Connection and regulation are two key players in supporting autistic youth, but they are too often forgotten or overlooked. To become neurodiversity-affirming professionals, we need to become sensory-informed while working to understand how our students experience the world. In this engaging and empowering Professional Development, we will discuss our sensory systems, Autistic Culture, affirming terminology, authentically connecting with our Autistic students, and how all of these affect communication and progress!