Search

Aspiritech’s 2026 Gala Supports Neurodiversity Employment in Chicago and Beyond

Aspiritech's 2026 Gala, "To Boldly Go: Limitless Possibilities," brings Chicago's neurodiversity community together for a night of food, wine and entertainment at City Winery. Tickets directly fund career pathways for autistic professionals.
Share article:
We're the software testing specialists your business needs
Aspiritech's team of autistic software testing specialists provides quality assurance, accessibility testing, data services, and more! Contact us to find out how we can support your team.

Tickets are now available for Aspiritech’s 2026 Gala, “To Boldly Go: Limitless Possibilities,” taking place Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 7 to 9 p.m. at City Winery Chicago.

If you have been looking for a meaningful way to support Aspiritech and invest in the future of neurodiversity employment, this is the night to do it. Every ticket purchased funds job training and supports the career growth of autistic and neurodivergent professionals in Chicagoland and across the country.

Aspiritech is a growing autism nonprofit that is proving, year after year since 2008, what happens when neurodivergent adults are given real opportunities instead of low expectations. This is your chance to be part of our mission.

Why This Matters

Aspiritech was founded on a simple belief: Autistic adults deserve access to meaningful, well-matched careers, not just entry-level placements or token accommodations. As a Chicago social enterprise, we have spent years building a business model that delivers genuine value to clients while creating stable, strengths-driven employment for autistic adults in quality assurance, accessibility, cybersecurity and more.

This year has seen significant growth across our organization. We scaled Aspiritech Academy’s Cybersecurity Apprenticeship program, opening new technical career pathways for neurodivergent professionals who might otherwise be overlooked by traditional hiring processes. We also expanded employment training partnerships for neurodivergent adults in new markets across the United States and Argentina, extending our model well beyond Chicago.

None of that growth could have happened without the financial backing of our community. Gala tickets, sponsorships and donations directly support the programs that make these career pathways possible.

What to Expect

This year’s gala takes place at City Winery Chicago, located at 1200 W Randolph St. in Chicago. The venue is known for excellent food, a strong wine list and a live stage built for quality entertainment. Guests can expect:

  • Several food stations featuring City Winery’s food
  • Live entertainment on City Winery’s stage
  • First-person stories from Aspiritech team members about their career journeys
  • Opportunities to meet Aspiritech staff, board members and program participants
  • The atmosphere and ambiance of a fun cocktail party
  • A look at what is next for Aspiritech’s employment and training programs

This event, like many Aspiritech gatherings, centers on celebration. You will hear directly from the neurodivergent professionals whose careers this community has helped create, and you will leave with a clear vision of the reality your support is building.

Event Details

  • Event: Aspiritech 2026 Gala, “To Boldly Go: Limitless Possibilities”
  • Date and time: Thursday, September 24, 2026, 7 to 9 p.m.
  • Venue: City Winery Chicago, 1200 W Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60607
  • Ticket options: Individual tickets starting at $225, with bundles and sponsorship options available
  • Who it’s for: Donors, sponsors, families and community members invested in neurodiversity employment

Why You Should Attend

This event is built for the people who care about Aspiritech’s mission: longtime donors, corporate partners, families connected to the neurodiversity community and anyone in Chicago looking to support a nonprofit that recognizes the incredible talent of autistic adults.

If you have followed Aspiritech’s work for a while or simply believe in inclusive employment, this gala is your chance to witness the impact in person and help fund what comes next.

Ticket Options and Pricing

Aspiritech offers several ways to attend, allowing you to choose the option that fits your budget and the size of your party:

  • Individual Ticket, $225: A single seat for an evening of food, libations and entertainment.
  • Mission Specialist, $1,000: A five-ticket bundle for you and your friends, including a bottle of house wine to take home.
  • Flight Director, $2,000: A 10-ticket bundle that includes a bottle of house white and a bottle of house red to take home.
  • Mission Commander, $2,750: A 15-ticket bundle for your whole crew, including bottles of house red, white and sparkling wine to take home.
  • Sponsor an Aspiritech Academy Participant, $150: A sponsored ticket that brings an Aspiritech Academy participant to the gala so they can share their story and meet the community supporting them.

Every tier funds the same mission. Our bundled options make it easier to bring your team, family or friends along for the night.

How Your Ticket Supports Aspiritech’s Mission

Every dollar raised at this year’s gala helps us create meaningful career opportunities for neurodivergent professionals for years to come.

Specifically, gala proceeds help fund:

When you buy a ticket, sponsor a table or make a donation, you help Aspiritech’s community of autistic and neurodivergent team members grow meaningful careers and thrive in their everyday lives.

Sponsorship and Table Opportunities

For businesses and individuals looking to make an even larger impact, sponsorship packages and reserved tables are available. Sponsoring the gala is a direct way to support Aspiritech while gaining visibility with a Chicago audience that values inclusive hiring and social enterprise. Contact our team for current sponsorship levels and availability.

Why Support Aspiritech Now

Up to 85% of autistic adults with a college degree are unemployed or underemployed, according to the Autism Society. Long-term unemployment is a growing problem for many Americans, with those having disabilities among the most affected by job loss. Aspiritech Academy’s career training helps create a foothold for participants to obtain in-demand roles even in challenging job markets. Your support allows us to continue offering Academy programs to neurodivergent adults, and keeps Aspiritech functioning as a neurodiversity-friendly organization at a moment when many employers seem to be abandoning their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Buying a ticket to “To Boldly Go: Limitless Possibilities” is one of the most direct and impactful ways you can help Aspiritech this year. Your attendance will fund and develop high-demand career training, alongside employee resource programs and staff time. Together, these pieces translate into actual employment outcomes for autistic and neurodivergent adults.

Get Your Tickets Today

Seats for this event are limited and tables are filling up. If you want to be part of an evening that celebrates meaningful progress in neurodiversity employment, and directly fund the next stage of Aspiritech’s growth, mark your calendar for September 24 and reserve your spot now on our 2026 Gala ticketing page.

Come celebrate the milestones the Aspiritech community has reached together, and help us to boldly go forth into a future of limitless possibilities for neurodivergent adults.