Capital Area Autism Network

08/13/2026

Back-to-school checklist for autism families: sensory-friendly school supplies, a visual schedule for the week, and a name/contact card in every backpack. Small tools, big difference.

Need support to navigate the school year? Find resources here: https://www.caanbr.org/resource-guide-baton-rouge

#225

08/13/2026

We were honored to be invited to the Service Learning Lunch. Here's to another great year of collaboration!

08/12/2026

Session preview: this year's conference will span topics covering all four Silo Tax pillars: healthcare coordination, inclusive education, workforce integration, and housing access. Full agenda drops later this month.

Register here: https://www.caanbr.org/state-of-neurodiversity-annual-conference

08/06/2026

Welcome back students!

It's the first day of school for EBR Schools! Make sure you start IEP prep now, not in the final week of August. Ask for a meeting before the first bell rings — proactive beats reactive every time.

Find resources to help here: https://www.caanbr.org/resource-guide-baton-rouge
#225

08/04/2026

Mark it down: The State of Neurodiversity in Baton Rouge is October 1st at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Main Branch. Two months out and registration is open — save your seat.

Register at https://www.caanbr.org/state-of-neurodiversity-annual-conference

07/21/2026

Due to unforeseen circumstances, our Planning for the Future event scheduled for this evening will be postponed. We are working to reschedule the event as soon as possible and will update our social media, website, and email list as soon as a new date is confirmed.

07/14/2026

Registration is officially open for the 2026 State of Neurodiversity in Baton Rouge conference.

Join us on October 1 at the East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library for a full day built around the four systems that shape life for neurodivergent individuals and families — Integrated Healthcare, Synchronized Education, Inclusive Housing, and Workforce Integration.

This year we're also releasing the first State of Neurodiversity Report — a ten-year accountability audit of what has changed in the Capital Area since 2016. It's a document our community has never had before, and we're releasing it in this room, with this community.

🗓 October 1, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 EBR Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd.
🎟 $50 | Scholarship available — just ask

Register at the link below. Speaker announcements coming soon.
https://shorturl.at/SElIQ

07/09/2026

CAAN's next event is coming up on July 21st!

What happens when a neurodivergent child becomes an adult? What legal and financial tools exist to protect them — and how do you actually put them in place?

Planning for the Future is a free community event designed to help families navigate the questions that don't have easy answers: special needs trusts, guardianship alternatives, ABLE accounts, benefits planning, and how to build a financial safety net that works alongside — not against — public benefits. Whether you're years away from transition or already in the middle of it, this conversation is for you.

The event is offered in person and virtually via Microsoft Teams. Learn more and RSVP here:

What happens when a neurodivergent child becomes an adult? What legal and financial tools exist to protect them — and how do you actually put them in place? Planning for the Future is a free community event designed to help families navigate the questions that don't have easy answers: special need...

06/25/2026

Check out Together Home Louisiana to follow along as families and community leaders work together to bring housing solutions to the Capital Area.

Inclusive Housing is one of the four pillars that contributes to the Silo Tax. We'll be discussing solutions at the State of Neurodiversity in Baton Rouge conference on October 1st. Registration for the conference will open soon, but you can make sure you're first to know by visiting https://shorturl.at/MQXmt

Neighborhoods with homes designated for people with disabilities alongside others sold to neurotypical buyers open to living in inclusive communities are taking shape in different parts of the country.

06/24/2026

🚨 Louisiana ranks 50th in the nation for employment among people with disabilities — dead last.

Only 38.7% of Louisianans with disabilities are currently employed. That's not just a statistic. That's thousands of people in our communities who want to work, who can work, and who face barriers that too often go unaddressed.

At CAAN, we believe employment isn't a privilege — it's a pathway to independence, dignity, and belonging. And Louisiana can do better.

What would it take to move the needle? Better transition planning in schools. More supported employment options. Employers willing to see ability, not just disability. Systems that work with people instead of around them.

We're committed to being part of the solution — through advocacy, coordination, and community connection across the Capital Region and beyond.

💬 What do you think needs to change? Share your thoughts below.

🔗 Read the full article from the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report:

Louisiana ranks 50th in the nation for employment among people with disabilities, according to a recent analysis.