UConn's WISHfest Draws 1,500 to Celebrate Neurodiversity

When autism advocate Temple Grandin told 1,500 people at UConn Waterbury that "we need the skills of people who think differently," she wasn't just sharing a message. She was describing the very heart of WISHfest 2026, an annual celebration that proves inclusion and innovation work best together.

The fourth annual festival welcomed middle schoolers, high schoolers, families, and community partners to a day of hands-on discovery spanning science, technology, arts, and health. Students from the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford joined children as young as 6 from Mileva Maric Montessori School, making this year's event the most accessible yet.

Grandin shared the stage with Rachel LaMont, winner of Survivor 47, who brought her own powerful message about resilience. "The reason that I won is because every loss came with a lesson," LaMont told the crowd gathered at the Palace Theater before activities moved to campus.

The festival didn't just talk about inclusion. It lived it. Enhanced captioning, sensory-friendly activities, and intentionally designed exhibits ensured everyone could participate fully, not as an afterthought but as the foundation of how WISHfest was planned.

"Accessibility isn't an add-on for us; it's central to how WISHfest is planned and delivered," said Monica Lattimer, the event's co-director. Her words reflected UConn Waterbury's broader Neurovariability Initiative, which treats cognitive differences as strengths rather than obstacles.

The morning's fireside chat, moderated by UConn's 2026 Reed Fellow Kristen Govoni, kept returning to themes young people needed to hear: trust yourself, keep adapting, and never let failure become your identity. Both speakers emphasized mentorship and learning through setbacks.

After the keynote, the campus transformed into an interactive wonderland. Virtual reality demonstrations sat alongside art exhibits and health showcases, each space inviting visitors to engage on their own terms.

The Ripple Effect

For Cristian Cortes, now a UConn freshman, the impact came full circle. He attended WISHfest as a high school student and returned this year as a volunteer because he wanted to be part of something he knew would matter.

Teachers and students from Waterbury Public Schools staffed booths where they shared their college experiences with the exact guidance they wished they'd had in high school. Program coordinator Liliana Oliviera watched her students remind younger visitors that UConn Waterbury was "right in their backyard."

The event even drew Kate McElderry, a director from a Baltimore-area school, who flew in for the third year running. "It is truly the BEST learning opportunity I attend each year," she said, still glowing days later.

UConn President Radenka Maric captured the spirit perfectly in her opening remarks: "This event is not only about putting people on the stage. It's about connections." Campus Dean Fumiko Hoeft went further, describing WISHfest as a celebration of "possibility and our future."

When neurodiversity moves from concept to celebration, everyone wins.