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ISR, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan

Beautiful Minds

Conference Impact Recap

Explore attendance, global participation, financial sponsorship, analytics, and key takeaways from the Neurodiversity Project's flagship annual gathering (2023–2026).

Impact at a glance

Beautiful Minds Conference & Neurodiversity Project

Three years of hybrid conference attendance, campus sponsorship, UROP student research, and growing regional and global partnerships, anchored at the University of Michigan.

0 total attendees (2024–2026)

0

Conference Attendance

Total over three years (2024–2026)

$0

Sponsorship Raised

Raised by University units

0

UROP Researchers

Students on our research teams

0%

Neurodivergent Students

Share of students on research teams

Key Performance Indicators

Impact summary

Your support helped grow the Neurodiversity Project from a campus conversation into a cross-campus and global network. The Beautiful Minds Conference serves as a flagship platform for neuro-inclusive programming, student research, and community belonging.

  • What began as a campus conversation has grown into a cross-campus and global network focused on neuro-inclusion, accessibility, belonging, student leadership, research, and cultural transformation.
  • The Beautiful Minds Conference is a flagship platform. Provost McCauley's opening remarks recognized it as a "new tradition," with institutional commitment to lasting culture change.
  • Vice Provost Dillard's commitments through Access and Opportunity opened dialogue toward a roadmap for change.
  • Participant feedback: the student panel discussion was the most impactful element.

0

Conference Attendance

Total over three years (2024–2026)

$0

Sponsorship Raised

Raised by University units

0

UROP Researchers

Students on our research teams

0%

Neurodivergent Students

Share of students on research teams

0

National Presentations

From our students at NCUR and Stanford

0

University Unit Sponsors

Units that sponsored the conference

Beautiful Minds Conference

Conference Attendance

Total attendance in person and online by year. Hover or tap a year for notes on attendance and institutional context.

Year-over-Year Attendance

Tap a year on the chart for full details.

Registration Geography

Where Attendees Joined From

Where registrants joined from across the U.S. and internationally. Filter by year and attendance mode, then explore the map.

Tip: hover a state for details · use +/− to zoom

BMC · Ann Arbor, MI

US registrants

0

Across 0 states

Current view breakdown

In person0
Online0
2026 registered0

Top US states

  • MI0
  • NY0
  • IL0
  • MN0
  • MD0
  • DC0
  • NH0
  • CT0

International attendees

  • Australia0
  • Qatar0 (2026)

Impact Analytics

Conference Impact Overview

How attendance and sponsorship moved together each year. The partner count (20+) reflects Mi-HENN, HENN, and related organizations in the network below, not conference registrants.

Attendance & Sponsorship by Year

Horizontal axis: total attendance · Vertical axis: sponsorship ($) · Bubble size: sponsoring units ·

Tap a bubble for full year notes.

0+ active partnership nodes in the collaboration network (0 organizations charted), including campus, Mi-HENN, HENN, and community partners.

Financial Support

Sponsorship & University Units

Cross-campus financial support for conference programming and UROP research. Hover or tap a year in the chart for context.

Sponsorship by Year

Tap a year on the chart for full details.

Funding vs. Sponsoring Units

Tap a bar or dot for full details.

Summary

Key Takeaways

  • Conference attendance across three years totals 2,745 (2024–2026). 2024 had the highest single-year attendance (809). The 2025 total reflects both conference days combined.
  • Financial sponsorship from 31 University units over three years totaled $128,950. Funding declined in 2025 amid grant defunding and DEI program cancellations, then held steady in 2026.
  • Student research spans policy, accessibility, emerging technology, employment toolkits, gaming, mental health, adaptive sports, and the arts.
  • Collaborations evolved from U-M partnerships to regional (Mi-HENN) and global (HENN) networks.
  • These outcomes took shape during challenging institutional periods. Work continued, and audiences kept reaching out for guidance.
  • Your sponsorship sustained critical programming, emerging collaborations, and spaces where neurodivergent community members feel seen, valued, and heard.

Important Context

Challenges & Continued Commitment

These outcomes took shape during a challenging period. Programming continued, and audiences kept reaching out for guidance.

  • 2025: Political changes affecting institutional funding and DEI programs reduced attendance and sponsorship.
  • 2026: Restructuring of DEI programs across the University raised concern that vulnerable communities may face reduced visibility, resources, and support.
  • Despite these challenges, programming continued and audiences kept reaching out for guidance. The need persists as the landscape changes.

Thank you for believing in this work, standing with our community, and helping us continue to build a future where all minds can thrive.

With much gratitude, Sandy Zalmout, Neurodiversity Project Lead