Our Presenters

Marlin Brunson

  • Marlin Brunson is an autistic husband of fifteen years and father to four neurodivergent children. He is a veteran of the US Air Force and has worked as a teacher for the past 9 years. He currently works as a teaching assistant at Utah State University. Marlin has an undergraduate degree from BYU in Biology, a master's degree in education from SUU, and is a doctoral candidate at USU in the field of education. His special interests include wildlife photography, diversity advocacy, artistic expression, construction, and Minecraft. Marlin is currently researching the connections autistic students form in public middle school.

Damon Bryan

  • "Damon Bryan, LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 23 years of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families. He runs a small private practice, Sage Canyon Counseling, where he integrates a compassionate, relational approach with practical strategies for growth and well-being. Damon is also the co-founder and president of the Sage Canyon Autism Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to creating inclusive outdoor experiences and support for autistic individuals and their families. He helps lead the foundation’s Autism Outdoors Utah program, which provides guided outdoor adventures and skill-building activities designed to foster confidence, connection, and joy for autistic participants.

    As a parent to two children—one of whom is autistic—Damon brings a unique blend of personal insight and professional expertise to his work. His perspective allows him to understand the challenges families face from both sides, creating a space that is empathetic, informed, and grounded in real-life experience.

    In his spare time, Damon enjoys running, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, and spending time with his family."

Karen Fairchild

  • Karen S. Fairchild, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) recently retired from ScenicView Clinic in Provo, Utah where she specialized in providing mental health counseling for individuals and families living with Autism. Her work with autistic individuals and their families included infants through later adulthood. Three of Karen’s 5 adult children are autistic. Karen has presented extensively and has been involved in autism advocacy since her first child was diagnosed in 1992. She is currently a board member of the Autism Resources of Utah County Council and Utah Autism Academy, as well as a council member for ScenicView Academy.

Doc Clegg

  • "Doc Clegg (they/them) is an advocate and administrative professional who works alongside autistic communities, with a strong focus on mental health and belonging. They serve as an Administrative Assistant at the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism at Utah Valley University, supporting programs, events, and initiatives, including the annual UVU Autism Conference.

    Doc holds an Associate of Applied Science in Information Systems and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Family Science with a minor in Autism Studies at Utah Valley University. Diagnosed with autism at age 12, they draw on lived experience with autism, ADHD, and anxiety to inform their advocacy and community-centered work.

    Their work centers on mental health, with particular attention to anxiety and OCD when autism is present, and the gaps in support and understanding that often emerge in these intersections. Doc’s approach emphasizes moving beyond inclusion toward genuine belonging through collaboration, accessibility, and lived-experience-informed design.

    In 2025, Doc received the Michael Sproul Community Spirit Award from the Autism Resources of Utah County Council (ARUCC) in recognition of their dedication and service to the autism community in Utah County. They are also a member of the leadership team for Autism Incorporated, UVU’s Autism Club"

Drew Tyler

  • Drew Tyler is a video producer, storyteller, and unapologetic lifelong gamer. He currently manages video production for a Utah-based software company and has previously created media for teams at Tesla and Meta. Over a career spanning more than twenty years, he has produced everything from documentaries and commercials to live broadcasts and technical training content. Drew enjoys exploring how the mechanics of video games mirror real life, a theme he’s developing into his first book project.

Jared Stewart

  • Jared Stewart, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA was named the 2011 Educator of the Year by the National Association of Private Special Education Centers, the 2018 Presenter of the Year by the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, and the 2020 Hero for Autism by the Autism Resources of Utah County Council. As a Program Director for Provo Utah’s ScenicView Academy— a transitional school for neurodivergent adults targeting functional independence— he teaches his students to recognize and embrace the strengths of their diagnoses while they strive to maximize their potential for success. As an adjunct professor at Utah Valley University, he helps run their annual Conference on Autism and assists with the Melisa Nellesen Center’s Passages Program as a life-skills instructor and curriculum developer. He is the former governor-appointed Chair of the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council and currently serves on several local and national advisory boards for autism and related conditions, including collaborations with the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Jared has spent over two decades working with neurodivergent adolescents and adults as a teacher, life coach, and licensed behavior analyst, and has shared his views on the techniques and mindsets that lead to improved outcomes for these individuals with audiences in over a dozen countries. His passion for the subject arises from personal experience: he has numerous family members on the Spectrum, and he was diagnosed with autism himself as an adult. In his rare free moments, Jared enjoys reading, hiking, writing, and spending time with his wife and three children. Throughout his career he has always adhered to to the belief that there is untapped greatness in everyone, regardless of their so-called “disabilities”.

Jennifer Walton

  • Jennifer Walton is a self-diagnosed AuDHD mom of three and wife to a fellow AuDHDer. At 36 years old and in the thick of a whole-family neurodiversity journey, she is passionate about understanding neurotypes, how they impact daily life and relationships, and how to successfully work with them. This has led her to spend hundreds of hours learning about AuDHD from books, conferences, and especially real people's lived experiences. Jennifer is excited to share what she has learned, bringing warmth, honesty, and hard-won insight into her presentation — not from a clinical background, but from firsthand experience.

Alan Walton

  • Alan Walton is an AuDHD software engineer and entrepreneur who survived twenty years of full-time employment ranging from Big Tech to early-stage startups by constantly improving his energy management systems. Currently “retired,” Alan is recovering from 20 years of accumulated burnout by playing his favorite game (The Elder Scrolls Online) and vibe-coding full-stack software products for his own use. Alan is presenting twice this year on spoon theory and energy accounting tracking systems.