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Welcome

Our mission: The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering brings together leading engineers, business scholars, academic researchers, and experts in educational and clinical practice, in partnership with self-advocates and other civic stakeholders, to maximize neurodiverse talent within and into the workforce. From a strengths-based understanding of neurodiversity that honors lived experiences by driving real needs-based solutions, the Center sees opportunities for innovation in technology, business models, talent development, future-leader training, and workplace practices.

We are housed in the School of Engineering at Vanderbilt University, where we bring together academics and higher education professionals, inventors and entrepreneurs, business scholars and management experts, and self-advocates and civil stakeholders to work together to understand, maximize, and promote neurodivergent talent.

From a social-strengths based perspective of neurodiversity, the Center sees opportunities for innovation in technology, talent acquisition and development, workplace practices, and education.

The Frist Center is a research center and does not engage in clinical practice (i.e., we do not provide diagnostic care). If you are searching for support with receiving a diagnosis for yourself or someone you love, please navigate to this page.

STUDY SEEKING RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS: UCLA Group Researching Autism and Health

April 21, 2025

Complete a 30 minute to 1 hour survey about neurodivergence and health outcomes. Participants receive $30 in gift cards. eligibility Requirements 18-30 years old Living in the U.S. Identifies as neurodivergent (autism, ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, etc) Self diagnoses are welcome! Find out more Please review the attached flyer and contact healthsurvey@mednet.ucla.edu to learn more about…

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Microsoft Neurodiversity Program Celebrates 10 Years with Best Practice Guide

April 20, 2025

Congratulations to the Microsoft team, which is celebrating 10 years of running the Microsoft Neurodiversity Program this Autism Awareness Month with a new guide. On April 15th, they launched their best practice guide, which “encapsulates a decade of insights from our program. These learnings have evolved into company-wide initiatives, and this guide aims to help…

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NISE Fellow Hari Srinivasan and FCAI Fellow Dr. Tyler Derr Win Vanderbilt University Impact Awards

April 18, 2025

We want to Congratulate two members of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation family today, Dr. Tyler Derr and Hari Srinivasan. This week, Vanderbilt University acknowledged them with Impact Awards in the faculty and PhD student categories, respectively. Dr. Tyler Derr is a fellow of the Frist Center and an assistant professor of computer…

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Welcome to the Frist Center Blog: Where Innovation Meets Neurodiversity 

April 17, 2025

Welcome to the first ever post of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation (FCAI) blog! We are beyond excited to introduce you to this space which we hope will flourish into a hub of connection. Housed in the School of Engineering at Vanderbilt University, the Frist Center is at the forefront of integrating leading…

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Free Nashville Movie Screening of Lost Potential: Unmasking the Autism Employment Crisis

April 17, 2025

We are excited to advertise a free viewing of the new documentary “Lost Potential: Unmasking the Autism Employment Crisis” in Nashville this month. This movie dives into a struggle many with autism face: gaining employment and remaining employed. Following the movie, there will be a panel discussion and open forum on the challenges faced by…

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Register today for the “Inspiration from Innovators” Online Conference

April 16, 2025

We’re proud to partner with the Inspiration from Innovators Online Conference, happening Wednesday, April 30th! ✨ This one-of-a-kind online event will showcase best practices and actionable insights from expert organizations that are leading the way in creating neurodiverse-friendly workplaces. Why attend? ✅ Learn directly from trailblazing companies and non-profits ✅ Gain practical strategies to make…

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STUDY SEEKING RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS: Rhythm and Communication in Adults on the Autism Spectrum Study

April 16, 2025

Participate in ~2 study visits at Vanderbilt involving language and rhythm activities. Participants receive $25-75 in gift cards. eligibility Requirements 18-40 years old Native English speaker Willing to participate in 2 study visits. Autism (or suspected autism) diagnosis Find out more Contact: SocialMusicResearch@vumc.org, (615) 576-0320, or by registering interest here.

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Dr. Tim Vogus to Deliver Jane Hannah Roundtable Talk at Currey Ingram Academy on April 10th — Register Now!

April 3, 2025

On April 10th, Deputy Director of Business Innovations for FCAI, Dr. Tim Vogus, will deliver a Jane Hannah Roundtable talk at the Annette Eskind Institute of Learning at the Currey Ingram Academy, entitled “Embracing Neurodiversity and Making Organizations Inclusive for All“. The mission of the Annette Eskind Institute of Learning (AEIOL) is to strengthen the…

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Announcing “From Autism Acceptance to Advantage” Event, Hosted by AllianceBernstein in NYC — Register NOW!

March 24, 2025

This Autism Acceptance Month, the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation and Vanderbilt University are partnering with Alliance Bernstein to host an NYC event entitled, From Autism Acceptance to Advantage: Learning from Autism to Create Innovative Workplaces and Teams. Celebrate Autism Acceptance Month and learn how to make your organization and your teams more effective,…

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Article in The Tennessean Highlights the Need to Hiring a Neurodivergent Workforce

March 19, 2025

This week in The Tennessean, guest columnists Keivan G. Stassun (Dirctor of FCAI) and Jon Perlin (Advisory Board of FCAI) highlight overlooked talents of neurodivergent workers in today’s job market. While major tech companies like Amazon and Dell have made strides in hiring neurodivergent individuals, there are still millions who remain unrecognized. They argue that…

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March 31st — Neurodiverse Technologies Open House! Come and Experience SANDI at FCAI!

March 16, 2025

Come to our open house on March 31st to experience SANDI the Simulator for Advanced Neurodivergent Driving Instruction! We are thrilled to invite you to the Neurodiverse Technologies Open House to experience SANDI, our groundbreaking virtual driving simulator designed to make driving education accessible, safe, and anxiety-free for student drivers. Event Details Where: Frist Center…

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Registration for April 2025 Job Seeker Coaching with Autism Tennessee Open Now!

March 16, 2025

We are excited to announce the latest virtual job seeker training from our partner, Autism Tennessee. Autism Tennessee is running its EmployMe – Small Group Classes program through April 2025 (starting April 7th) and is inviting autistic job seekers to register now. Autism Tennessee designed this program to support autistic self-advocates in their job search….

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Media Covers $7 Million in Canceled Grants to FCAI

March 13, 2025

Due to funding cuts to the National Science Foundation made after the executive orders in the last several weeks, FCAI has lost $7 million in expected federal grant funding, and along with it some of our cornerstone programs for national impact. The $7 million in funding had been rigorously reviewed by NSF and was authorized…

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FCAI February Salon Series: The Intersection of ND at Work with the ND Movement – REGISTER NOW!

February 8, 2025

In this fireside chat style conversation, Dr. Vogus will facilitate a dialogue between Dr. Posselt and Dr. Annabi to examine the intersections between the Neurodiversity at Work movement and the broader Neurodiversity movement. Together, they will explore key characteristics of effective social movements, the role of the Neurodiversity at Work movement in advancing the broader…

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Live Podcast Recording Event with Dr. David Yeager – Register Now.

January 31, 2025

The Event As part of Vanderbilt’s Quantum Potential Initiaitve, University Provost C. Cybele Raver has launched a podcast series that highlightssome of the thousands of innovative and interdisciplinary research initiatives taking place at Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center each year. In February there will be a special live recording of the podcast, featureing…

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Salon Series Lunch and Learn Tomorrow — REGISTER NOW!

January 30, 2025

Tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 31, the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation will welcome a team of investors from A.E., a venture capital group and startup incubator team that has built a substantial venture capital fund specifically for projects/products that pertain to autism/neurodiversity and that may have commercial potential. As part of the Frist Center’s interest…

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Applications Now Open for Aspie Bootcamp: Python 2025

January 23, 2025

The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is pleased to announce that applications are open for the fourth year of our summer program Aspie Bootcamp: Python — our free, virtual, summer coding camp. This bootcamp is a great way to become eligible for future internship and employment opportunities with employers who seek job candidates that…

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Applications Open for Autism Summer Internship Opportunities for Summer 2025! Apply now!

January 15, 2025

The Frist Center is excited to announce applications are now open for our Autism Summer Internship Program. The program is open to undergraduate students who identify as neurodiverse (either through formal or self-diagnosis). Through this internship, successful applicants will undergo a STEM project with a faculty mentor, under the guidance of the Frist Center for…

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FCAI Director Keivan Stassun Wins Highest Science Award in the US

January 5, 2025

We are thrilled to announce that our director, Dr. Keivan Stassun, has been awarded the prestigious National Medal of Science, recognizing his groundbreaking contributions to astronomy and diversity, equity, and inclusion. This honor not only highlights Dr. Stassun’s individual achievements but also shines a spotlight on the vital work being done at the Frist Center,…

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Students with Disabilities to Apply for the AAAS Entry Point! Summer Internship for Students with Disabilities — Applications Open

December 8, 2024

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) announces that applications are open for the 2025 cohort of their AAAS Entry Point! Summer Internship program. This summer internship is for undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities. It is a national initiative dedicated to identifying and cultivating talent among students who are passionate about pursuing…

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Engineering technologies and transforming the work-2
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We work with Academics and other professionals in higher education to develop and prepare the next generation of engineers, business leaders, special education and clinical practitioners, and students across all other relevant domains to bring a “neurodiversity paradigm” to all whose lives they will touch and everything they will invent, create and do.

We work with inventors and entrepreneurs to develop and commercialize new technologies, algorithms, and systems that enable neurodiverse people to gain employment, succeed at work, and achieve their full potential.

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We work with business scholars and management experts to develop and deploy novel pipelines to careers, workplace practices and tools, corporate trainings, and policies that dramatically increase neurodiverse talent in the workforce and meaningfully advance neurodiversity in leadership.

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We work with self-advocates and other civic stakeholders to ensure that everything the Center undertakes is done with the engagement—the centering—of neurodiverse people, voices, lived experiences, and perspectives.

Frist Center End-to-End Employment Pipeline Model

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The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation was formed from its inception in 2017 with the intention of serving as the core academic research partner within a larger, community-based effort to develop a truly end-to-end employment pipeline model. In this model, we seek to develop, demonstrate, and disseminate components necessary for a community to come together to create a robust series of pathways and opportunities that lead to meaningful employment for autistic individuals and that enhance the bottom line for the businesses.

This “pipeline to employment” model helps the Frist Center identify roadblocks to meaningful employment faced by many individuals with autism and work with partners throughout the community to identify or develop programs and innovations that may help individuals succeed in overcoming these obstacles.

There are a lot of unknowns in science, particularly when it comes to neurodiversity, but what is clear is many in the neurodiversity community are looking for employment help. We examine each program and innovation to get a sense of its potential to have a positive impact. For those that show promise, we help facilitate pilot projects so we may try to help those who need it today, while examining the results with a scientific lens so we can determine what works and what doesn’t. Once a program or innovation has been vetted, we incorporate it into the pipeline model.

Simply put, the model is a collection of programs and innovations that help neurodiverse individuals understand their own talents, obtain appropriate training and upskilling (including soft skills) for workplace readiness through educational programs and novel assistive technologies, find meaningful employment, and land in workplaces that themselves have been trained in evidence-based management methods for true neuro-inclusion at work.

The Social-Strengths Based Model of Neurodiversity

Medical Model vs. Social Model-2

The medical model of disability sees disability as an individual health condition or problem that needs to be fixed or cured. It focuses on diagnosing and treating the impairments or limitations that a person has, often through medical interventions such as surgeries, medications, or therapies. This model places the responsibility for addressing disability on the individual, rather than considering the role of societal barriers and attitudes. In essence, it views the person as the problem that needs to be fixed, rather than recognizing and addressing the systemic and environmental factors that can limit their full participation in society.

The social model of neurodiversity refers to the approach of understanding and accepting neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others, as natural variations in the human brain. It seeks to move away from pathologizing these differences and instead focuses on providing support, accommodations, and acceptance to individuals with diverse neurological profiles. In essence, it encourages society to embrace and celebrate neurodiversity rather than trying to force everyone to fit into a narrow definition of "normal." This model recognizes that each person's brain functions in unique ways and that such differences should be respected and valued.

The strengths-based model of neurodiversity is an approach that focuses on identifying and leveraging the unique strengths and abilities of individuals with diverse neurological profiles, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others. Instead of viewing neurodivergent traits as deficits or challenges, this model emphasizes recognizing and nurturing the specific talents and capabilities that individuals possess. It involves identifying and building on the strengths of each person, allowing them to contribute to society in meaningful and valuable ways. By emphasizing and celebrating the diverse strengths and abilities of neurodiverse individuals, this model aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment where everyone's contributions are valued.

At the Frist Center we work with a compounded model of the social and strengths based approach: the social-strengths model. This model seeks to employ the best parts of both models to enable success in all education and career stages for a neurodivergent individual. We note, we do not dismiss the medical model, and understand its utility in the neurodiverse community.

The Double-Empathy Opportunity

Medical Model vs. Social Model

The double-empathy problem refers to the difficulty that people with different neurotypes (such as autistic and non-autistic individuals) may have in understanding each other's emotions and experiences. It suggests misunderstandings and communication barriers can occur because their neurotype influences each person's perception and expression of emotions. This concept highlights the importance of mutual empathy and understanding in bridging the gap between different neurotypes and improving communication and relationships.

At the Frist Center, we reframe the double-empathy problem as a double-empathy opportunity. We work to support both sides, the neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals, in learning and innovating together. We combine our different ways of thinking to create novel approaches for the future.