Adam Hazlett will speak at Autism Awareness Month events
April is Autism Awareness Month, which is dedicated to fostering understanding, inclusion, and support for individuals who are on the autism spectrum.
In celebration of Autism Awareness Month, HFC humanities instructor Dr. Adam Hazlett will participate in two public events on Tuesday, April 14, and Wednesday, April 15, that reflect the core of his work in higher education, disability advocacy, and public communication.
“These two events speak to what I care most deeply about: Helping create spaces where neurodivergent people are not simply acknowledged, but heard, valued, and equipped to lead,” said Hazlett. “One event focuses on visibility and belonging within higher education; the other focuses on practical advocacy and the power of lived experience to shape public life.”
Beautiful Minds Conference at U-M
Tuesday, April 14, from 7:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Hazlett will provide a keynote address at the Beautiful Minds Conference at the University of Michigan North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Road, Building 18 in Ann Arbor. Hazlett will speak from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
This event focuses on elevating neurodivergent voices while promoting mental health, well-being, and belonging. The conference brings together students, faculty, researchers, and advocates to share stories, research, and resources that support neurodiversity and foster inclusive environments. You can attend online or in-person. Register today. For questions or more information, contact Sandy Zalmout at szalmout@umich.edu.
“Beautiful Minds is a chance to move beyond awareness and toward belonging,” said Hazlett. “Awareness is only a beginning. It is not enough to notice neurodivergent people or speak about them in broad, symbolic ways. We need to build spaces, systems, and communities where neurodivergent people can fully participate, contribute, and thrive. That is what makes gatherings like this so meaningful.”
He continued: “I’m deeply honored to keynote a conference that centers neurodivergent voices at one of the nation’s great public universities. That kind of platform matters because it signals that neurodivergent people belong at the center of our conversations about education, community, and the future of public life – not at the margins. To be invited into that space is both humbling and profoundly meaningful. It feels like an important sign of progress for the broader work of building institutions that are more inclusive, more affirming, and more responsive to the full range of human minds.”
Voices in Action in Lansing
Wednesday, April 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Hazlett will lead a workshop connected to storytelling and advocacy communications for Voices in Action, which is Self-Advocates of Michigan’s Self-Advocacy Day at Heritage Hall, 323 W. Ottawa St. in Lansing. Hazlett will speak from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. and again from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
This event is centered on helping self-advocates connect with legislators and speak about issues that matter to them. To register or for questions or more information, contact Renee Hall at HallR24@michigan.gov.
“At Voices in Action, the goal is not just inspiration. It is preparation. We want people to leave with the language, the confidence, and the practical strategy to tell their stories where people in power can hear them,” explained Hazlett. “Advocacy is most effective when people feel equipped to share what they have lived through and to connect those experiences to policy, systems, and the decisions that shape everyday life.”
He continued: “Storytelling is often the bridge between lived experience and public action. It is one of the most powerful ways people translate private struggle, resilience, and insight into something others can understand and respond to. A story can open the door to empathy, but it can also sharpen public understanding and move institutions toward change.”
Helping people see neurodiversity in a positive light
Born in Sugar Grove, OH, in the Appalachian foothills, Hazlett is the youngest of two. He lives with his wife, Vera, and their daughter in Fenton.
An alumnus of Berne Union High School in his hometown, Hazlett earned his bachelor’s degree in political theory and writing from Ohio University and a master’s degree in English, Language, and Literature from Eastern Michigan University. Hazlett later earned a master’s degree in political theory and a doctoral degree in religion, both from Harrison Middleton University in Tempe, AZ. He has taught at HFC since 2003.
In 2020, Hazlett was diagnosed with autism. He has been a tireless advocate for people with autism. In February, Hazlett was selected to be a Fulbright Specialist in Uzbekistan during the Fall 2026 Semester.
“As an autistic educator, I feel this opportunity on both a personal and professional level,” said Hazlett. “To be speaking about neurodivergence, storytelling, and belonging here in Michigan, while also preparing for upcoming Fulbright lectures abroad, underscores something I believe deeply: Autistic voices belong not only in our local institutions and public conversations, but in the broader global exchange of ideas. That is both humbling and profoundly affirming to me.”
For Hazlett, April is an opportunity to connect higher education, disability advocacy, and public storytelling in a way that is practical, hopeful, and rooted in community impact.
“These events are part of a larger effort to help people see neurodivergent lives through the lens of possibility, dignity, and contribution. That is the message I hope to bring,” he said. “When neurodivergent people are given tools for self-advocacy and communication, they do not just find their voice: They change institutions. They help schools, workplaces, and public systems become more honest about the barriers that exist and more creative about solutions. That is why this work matters. It is not only about individual empowerment; it is about building communities and systems that are better for everyone.”
For questions or more information about Autism Awareness Month and Hazlett’s two public appearances, contact Hazlett at ahazlett@hfcc.edu.