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Reimagining Inclusion Through the Power of Storytelling
Join Dennis V. Tran, a passionate cultural and inclusion speaker, consultant, and social impact storyteller on a mission to reimagine mental health, disability, neurodivergence, and LGBTQIA+ identity within the AANHPI community and beyond.
Are you a changemaker, creative, or advocates who believes inclusion is something we build collectively? Schedule a consultation with Dennis to explore how you can work with him today!
Speaking & Storytelling Topics
Dennis brings an intersectional lens to conversations about disability, neurodiversity, identity, culture, leadership, and workplace transformation, drawing from lived experience, storytelling, research, and professional practice. Through co-creation and honest dialogue, Dennis helps audiences explore how disability touches every sector, industry, and community while continuing to evolve and grow alongside the topics he speaks on.
Unmasking Autism & ADHD
Embracing neurodiversity in adulthood
Breaking free from the Model Minority Myth
Navigating mental health & intergenerational trauma
Disability and Neurodiversity in AANHPI Communities
Reshaping perceptions and breaking stigmas
Creating Psychological Safety
Building neurodiversity-affirming workplaces
Open to Emerging Topics!
Book Dennis for topics outside
Notable Engagements: UCLA, UCSF, Sony Pictures, Autodesk, Steelcase, and Heap
Additional Speaking, Storytelling, & Consulting Topics (Updated Frequently)
Access, Communication, and Belonging in Healthcare and Public Health
Ethics, Disability, Access, & AI – Exploring how accessible technology can better serve the disability community.
Neuroaffirming Workplaces – Designing environments where neurodivergent minds thrive.
Disability as Innovation – How accessibility and lived experience drive creativity and growth.
Redefining Disability in AANHPI Communities – Breaking stigma and building cultural healing.
Re-shaping Masculinity through an Intersectional Lens – Reclaiming vulnerability, community, and identity.
The Power of Storytelling – Using narrative to shift systems and inspire empathy.


Speaking Engagement Sample
What People Are Saying
" In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage and Mental Health Awareness Month, we had the privilege of inviting Dennis Tran to join us at Heap as a guest speaker and advocate for mental health and DEI. Dennis graciously shared his personal journey, navigating the intergenerational traumas associated with mental health awareness in the AAPI community. The impact of Dennis’ talk was truly remarkable and deeply moving. The Zoom chat overflowed with numerous examples of how individuals could relate to Dennis’ story. If you’re in search of an event, I highly recommend considering Dennis as a speaker. Our DEI team absolutely loved working with him.

—Sarika K., Heap's Co-Asian ERG Lead
" Amazing having Dennis joined us to share his story. So many of us resonated with it and learned so much, so much so that the chat was on fire. The themes that came up in his story overlapped with many of our experiences, and his vulnerability and storytelling were incredible. We really appreciate his partnership on this!

—Kiomi V., Heap’s former Latinx ERG, Co-Chair
" Dennis Tran is an impactful speaker whose lived experiences inform his perspectives on the medical and mental health care systems. I first met Dennis through Autism Advocacy’s Speaker Panel at UCLA, and because his story resonated with me and he had partially touched on the intersectionality between him being Asian-American and autistic, I invited him as one of the guest speakers for AIM’s (Advocating for Intersectional Medicine) panel on the Asian-American Experience in the U.S. Healthcare System, where he was a pleasure to work with and an honor to have speak at our panel.
Dennis’ story is especially important and highlights intersectionality between healthcare, disability, and the Asian-American experience. With his many intersectional identities, as a disabled AuDHDer and Asian-American from a Vietnamese and Southeast Asian immigrant household, Dennis Tran sheds light on gaps within the healthcare system through his poignant work as a meaningful storyteller and disability and neurodiversity advocate.
As someone who is also an Asian-American AuDHDer, I could definitely resonate with his late-diagnosis story of his neurodivergence being overlooked in the mental healthcare system. His story deeply resonated with not just me, but also many others, who asked him questions after the panel and commented on his story.
Dennis' story made me feel seen in a world where disability and neurodiversity are often overlooked in Asian-American communities."

—Jennifer M., UCLA's AIM Conference
"Thank you for representing neurodivergent people and being yourself. I almost cried when you made the statement; ‘over-apologize, apologize for my existence’ because that is something that I have felt growing up. I hate that other people have felt the same way. I wish honestly that people were more accepting instead of forcing people to conform to the norm. Our unique is our gift."

—Jubilee Media Viewer

"The Autism Self Advocacy Panel was a great panel and I'm thankful I got to attend. Thank you for organizing and sharing to the public such important identities that are often an afterthought or ignored. "

-Erasing Shame Podcast Host
" I loved the panel, and I did find Dennis to be my favorite panelist, mainly because of how he highlighted an intersectional experience that is not often brought up, and I personally really felt seen. It’s so important to highlight the perspectives of disabled people in any community because we exist everywhere, and I feel like we are often silenced so much."

—Conference attendee, UCLA's AIM 2025 Taking AIM Conference
" I appreciated that the panel included Dennis’ perspective as a disabled Asian American. It was so nice seeing the intersectionality in the panel because I've heard a lot of stories about the Asian American experience in literature before, and honestly, I never could identify with them. The ones I read were always about people who were pushed to the breaking point by their parents' standards, but I felt increasingly isolated because they usually met those standards at some point, while I had always been viewed as an outcast and not up to par because of my social differences."

—Conference attendee, UCLA's AIM 2025 Taking AIM Conference
" Before I knew I was autistic, I often felt like I was not even a real Chinese American because my meltdowns made it hard for me to connect with my peers or participate in cultural activities, and I never learned how to read the language. I think the panel was great, and Dennis gave lots of great advice, and I enjoyed connecting with him.
"I thought his experience was especially important to share because the way cultural background informs how people interact with and are hindered by systems isn't talked about enough."

—Conference attendee, UCLA's AIM 2025 Taking AIM Conference
" Dennis was delightful to work with. Not only did his presentation bring a new and welcome perspective to our event by introducing various forms of intersectionality with the autistic community, predominantly Asian American representation, but he was also responsive and flexible. There were numerous changes to the event, and Dennis always adjusted to meet our needs, which paid off because the event was a success. His presentation was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience and other speakers, and he answered a variety of interesting questions with thought-provoking responses in our Q&A section. Overall, we'd be lucky to work with Dennis again in the future!

—Sophie A., President and Event Chair at Autism Advocacy at UCLA
Recent Speaking Highlights
Dennis has recently spoken at Open Style Labs x Sony, UCLA conferences and panels, Culture Amp, and Vòng Tay Cha Mẹ, engaging diverse audiences on accessibility, neurodiversity, and inclusion.

May 2026
Sunright Movement Dallas
Accessibiliry, Identity, and the Power of Being Seen (Equity in Motion: Disability Solidarity)
May 2026
American Public Health Association
Disability Justice Webinar: Access, Communication, and Belonging in Healthcare and Public Health
May 2026
University of Maryland 2026 Empowering Health Conference
Universal Innovation: Advancing AI Without Leaving Communities Behind
May 2026
Open Style Lab x Sony
Inclusive Design Workshop
April 2026
Shimmer
Life with AuDHD
April 2026
LEAP (Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics)
Beyond Silence: Disability, Neurodiversity, and Expanding Care in AANHPI Communities
April 2026
CWRU for Autism Acceptance
Embracing Neurodiversity in Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities; An Intersectional Approach to Reclaiming Our Narratives
October 2025
CWRU for Autism Acceptance
Building Social Capital and Personal Brand for Neurodivergent Students
October 2025
Rethink Ability Summit
Unseen, Unheard, Unstoppable: Navigating Self-Advocacy as a Disabled Employee
October 2025
Making Space x Diversability x Walmart
Chai Chat: Building Social Capital for Disabled Professionals
October 2025
NAAPIMHA’s NAAPIEN
Decolonizing Mental Health within the AANHPI Community
August 2025
SJ Childs 1 in 31 Connection Autism Summit
Autism Advocacy Stories
May 2025
Open Style Labs x Sony | Web Accessibility Workshop
Led an interactive workshop exploring practical strategies to make digital spaces more accessible and inclusive
May 2025
UCLA's Taking AIM Conference | Asian American Healthcare Experience
Shared insights on the healthcare experiences of Asian American communities and the impact of cultural and systemic barriers
March 2025
UCLA Autism Self Advocate Panel | Expression of Autistic Identity
Participated in a panel highlighting the diverse voices and lived experiences of autistic self-advocates
November 2024
ADHD 2024 International Conference
Asian ADHD Peer Support Session
October 2024
Culture Amp | Celebrating Disability Employment Awareness Month
Presented on strategies and best practices for promoting disability inclusion and equitable employment
September 2024
Vòng Tay Cha Mẹ | Reshaping Perceptions with Vietnamese Families (500+ attendees)
Facilitated a session engaging Vietnamese families on disability, neurodiversity, and cultural understanding
Workshops & Training Facilitation
Dennis V. Tran leads workshops, trainings, and peer support experiences that seamlessly blend education, storytelling, and meaningful connection. Drawing on his lived experience as a disabled, neurodivergent, and queer Asian American, he centers disability, neurodivergence, mental health, and intersectional identity in every session. His facilitation creates spaces where participants can engage in honest dialogue, reflect on systemic barriers, and develop practical skills for inclusion and accessibility. Through collaborative exercises, personal narratives, and evidence-informed strategies, Dennis curates environments that support learning, healing, empowerment, and collective growth—helping individuals and organizations translate insight into action.
Workshop/Training Host
Open Style Labs x Sony, Web Accessibility Workshop | 2025
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) x AMBIV Collective, Neurodivergent Career Skills Workshop | 2024
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) Lunar New Year Celebration x AMBIV Collective, Battling Stigma With Storytelling | 2024
Asian Hustle Network’s Uplifted Conference, Reclaiming Your Story: An Intersectional Approach to Increasing Equity and Accessibility Workshop | 2022
Peer Support Facilitator
ADHD 2024 International Conference, Asian ADHD Peer Support Session | 2024


Collaborated Organizations
More Testimonials
"Your quote is powerful Dennis, "Be the representation he needed, when he was younger and the change he wanted to see in the world." (The quote you shared at 44:38 during your talk). Thank you for your vulnerability and for sharing your story. I enjoyed listening to your story and the other panelists."
—Jourdan S., CEO of The Resource Key
"Dennis' message regarding neurodiversity was powerful and rooted in his own lived experience. It will have a long-lasting impact on our graduate students."
—Prof. H. Seung, Cal State Fullerton
"Dennis & AADI's team created a thought-provoking narrative. A great conversation. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us and letting us glimpse into your world – which we can all hopefully make better together! We truly appreciate the experience Dennis & AADI's team have so thoughtfully created with and for us."
-Serena B. and Patricia W., Steelcase 
"Dennis provided a great perspective on the practical ways to create more inclusive workplace cultures and leadership - especially the essential nexus between mental health and disability support and accommodations at work during the Culture First Global Chapter by Culture Amp's panel discussion. Very informative!"
-Hannah S., DE&I Corporate Strategist
Let's Collaborate!
Whether you're at the beginning of your inclusion journey or looking to deepen your work, I'd love to support you in creating a world where we all belong—not just in theory, but in practice.
Note: Dennis is based in Los Angeles, California, and is open to remote, in-person, and hybrid opportunities domestically and internationally.