Some days, the world just feels like too much, too noisy, too fast, too demanding. Other days, it can feel distant, hard to reach, or quietly overwhelming. For many families supporting neurodivergent children, everyday life is a mix of both. 

When the World Is Too Much is a live, interactive summit designed to help caregivers pause, restore, and build confidence in the middle of those moments. Over three/four half-day interactive gatherings, we will come together to learn neuroscience-informed, practical ways to support regulation, connection, and resilience, without adding pressure or perfectionism to the mix. 

This event is about taking a breath and finding community: a space where lived experience meets science, and where being together brings both understanding and relief. Here you will discover strategies that help your child (and you) stay grounded through the small and big challenges of daily life—when getting dressed feels impossible, when transitions unravel, when the world just doesn’t cooperate. 

You will also leave feeling a little more equipped and a lot less alone. Expect sensory-wise tools for calmer routines, ways to advocate compassionately in school and healthcare settings, and practical approaches to caring for yourself while caring for others. 

When the World Is Too Much is more than education; it’s a moment to reconnect with hope, rebuild your sense of steadiness, and gather ideas that actually work in the real world. 

Come as you are, refill your cup, and bring a friend who might need this too. Share the invitation widely, because every caregiver deserves a place to pause, learn, and feel understood. The more people who understand these experiences, the more caring and responsive our homes, classrooms, and communities can become. 

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Our 3-Day Program

Day 1: Understanding Sensory Life in Real Time 

Our first day focuses on understanding the full range of sensory experiences — from those moments that feel like too much to those that feel just out of reach. Speakers will share stories and science to help caregivers interpret what they see and feel through a compassionate, sensory-informed lens. The goal is not to fix behaviors but to deepen understanding of what drives them, and to show how environment, expectation, and relationship shape daily life. 

• Getting in Front of Emotional Regulation | Dr. Amy Laurent and Dr. Jacquelyn Fede
• Working with the School Team | Anne Tellez
• Patterns, Preferences, and Perception: Understanding Your Child’s Sensory World | Alexa Herrera

Day 2: Co-Regulation and Everyday Wellness 

Day two centers on practical and relational tools for co-regulation — how our own calm, energy, and empathy shape the nervous systems around us. Participants will explore small ways to build rhythm, routine, and restorative spaces within daily life, no matter how unpredictable things feel. 

• Finding Peace at the Table: Helping Your Child and Yourself Enjoy Food Again | Hannah Robertson
• Supporting Meltdowns, Shutdown, and Overwhelm in the Moment | Dr. Carrie Alvarado

Day 3: Strengthening Hope and Advocacy 

The final day brings everything together — how understanding and regulation become the foundation for advocacy, hope, and everyday courage. Families will discover ways to work with schools, healthcare providers, and community members from a place of calm clarity, not confrontation. 

• (More Than) Five Tools to Help Your Village Move from “Misbehavior” to “Understood Needs” | Dr. Virginia Spielmann

BONUS Presentations: 

• Regulation is Contagious! Creating Sensory-Safe Environments and Preventing Power Struggles | Greg Santucci

• The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods | Robyn Steward 

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Get to Know Our 2026 Speakers - CONFIRMED TO DATE

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is this summit? A live, interactive virtual summit where caregivers of neurodivergent children can pause, learn, and find community. It's a space where lived experience and expert knowledge — without added pressure or perfectionism.
    
2. Who should attend? Parents and caregivers supporting a neurodivergent child — whether that includes sensory processing differences, autism, ADHD, anxiety, or simply a child who experiences the world intensely. No clinical background needed. Come as you are.
    
3. When does it take place? Three Thursdays: November 5, 12, and 19, 2026, with live sessions from 8:00 am – 1:30 pm Mountain Time each day.
    
4. How much does it cost? Early bird tickets are $89 through October 11 — a $40 savings. Regular $129 pricing applies after that date.
    
5. What if I can't attend live? You don't have to choose between attending and your schedule. All sessions are recorded and available on demand for 60 days following the event — from November 19 through January 19, 2027. You can join live when you can and catch everything else at your own pace.
    
6. What does my registration include? All registered participants receive access to a dedicated virtual event space on STAR's online platform. This is your home base for the summit — where you'll find your livestream access, downloadable presentation handouts, and session recordings as they're uploaded after each live day. It's also where the community lives. Rather than a conference that ends when the last session closes, the event space gives you a place to continue the conversations, stay connected with fellow attendees, and integrate what you're learning over time.
    
7. How do I access the recordings? Recordings are uploaded incrementally after each live session, so you won't need to wait until the summit ends to start watching. Access details will be provided after registration.
    
8. How do I get in touch with questions? Email education@sensoryhealth.org or call 303-221-7827.

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Continuing Education

When the World is Too Much is designed for parents and professionals who want more than a certificate — but we know continuing education hours matter too. An AOTA/ASHA CEU add-on is available at registration for an additional $90, giving you a straightforward path to credit without it getting in the way of the learning itself.

What's included with the CEU add-on:

• 1.2 AOTA CEUs (pending approval)
  • CEU eligibility will be confirmed prior to the event
• ASHA credit eligibility
• Certificate of Completion
• Access to the ASHA CE Registry reporting process

Don't need CEUs? All registered participants receive a Certificate of Attendance at no additional cost — no quiz required.

Questions about continuing education? Contact us at education@sensoryhealth.org.

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Cancellation Policy

Since this program is recorded and available for on-demand access, cancellations are generally not accepted. If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with education@sensoryhealth.org.

In the rare event that this program must be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, fire, strikes, war, acts of God, or other disruptions beyond our control, STAR Institute will make every effort to reschedule. If rescheduling is not possible, all registration fees will be refunded.