A Full Circle Moment! YND at the 2026 NeuroTech Frontiers Summit - Where Innovation Meets Neurodiversity
- Aashna Parsa
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
On May 19, 2026, San Diego State University’s Montezuma Hall buzzed with energy as innovators, researchers, founders, clinicians, investors, and neurodivergent leaders gathered for the NeuroTech Frontiers Summit 2026.
This high impact one-day summit, themed “Where Innovation Meets Neurodiversity,” envisioned by the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation and Janus Innovation Hub, showcases breakthrough advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, software platforms, and assistive devices. The summit addresses a critical gap, where " innovation, investment, and policy converge to drive real-world impact."
Youth for Neurodiversity Inc. (YND) was honored to exhibit Ally in Training™, a fun, gamified neurodiversity app designed by youth, for youth. The app aims to foster real empathy and allyship between neurotypical and neurodivergent peers through interactive, engaging experiences. YND’s presence highlighted the power of youth-driven innovation in the neurotech space.
YND is deeply grateful to Aras Sheikhi, CEO of the Janus Innovation Hub, for his vision and empowering neurodivergent youth with opportunities to connect with inspiring founders of breakthrough innovations in the broader neurotech ecosystem.
This summit was a special full-circle moment for Aashna Parsa. As a 13 year-old attendee of the inaugural 2025 NeuroTech Frontiers Summit at the Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, Aashna was mesmerized with the whirlpool of innovation, listening to passionate founders demo their products at the exhibit booths and pitch their products in a competition.
Hearing her name called out by Aras Sheikhi as a young person attending the 2025 summit, making connections with inspiring startup founders, Corom Thomson of UniqueMinds.com and Maggie Teske of Tarragon, left an indelible impression.
Seven months later, Aashna, along with high schooler Annie Liu (VP of Communications and Media, YND) featured live demos of Aashna's app, Ally in Training™, at the 2026 summit. The day felt surreal and profoundly meaningful — a powerful reminder of how far Aashna and Youth for Neurodiversity Inc. had come in under a year, from inspired attendee to active contributor on the national stage.
This full-circle experience reinforces the importance of creating pathways for young neurodivergent voices in spaces where innovation and neurodiversity truly meet.
A special thank you also to Dave Thompson of the Frist Center of Autism and Innovation for a signed copy of their book with a message: "Thank you for thinking differently!"
