Attended virtually by Claudia Alick

Claudia Alick joined the UC Berkeley Neurodiversity Symposium virtually, appreciating the event’s accessibility and intentionality. A simple but effective camera setup allowed remote attendees to see speakers clearly. While the Zoom format included others, creating a sense of community, there were no opportunities to interact via chat or discussion, making the experience more observational than participatory.

Despite some sound issues, the content was rich and engaging. The highlight was gaining access to important ideas and perspectives centered on neurodiversity, disability justice, and community care. The event made a notable effort to include remote participants in the collective art project, offering a digital platform for contribution. This gesture of inclusion stood out as a meaningful way to bridge in-person and virtual spaces.

As this was the symposium’s inaugural year, it’s clear that UC Berkeley is laying a strong foundation for accessible hybrid programming. There’s room for growth in facilitating interaction between remote attendees, but this event marked a promising first step.

For Calling Up Justice and One Free Community, attending events like this strengthens their commitment to accessible convenings and staying connected to community-based best practices. Engaging with peers and learning from institutions committed to neurodiversity and disability justice helps fuel ongoing justice work.