Three Reasons You Should Avoid Going to Anti-Vaccine Autism Conferences
Seems that the only folks who learned anything from the Autism One Conferences were those profiting on false hope.
You are probably not going to be surprised to learn that anti-vaccine autism conferences are still a thing… Let’s review some of the reasons why you should avoid them!
Especially an autism conference that includes Aaron Siri as a spotlight speaker!
Aaron Siri and other anti-vaccine influencers seem to be helping to prop up a billion-dollar industry that preys on the false hope that their treatments can recover, fix, or cure autism.
Is the Autism Health Conference an Anti-Vaccine Autism Conference?
First things first.
What can you expect at an anti-vaccine autism conference?
“The Autism Health Summit is a unique, parent-driven, three-day event (with a 1/2 day on Sunday) designed for anyone seeking answers, resources, and community support in navigating autism and other neurological conditions. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, or healthcare professional, this event offers something for you.
The conference features expert-led presentations covering a wide range of topics, including integrative and biomedical treatments, nutrition, therapies, education options, and other supportive interventions. These sessions explore low-risk, evidence-informed strategies that many families have found to be life-changing.”
2026 Autism Health Summit
While they claim to have speakers who are among “top doctors, specialists, researchers, therapists, and fellow parents who have walked this path,” it is easy to see that they are mainly anti-vaccine influencers and folks who push alternative treatments that will do little more than drain your bank accounts.
From Del Bigtree, Aaron Siri and Robert Malone to Toby Rogers and James Lyons-Weiler, the only things they are experts on when it comes to autism, is claiming that vaccines are associated with autism.
Bob Sears is even making an appearance, curiously without Melissa Floyd, his usual sidekick. What happened to those two???
Three Reasons You Should Avoid Going to Anti-Vaccine Autism Conferences
Can you guess why you should avoid going to the conference after seeing who the speakers are?
If not, let’s look at some specific reasons, which can include:
ableist messaging - instead of hearing that “autistic individuals have unique strengths and abilities that should be celebrated and valued,” you will likely hear that your child is damaged and needs to be fixed
promoting harmful treatments - from restrictive diets to extra doses of vitamins and minerals to all kinds of detox regimens, including chelation, they will have you trying (until you figure out they don’t work…) a ton of unsupported/unproven biomedical treatments promising a recovery or a cure, with frequent “lab testing to guide adjustments.” Have you tried hyperbaric oxygen therapy or stem cells from a clinic in Tijuana, Mexico yet???
keeping you angry and focused on blaming vaccines - even though there is overwhelming evidence that vaccines are not associated with autism
What’s missing?
Experts who aren’t trying to sell you something!
And autistic speakers and experts to help guide you on what therapies can really be helpful for autistic people, such as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and speech therapy (ST).
Sure, these types of conferences might have a token person with autism, but it is one who has likely been living with internalized ableism after years and years of being told they needed to be fixed or healed by their parents.
Actually Autistic Experts
So instead of wasting your time and money at an anti-vaccine autism conference, you should be looking to these actually autistic experts for help and support:
the Autistic Self Advocacy Network - their motto “Nothing About Us Without Us” means that autistic people need to be involved whenever autism is discussed.
ASAN affiliate groups - many states and countries have their own local ASAN affiliate groups
the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity - whether you are an Autistic adult or teen, a parent or family member, or a professional who works with the autism community, AANE has services, programs, and training to support, inform, and build community.
Autastic - resources and community for adult-identified autistic BIPOC
Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network - The mission of AWN is to provide community support, and resources for Autistic women, girls, transfeminine and transmasculine nonbinary people, trans people of all genders, Two Spirit people, and all people of marginalized genders or of no gender
Communication First - has a mission to protect and advance the rights, autonomy, opportunity, and dignity of people with speech-related disabilities through public engagement, policy and practice change, and systemic advocacy.
Stimpunks - builds accessible infrastructure and public tools that support disabled and neurodivergent people to live with dignity.
And if you really want to go to a conference, go to the upcoming TASH conference, as they help “advance inclusive communities through advocacy, research, professional development, policy, information and resources.”
Or go to The Arc’s 2026 National Convention - “where the disability community comes to find ideas they can use right away.”
Mostly know that there are many useful autism organizations that are ready to help you, so that there is no good reason to go to a conference or organization that isn’t working towards the best of you or your autistic child.
More on Autism Conferences
Why Are Anti-Vaccine Influencers Obsessed With the Movie Rain Man?
DAN! Doctors ← they call them MAPS doctors now…
How Parents Can Identify and Avoid Harmful Autism Treatments
Whose Expertise Is It? Evidence for Autistic Adults as Critical Autism Experts
Autism One: The yearly antivaccine autism “biomed” quackfest begins
Autism One Conference: Skeptics will be Prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law
A Critical Look at Defeat Autism Now! and the “DAN! Protocol”
I went to an anti-vax conference here in Phoenix in 2024 called "Science Unleashed" that included the lie-spewing nonsense of Brian Hooker and Peter McCullough. As a physician and scientist it confirmed to 100% my 99% believe that there was no science behind the lies and disinformation they spouted. What saddened me however was how many of those around me in attendance simply drank up whatever idiocy they claimed on their powerpoints. FYI, "Science Unleashed" returns in a few weeks to Phoenix. I'm not sure I'll attend as I truly felt like listening to 5 hours of nonsense kill some of my neurons.