Diane Hennacy Powell, MD is an internationally recognized expert on trauma, autism, and savant syndrome. Her research focuses on autistic children who appear to have ESP as a savant skill as featured in the popular podcast “The Telepathy Tapes.” She trained in neuroscience at Ohio State University and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she received her MD and psychiatric training. In 1987 she practiced child psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry in London with Sir Michael Rutter, who was knighted for his work on autism. Dr Powell has been on faculty at Harvard Medical School and an invited member of think tanks.

Melinda Edwards, MD is a mother, writer and physician in Charleston, South Carolina. She attended medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina and completed her residency in psychiatry at Stanford Medical Center. She is a columnist for Autism Parenting Magazine and is the author Psyche & Spirit: How a Psychiatrist Found Divinity Through Her Lifelong Quest for Truth and Her Daughter’s Autism. Inspired by her journey with her daughter Saachi, Dr. Edwards founded the 501c3 nonprofit organization Living Darshan to foster a deeper understanding of autism in the world.

Sarah Taylor is an awakening trail guide, intuitive energy healer, creative mystic, and former stand-up comedian who now brings her truth-telling to transformative spaces. After an abiding non-dual awakening revealed the underlying unity of all things, she now helps seekers and finders embrace both their divine nature and their messy, beautiful humanity. A late-diagnosed AuDHD woman (autistic and ADHD), Sarah leads potent groups, immersive experiences, and performances that weave transmission, humor, and raw honesty to spark deep inner shifts.

Akhil Lad is a minimally speaking advocate who communicates through letterboard and keyboard, challenging assumptions about intelligence and communication. A student at Rowan College of South Jersey, he is a featured trailblazer in The Telepathy Tapes and has presented at conferences like USAAA and Milestone Autism Conference. Akhil inspires audiences to embrace presumed competence and create more inclusive opportunities for all.

Manisha Lad is the founder of Akhil Autism Foundation and Executive Director of The Sensory Pathway Center. Drawing from her personal journey, she pioneers programs that blend neuroscience, sensory integration, and wellness. She created the NeuroSensory Foundation™ Program and the Neurodiverse Gardeners™ initiative, empowering individuals of all abilities to thrive. Manisha’s work promotes the message that every mind matters.