Maxfield Sparrow (they/them)
Autistic author, educator, and speaker
Maxfield Sparrow is an Autistic author, educator, and speaker whose work explores autism, gender, aging, and science. They edited Spectrums: Autistic Transgender People in Their Own Words (Jessica Kingsley, 2020); their writing has appeared in National Geographic and the Harvard Petrie-Flom Center’s Bill of Health. They serve as a community stakeholder with Stanford’s Center for Sleep in Autism Spectrum Disorder, bringing lived experience to research design.
Signature topics
The Intersection of Aging in Neurodivergent Life. Identity, visibility, and connection across the lifespan, and how communities can better support Neurodivergent adults as they grow older. (Daniel W. Rosenn Symposium, 2026)
Autism, Sleep, and Circadian Rhythms. What sleep science gets wrong about Autistic bodies, drawing on lived experience with N24 and community-based research with Stanford. (Association for Autistic Community, 2016; updated with current research)
Autism and Gender. What it means to be Autistic and gender-divergent in a world built for neither, drawing on their anthology, Spectrums, as well as a lifetime of non-binary identity.
Facilitating Autistic Peer Support Groups. What makes peer support work for Autistic adults, from years of facilitating AANE groups and co-founding a Trans Autistic peer meetup.
Selected appearances
Daniel W. Rosenn Symposium (2026) · Stanford Neurodiversity Summit, panelist with Rabbi Ruti Reagan (2023) · Duke Sexual and Gender Minority Health Symposium, panelist (2022) · Critical Autism Studies Conference, PARC (2021) · Autism Transitions Summit, keynote via University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (2019) · UNC Asheville, Disability is Diversity Week (2016) · UT Austin, week of presentations (2016) · Appalachian State University (2015)
Praise
“Your presentations were truly magical, and the space you helped create was a beautiful example of community care at its best.”
–Becca Lory Hector, Director of Training, AANE
Booking
Keynotes, panels, workshops. Based in New Mexico and available remotely, or in person anywhere in the continental U.S.; ground travel reimbursed by mileage in addition to the speaking fee.
Contact: Maxfield@SparrowRose.com