The National Autism Conference 2025 was held on 17–18 April at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania. Organised by the Lithuanian Autism Association Lietaus vaikai, the Kaunas Pranas Daunys Education Centre, the Lithuanian Centre for Inclusive Education and Vytautas Magnus University, around 140 people attended the event, including education and healthcare professionals, teachers, school leaders, parents and NGO representatives from across Lithuania. A further 200 people followed the event online.
The main theme of this year’s conference was ‘Autism and Predictive Abilities’. Dr Peter Vermeulen, a world-renowned psychologist and autism expert from Belgium, delivered a keynote speech highlighting the brain’s predictive nature. He emphasised that up to 90% of ‘seeing’ occurs in the brain, not the eyes, and explained why individuals with autism often face challenges with predictability. Dr Vermeulen also discussed how educational environments can be structured to help autistic individuals feel safer.
The second day of the conference featured presentations by Lithuanian experts on topics including how artificial intelligence and modern technologies can be used in education, such as assisting in differentiating learning tasks based on learners’ diverse needs and abilities. Speakers also highlighted the importance of emotional well-being for both learners and teachers, with a focus on sensory breaks and supporting teachers to maintain emotional balance.
To emphasise the importance of hearing autistic voices when striving for inclusion, a learner with autism shared insights on how to build connections with autistic learners and the changes needed in the education system. A number of practical workshops covered topics such as learner self-regulation, task adaptation, motivation systems, sexuality education and teachers’ emotional well-being.
The conference was part of the ‘Advocacy and promotion of inclusion for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders and their families’ project, partially funded by the Agency for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities under Lithuania’s Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
Find out more on the Lietaus vaikai website.