Building Bridges in Autism Neuroscience: Engaging Diverse Autistic Communities

In this session, leaders from both HEARD and ACORD will discuss the neuroethical challenges that arise when brain and genetic research is conducted about, but not with, autistic people. Speaker will discuss the design of dialogue-based engagement models and the importance of a neuroethics that reflects the interests and priorities of affected communities — even when they are heterogeneous and divided.

This session was part of the Neuroethics 2026 conference organized by the INS and hosted by the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics at the Bechtel Conference Center at Encina Hall.