10/21/2026
💙 A Weekend We Will Never Forget | Spellers Freedom Conference 2026 💙
As I sit here reflecting on this past weekend at the Spellers Freedom Conference in San Diego, I’m having a hard time putting into words what I witnessed, felt, and experienced.
The magic that took place was extraordinary. It wasn’t just about seeing acceptance; it was about feeling it. It was about the freedom to be your authentic self without judgment, without having to prove yourself, and without having to fit into someone else’s expectations.
All weekend long, I watched my son experience something every human being deserves: full inclusion, genuine acceptance, and a true sense of belonging. And the impact of that was enormous.
Something beautiful happened when we were surrounded by people who truly understood. There was a sense of calm, connection, and regulation that seemed to flow through all of us. When you are in an environment where you are accepted for who you are, where you feel safe, and where you don’t have to constantly defend or explain yourself, regulation comes more easily. You can simply be.
I wish the critics could have been a fly on the wall this weekend. I wish they could have witnessed the smiles, the laughter, the meaningful communication, and the authentic connections that filled the room. The sense of connection was palpable. The joy was undeniable. And the opportunity for our children and adults to be seen for who they truly are was something incredibly special.
As a mother, this weekend was a gift to my son that I will never forget. As an educator and advocate, it was also a powerful reminder of something I have believed for years: When we regulate the environment around a person, we create better opportunities for that person to feel regulated, communicate, connect, and show us more of who they are.
We cannot underestimate the power of belonging. We cannot overlook the importance of acceptance. And we must never forget that communication and connection are about so much more than what we can hear or what we might expect to see.
I have never witnessed so many smiles or experienced so much laughter in one place. My heart is full, and I am bringing home memories, renewed hope, and an even deeper commitment to the work we do at The Adam Morgan Foundation.
A huge THANK YOU to Dawnmarie and the entire Spellers Freedom Foundation for creating such an incredible experience. Thank you for building a space where our families could exhale, our children and adults could shine, and authentic connection could take center stage. 💙
We will be back next year! And we will continue working toward a world where every individual is accepted, included, supported, and given the opportunity to communicate and connect in the ways that are meaningful to them.
Because belonging changes everything. 💙
