The Virtual Town Hall greatly enhanced the objective of the Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism National Town Hall. Just as in Chicago and at the satellite site locations, this Virtual Site engaged participants in key issues facing adults with autism, leading to a set of priorities for action.

The purpose of the virtual meeting, was to engage more people in deliberation who, for various reasons, were unable to travel to Chicago or to any of the satellite sites to participate in person. This online meeting provided access to those unable to attend and to those in rural communities, so that they were able to have an equal voice in the process. Broad geographical participation strengthened the impact of the Town Hall Meeting. The participants in the virtual meeting had the ability to interact and vote in real time, and their votes and opinions were valued just the same as those of all other participants.

The Virtual Site worked in the same way as the main site in Chicago, as well as the 15 satellite sites, with full participatory technology. Through the use of online and telephone facilitated group discussions, fast-cycle themed feedback of discussion results, and keypad polling, participants engaged in informed and thoughtful deliberations about key issues affecting the future of adults with autism.