What’s Brewing: Conversation on Marriage, Autism, and Life with Kim & William
March 3, 2026; March 17, 2026; March 31, 2026
All virtual sessions will be held from 8:00am-9:00am EST
Registration: 7:45am EST
Grab a cup of coffee and join Kim Clairy, Autistic OTR/L, and her husband, William Miller, writer and novelist, as they share powerful insights about human connection, living together, their relationship, and the personal side of being a self-advocate and having a partner with advocacy experience. Through honest conversation and storytelling, Kim and William offer a thoughtful look at navigating life, love, and advocacy together.
This event is free to attend.
Please contact Patt Krug with any questions: 614.401.4049 or patt_krug@ocali.org
Who Should Attend?
Family members, individuals with autism, general education teachers, special education teachers, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, school administrators, school psychologists, direct support professionals, providers, etc.
Key Concepts & Take Aways
Participants will:
- Gain insight into the experiences of a self-advocate and her partner.
- Understand the role of human connection in supporting self-advocacy, emotional well-being, and personal growth.
- Recognize how partnership and communication can strengthen advocacy efforts and foster mutual support.
Kim Clairy
Kim Clairy is an autistic occupational therapist, author, international speaker, and consultant. Her expertise includes autism-related catatonia, sensory processing, interoception, challenging behaviors, eating disorders, classroom inclusion, trauma, and relationships. After being told she needed nursing home placement due to "severe autism" and facing hospice recommendations for her eating disorder in 2015, Kim defied these predictions. She now lives independently with her husband and shares her journey worldwide, proving the power of presuming competence. Kim bridges personal experience with professional knowledge to educate providers, educators, families, and communities on supporting autistic individuals across the lifespan. Her work emphasizes understanding autism first, then building interventions grounded in each person's unique strengths and needs.
William Miller
William Miller is a best-selling thriller novelist, and autism advocate who co-presents internationally alongside his wife, Kim Clairy. As her accommodation support and co-presenter, William demonstrates practical, real-time strategies for supporting autistic individuals in various settings. Through years of lived experience, extensive self-education, and deep partnership with Kim since 2015, William has developed exceptional insight into autism, relationships, and effective accommodations. He provides guidance to providers, educators, and families on supporting autistic individuals, drawing from both knowledge and personal experience. William is the author of Born Under a Bad Sign, the Noble Man series, and an autism detective series featuring characters Mackenzie and Cole, an autistic and non-autistic detective duo fashioned after his relationship with Kim. His work emphasizes acceptance, presuming competence, and creating environments where autistic individuals can be fully themselves.
Session 1: Learning a Foreign Language
Explore how understanding, accepting, and appreciating differences in sensory, emotional, social, thinking, and communication styles shape relationships. Kim and William share the beginnings of their relationship, dating, family support, and the unique perspectives autism brings to marriage.
Session 2: Weathering the Storms
William and Kim will discuss self-reflection, problem-solving, and navigating ups and downs in a relationship. Learn how to negotiate challenges, resolve conflicts, and leverage strengths while addressing unresolved issues.
Session 3: Supporting Each Other in Daily Life
Discover practical strategies for supporting one another in everyday life. Kim and William share routines, approaches, and even some personal poetry that illustrate the lived experience of a relationship shaped by autism.