One of the nation's most prominent advocates for people on the autism spectrum, Stephen Shore, EdD, has taken his message to more than 50 countries. This March, Dr. Shore鈥攚ho is on the spectrum himself鈥攊s going to Germany to give the opening keynote address at the Euro-Global Summit on Autism Research and Awareness.
Stephen Shore, EdD, clinical associate professor in the Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences, has traveled across the world for autism advocacy鈥攔eaching more than 50 countries and six continents. Whether he鈥檚 speaking at the UK House of Commons, delivering a keynote at the annual Asia Pacific Autism Conference in Australia or presenting at the Higashi Autism School in India, he鈥檚 on a mission to help neurodivergent people live fulfilling and productive lives.
This March, Dr. Shore is set to deliver the opening keynote address at the in Berlin, Germany. The global forum brings together leaders in autism research, clinical practice and education to share cutting-edge insights, build meaningful connections and advance their collective knowledge.
鈥淚 deliver this keynote several times around the world each year, and it鈥檚 the most popular of my presentations because it鈥檚 autobiographically based,鈥� said Dr. Shore, who was himself diagnosed on the spectrum at an early age. 鈥淧eople are often interested in learning about the lives of autistic people from autistic people.鈥�
While Dr. Shore was nonspeaking until age four, he went on to build a renowned career as a full-time faculty member at Adelphi, adjunct professor at NYU, author and editor of books, including , and board member for and other organizations. Just last year, Dr. Shore also advised on Carl the Collector, the first PBS Kids show headlined by a character with autism.
Understanding and appreciating neurodivergent individuals
Dr. Shore will join more than 50 international speakers in presenting at the 2026 Euro-Global Summit. As a keynote speaker, he鈥檒l deliver a customized version of his talk, 鈥淭he 4 A’s of Autism for Promoting Fulfilling and Productive Lives.鈥� Those 4 A’s鈥攁wareness, acceptance, appreciation and action鈥攁re all necessary in order to fully support individuals with autism and others with neurodivergent conditions.
鈥淲e鈥檝e gone from the perception of autism as being a very rare psychiatric condition caused by poor parenting to it being much better known, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced a prevalence rate of one in 31,鈥� Dr. Shore explained of the “awareness” component. 鈥淣ow, society is much better at recognizing autism when it occurs at home, in jobs, in school or in the community.鈥�
Meanwhile, acceptance and appreciation are essential to helping these individuals to understand and harness their differences as strengths as opposed to 鈥渃uring鈥� or 鈥渇ixing鈥� them. This is an evolution from the medical approach, which sought to treat or eliminate their differences.
鈥淚f you have a heart attack or a broken bone, you want the doctor to identify and fix the problem,鈥� Dr. Shore said. 鈥淗owever, people with autism aren’t broken. It鈥檚 about working with these characteristics instead of against them.”
Connecting Adelphi to the global conversation on neurodivergence
Dr. Shore鈥檚 international advocacy runs parallel to his work teaching and consulting at Adelphi.
鈥淭he work that I do preparing for my courses to teach my students definitely has an influence on my presentations and, similarly, the work I do to present and consult around the world informs my teachings,” he said. “It’s a great symbiotic relationship.”
For example, Dr. Shore has been a longtime special adviser to the Bridges to Adelphi program, which provides personalized academic, social and career support for neurodivergent students. Bridges to Adelphi was one of the nation’s first college programs for neurodivergent students and recently expanded its support for students and alumni by that focuses on career success.
鈥淚 often meet with the director of the program and give workshops, both for the students who are involved with the Bridges program and for faculty and staff at Adelphi,鈥� Dr. Shore said.
He also stresses the ripple effects of understanding and accommodating the needs of neurodivergent students on campus.
鈥淲hen we talk about helping students better receive and process information in order to demonstrate their mastery of material, perhaps by providing a copy of the instructor’s notes or visual supports, these accommodations tend to help everybody else as well,” ” he said. “As we learn more about supporting neurodivergent students, we become better educators overall.鈥�
Working alongside Temple Grandin, PhD
Dr. Shore already has a full schedule for 2026. He鈥檚 running a workshop for neurodivergent parents and parents of neurodivergent children at the the New York City Perinatal and Early Childhood Mental Health Training and Technical Assistance Center, part of the . He鈥檒l also be introduced by Temple Grandin, PhD鈥攐ne of the most renowned autism advocates鈥攁t the Gillen Brewer School in Manhattan and give his own presentation on sensory differences in autistic people. And before he heads to Germany, he鈥檒l first present to a collaborative of English-speaking international schools in Bangkok, Thailand.
So the question remains: After visiting more than 50 countries, where will Dr. Shore鈥檚 advocacy work bring him next?
According to Dr. Shore, not even the sky’s the limit.
鈥淲here does it go next? That’s unpredictable,鈥� he said. 鈥淢aybe there will eventually be an autism conference on the moon, for example. I could go there.鈥�