Book Theo to speak
Talks on autism, mental health, and resilience, told through photos and stories from the most remote corners of the American West. For conferences, universities, schools, clinics, and nonprofits.
Spoken at: Wisconsin Children Come First Conference · Utah Valley University Annual Autism Conference · University of Utah · The SJ Childs Show
What I speak about
Every talk comes from lived experience: an autism diagnosis I denied for years, depression, addiction, and the solo trips into the desert that helped me rebuild. Each one is shaped to your audience.
Autism, Identity & Adventure
Accepting an autism diagnosis as an adult, and how solo adventure built the confidence that therapy alone couldn’t.
Good for: families, autistic teens and adults, conferencesMental Health in the Wild
Depression, anxiety, and addiction recovery, and what time outdoors actually changes for people who are struggling.
Good for: clinics, recovery programs, staff trainingsNeurodivergent Inclusion
What autistic clients, students, and employees wish the people supporting them understood, from someone on the inside.
Good for: ABA and therapy teams, schools, employersSolo Travel & Resilience
Planning, risk, and getting back up, with stories from Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Monument Valley.
Good for: universities, youth programsCreative Entrepreneurship
Building a photography brand, blog, and shop as an autistic creator, including what didn’t work.
Good for: universities, arts organizationsLiving Your Best Wild Life
An uplifting keynote that blends the story and the photography for a general audience.
Good for: community events, festivals, fundraisersFormats: keynotes, breakout sessions, panels, staff trainings, classroom talks, and virtual presentations. I can also bring a display of prints for attendees.
Where I’ve spoken
- Wisconsin Children Come First ConferenceSpeaker · 2025 and 2026
- Utah Valley University, Annual Autism ConferenceSpeaker
- University of Utah, Human Exceptionality courseGuest speaker and panelist
- AnyBehaviorInvited talk
- Autism on the Go, Storytelling SandboxStoryteller · 2026
Podcasts & media
- The SJ Childs ShowGuest
- Autistic Unicorns PodcastHost
Featured at
- Autism Society of Wisconsin ConferenceExhibitor · 2026
- AutCon Salt Lake CityExhibitor · 2026
- Chill Act ExpoExhibitor · Salt Lake City
- Art 4 Autism, FEAT of Southern NevadaFeatured artist · Las Vegas · 2026
- 1 in 31 Connection Summit2026
- Urban Arts FestExhibitor · Salt Lake City · 2026
- Salt Lake Juneteenth Festival, The GatewaySelected artist · 2025
Who is Theo
Theo Maynard is an autistic photographer, writer, and speaker based in Salt Lake City. He built Unicorn Adventure from the desert floor up, photographing the American Southwest from Grand Staircase-Escalante to Bears Ears to Monument Valley. His Toyota 4Runner, Estes, has logged tens of thousands of miles of dirt roads and backcountry campsites most people never find.
His story includes depression, addiction, and an autism diagnosis he denied for years. He tells it honestly, without the polish, and that’s why audiences connect with it. Through Unicorn Adventure he has turned that story into a photography brand, a blog, a podcast, and a platform for anyone who has ever felt like they don’t fit in.
Exhibitions
- Gallery On Main, Hotel Monaco (Kimpton)Curated selection · Salt Lake City · 2024
- Super Spectrum Art Exhibition, Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism, UVUInvited artist · Orem, Utah · 2024 and 2025
- Shades of Expression, Urban Arts GalleryInvited artist · Salt Lake City · 2026
- PhotoMidwest, In the MomentSelected work · 2026
- STAR InstituteSolo exhibition · Centennial, Colorado
- Achieving Collaborative Treatment (ACT)Solo exhibition · Madison, Wisconsin
More solo exhibitions
- Latino Behavioral Health ServicesSalt Lake City, Utah
- The Autism ClinicSalt Lake City, Utah
- True Self CounselingPleasant Grove, Utah
- ABA PossibilitiesSt. George, Utah
- Sports SocialLas Vegas, Nevada
- Equilora Fashion Show, TC GroupInvited artist · Las Vegas · 2025
Beyond speaking
Photo licensing & display
Fine-art prints and curated displays for clinics, offices, hotels, and galleries.
Vendor & exhibition
Print booths for art festivals, outdoor expos, and autism events.
Advocacy & consulting
Panels, media appearances, and consulting on neurodivergent inclusion.
Brand partnerships
Sponsored content, gear campaigns, and ambassador work with outdoor and travel brands.
Content & blog partnerships
Destination features and sponsored posts woven into real trip reports.
Let’s talk about your event
Send the form and you’ll hear back within 48 hours. Theo reads every inquiry personally.
Planning an event? Include the date, location, audience, and the format you have in mind.
Email: tm******@**************re.blog
Instagram: @unicorn__adventure
Based in: Salt Lake City, Utah