The Virginia Tech Autism Clinic and Center for Autism Research and the Washington Group Special Care Planning Team recently hosted the 5th annual Autism Research Symposium in Falls Church, Virginia. This groundbreaking Symposium featured autism research from biomedical and imaging, technology, education and clinical translational fields. Participants had opportunities to network and were also able to tour the VT Mobile Autism Clinic, where they learned about outreach efforts to neighboring rural communities in southwest Virginia. Our keynote speaker, Hallie Hovey-Murray, a law school graduate, disability advocate, speaker, author and Miss Commonwealth 2019, concluded the event with thoughtful and inspiring words about her life experiences.