Winter 2026 Program Update

As we continue our Year of Impact, March offered a clear look at how that impact takes shape through growing confidence, skill-building, and connection. (If you missed our Impact Report for 2025, you can find it here.)

For our Winter 2026 cohort, it was a month of learning, growth, and plenty of fun. Interns built and practiced skills in disclosure and accommodations, self-care, workplace accountability, resume writing, and LinkedIn profile development. They also engaged in a thoughtful discussion on self-advocacy and neurodiverse representation in the arts following screenings of BEAR, a short film about living with ADHD, and Working Differently, a documentary highlighting neurodivergent professionals in the film industry.

On March 6, the cohort marked the internship’s halfway point with a Friday outing to Dave & Buster’s, taking time to relax, connect, and celebrate their progress.

Let’s wish the Winter 2026 interns luck as they head into the final three weeks of their internships!

Welcoming our New Board Member

BroadFutures is excited to announce a new addition to our Board of Directors!

We are thrilled to welcome Christopher Whalen to our Board. Christopher is a BroadFutures alumni parent, and he and his wife have been strong supporters of our mission. They shared their passion for our work at our Fall 2025 Gala. Christopher will bring his professional experience to the Board in a variety of meaningful ways. He brings more than 30 years of experience designing and implementing information systems for biomedical research organizations. Since 2004, he has led the International Biomedical Research Support Program (IBRSP) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health, where he supports complex, multinational research initiatives—particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Chris is also the founder and president of Research Data & Communication Technologies (RDCT), a benefit corporation that provides clinical data management, consulting, and IT infrastructure to support global research efforts.

As a member of our Strategic Funding Committee, Christopher brings his experience in developing and leading initiatives to support BroadFutures’ sustainability and impact.

Welcome Christopher!

BroadFutures in the Community

Last Friday, BroadFutures was proud to attend DC Postsecondary Success Collaborative’s 2026 Postsecondary Success Summit: Resiliency in Action.

Our CEO Carolyn Jeppsen had the opportunity to present alongside Allison Hoegsdorf from SchoolTalk, Inc. on Building Safety, Opportunity, and Success for Students with Disabilities. Together, they explored how intentional support, inclusive practices, and strong partnerships can create pathways for neurodivergent young people to thrive in postsecondary education and the workforce.

We are grateful to the DC Postsecondary Success Collaborative for convening such a thoughtful and impactful event, and to all the educators, advocates, and partners working to expand access and opportunity.

Because when environments are designed with inclusion in mind, success follows.

BroadFutures Success Summit

We are expanding our impact beyond internship programs through our new Career Accelerator Programs. As part of this effort, in May, we will launch our Success Summit, a new three-day, in-person experience designed for neurodivergent young people ages 18-26. Held May 8-10 in Washington, DC, the Summit offers a career readiness and leadership curriculu featuring interactive workshops, guest speakers, peer collaboration, and community-building— all in a supportive, immersive setting.

Applications are due next week! Apply below by April 8th:

Introducing our 2026 Webinar Series

Ripples of Impact: Conversations on Neurodiversity

BroadFutures is excited to launch our 2026 webinar series and we warmly invite you to our first session, The First Ripple: Family & Support Voices in Neurodivergent Career Journeys on Wednesday, April 22.

In recognition of Autism Acceptance Month, this conversation will center the vital role that families and support professionals play in helping neurodivergent young people navigate the transition to adulthood and employment. Together, our speakers— David Black, Director and Co-Founder of Center for Assessment and Treatment; Judy Bass, Certified Educational Planner and Founder of Bass Educational Services; and Beth Felsen, Success Coach and Founder of Spectrum Transition Coaching—will share insights on what meaningful support looks like, the challenges and opportunities in this transition, and how early guidance can shape long-term success.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

12:00 PM ET

Hosted on Zoom

Join us for this thoughtful and timely discussion on how strong support systems create lasting impact.

Stay tuned for our upcoming sessions:

• Ripples in the Workplace: How Inclusive Hiring Transforms Teams on June 17, 2026

• Expanding the Ripple: Experts Advancing Neurodiversity & Workforce Inclusion on September 23, 2026

BroadFutures Monthly Info Session

Curious about BroadFutures’ offerings? Looking ahead to our Winter 2027 Program? Join us on Thursday, April 23rd at 12:00 pm ET for an information session!

Intern Spotlight

Meet Noah, a BroadFutures Winter 2026 intern at The Arc of Northern Virginia!

Noah has been hard at work throughout March, helping find business for the Benefit Breakfast that The Arc hosted last Thursday, and assisting with creating social media posts. He has also written two blog posts for the “From the Self-Advocate’s Desk” series.

In February, Noah traveled with The Arc of NoVa to the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond, where they connected with lawmakers on disability policy topics (along with 2015 BroadFutures alum Daniel Soya!)

From BroadFutures’ trainings, Noah has learned how to prioritize tasks and determine what to tackle first. At The Arc of NoVA, he has discovered that it’s okay to ask for help. Making mistakes is how you learn, and the wonderful team at The Arc is there to help.

Keep up the amazing work, Noah!

Employer Spotlight

This March, we are excited to spotlight first-time employer partner Foggy Bottom West End Main Street! FBWE is a local organization dedicated to urban revitalization, community engagement, and small business development in the Foggy Bottom and West End neighborhoods of Washington, DC.

Executive Director Ben Sislen praised his experience working with BroadFutures, saying,

“Working with our BroadFutures intern Xander has been great! Not only has he done everything we’ve asked, he’s also had a really positive attitude and been enthusiastic about the projects put in front of him. He’s been amazing and is a star among our interns.”

Thank you to Ben and the team at FBWE for championing neurodivergent talent!

Alum Spotlight

Meet Daniel Ricci, one of our incredible BroadFutures alumni from our Summer 2015 and Summer 2016 cohorts, where he interned with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities and then-Congressman Chris Van Hollen.

Daniel is from Montgomery County, Maryland and is now building a career in arts administration. After completing BroadFutures and graduating from Lebanon Valley College, he now works as an Administrative Support Specialist at Maryland Youth Ballet and has supported several local performing arts venues.

One of his biggest takeaways from BroadFutures: learning to advocate for himself. His advice to current interns? Speak up about what you need, and stay open to feedback along the way.

Daniel’s journey is a powerful reminder that impact does not end when a program does.

Community Corner

Young neurodivergent people have limitless potential.

Let’s unlock it.