilitate neuroinclusion in the workplace, NEXT, with support from the Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, promotes awareness, offers tools and resources, facilitates a bi-directional mentorship program, and hosts informational panels and webinar discussions.
NEXT for AUTISM is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.
MODERATOR
Dr. Nasiah Cirincione-Ulezi, CEO/Founder, ACT Soulfully LLC
Dr. Nasiah Cirincione-Ulezi is a board-certified behavior analyst, with a doctorate degree in education from Loyola University of Chicago. She holds a master’s degree in special education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a master's degree in educational leadership from the American College of Education. She is a graduate of the infant mental health and studies program at Erikson Institute of Chicago. In addition to her BCBA credential, she is an Illinois licensed special education teacher, an Illinois Early Intervention provider, and State of Illinois evaluator. Professionally, she has served as a special educator, clinician, educational administrator, and professor of special education. Her clinical experience spans infancy through adulthood.
Currently, she is the CEO & Founder of ACT Soulfully and serves as a court-appointed special advocate, for children in the Illinois foster care system. She is also a Board member of the Association for Behavior Analysis Affiliate Chapters Board and former President of the Illinois Association for Behavior Analysis. She is a champion for human dignity, liberation and self-expression and is deeply committed to using her skills and experiences, in ways that make a meaningful and positive difference for the lives of the individuals she serves.
PANELISTS
Daniel Bergmann, Screenwriter and Advocate
Daniel is a screenwriter, playwright, and autism advocate. He co-wrote and co-directed the short film "When Silence Meets Joy" (2010) and was a key contributor to the feature film "Influence" (2018). He is also a part-time board member with Communication4ALL, an organization committed to bringing 2-way communication capabilities to people living with nonspeaking autism. Daniel graduated from the Harvard Extension School in 2021.
Kevin Davis, Principal EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants
As a Principal in the Employee Benefits Consulting Group, my focus is on crafting innovative benefits strategies. The effective communication strategies and regulatory compliance measures we implement are pivotal in serving our diverse clients. I am a board member of Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley, Life Science Cares Philadelphia, PSPS: Philadelphia Society of People and Strategy, and Neurodiversity Employment Network. In addition to being a devoted husband and father to three daughters, I am an avid music collector with more than 10,000 albums.
Russell Lehman, International Disability Rights Advocate, UCLA
Russell Lehmann is a charismatic activist, motivational speaker, and acclaimed author and poet. He is the UCLA International Disability Rights Advocate and he captivates audiences with his powerful message of acceptance and resilience. Lehmann's work has had a positive and life-changing impact on many, and his advocacy and activism have helped to increase understanding and support for individuals in the disability community.
Russell shares his intense and painful personal journey of being diagnosed with autism at the age of 12 after 5 weeks in a lockdown psychiatric ward for severe OCD and phobias. These struggles, on top of a lack of support, compassion, and understanding led him to withdraw from the world for the next 15 years resulting in prevalent isolation. Russell has transformed his unique experiences into a compelling narrative that challenges stereotypes, fosters understanding, and shifts perspectives.
A powerful poet, Russell performs spoken word throughout each presentation that presents a unique vehicle to the audience to provoke deep thoughts. His global reach continues to make waves, shaping perceptions and challenging societal norms.
Meg Long, Vice President, Neuroforce BRG, Salesforce
A design leader with 15 years in web design and marketing, Meg currently works as a lead product designer at Salesforce, creating user experiences and tools that make it easy and fun to build on the Salesforce Platform. She's excited about using AI to democratize building so that anyone -- regardless of their development expertise -- can create digital solutions that make the lives of their customers and teams better.
In 2025, Meg co-founded Neuroforce, one of big tech's first neurodiversity-specific employee resource groups. As the group's executive vice president, she's a passionate advocate for inclusion, aiming to create spaces where everyone feels welcomed and empowered to grow. She believes a neuroinclusive workplace is key to building a diverse workforce that can lead the way in ethical AI innovation.
Meg lives in LA with her husband, three boys, and golden retriever. When not working or parenting, she propagates plants, serves at her church, participates in a nerdy book club, and hosts a weekly movie night (for going on 14 years).
