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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.

Choosing the Right Car for a New Driver on the Autism Spectrum by Jimmy Humphrey

June 16, 2025

This piece is written by Jimmy Humphrey, a guest writer for the Frist Center Blog. With diagnoses of high-functioning autistic spectrum conditions increasing since the 1980s and more and more people with those conditions reaching driving readiness, it’s important to pick the right car to reduce their risk of a crash and keep them safe…

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FCAI Partner TACT in Dedicated Episode of Mike Rowe’s New Show “People You Should Know”

May 27, 2025

We are so excited to share that TACT, one of our partner organizations, is featured in a dedicated episode of Mike Rowe’s new show, “People You Should Know.” Watching this episode will give you a tour around TACT’s new 19,000 sqft facility, introduce you to some of the many awesome students that TACT train, and…

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NISE Fellow Hari Srinivasan Co-Authors Foreword with Temple Grandin in Autism for Dummies

May 25, 2025

We want to extend our deepest congratulations to Hari Srinivasan, one of our Neurodiversity Inspired Science and Engineering (NISE) fellows. Hari co-authored the foreword for the new book Autism for Dummies with Temple Grandin. Hari’s section of the foreword is provided below, along with a link for those interested in buying the book. Congratulations again,…

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FCAI Partner Mentra Hosting Unique Neurodiversity Innovation Summit! Register now!

May 24, 2025

We are so excited for on of our partner organizations in neurodiversity workforce growth, Mentra, to be hosting this unique summit! See below for their message! The workforce is changing. Will you be part of the movement? This May 29–30 in San Francisco, Mentra is bringing together 100+ leaders from Google, Salesforce, EY, Dropbox, and…

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Vanderbilt Magazine Article Tells Story of FCAI and Autism Research

May 24, 2025

We are thrilled to announce the release of an exciting article in Vanderbilt Magazine celebrating the groundbreaking work of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation! By highlighting our mission to empower neurodivergent and autistic individuals and spotlighting the dedication and passion of our director and staff, this article is a testament to the incredible…

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Temple Grandin to Speak at Vanderbilt University – Register Now!

May 22, 2025

We are so excited to announce that the one and only Temple Grandin will be visiting Nashville on May 30th and speaking to an audience on Vanderbilt University Campus! Don’t miss your chance to come and hear from Temple herself in this event titled “Autism: The Way I See It” on May 30th, where Temple…

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The Role of AI in Autism: Dr. Zachary Warren’s Perspective by Gabriele Barrocas

May 22, 2025

In the rapidly evolving landscape of autism research and intervention, Dr. Zachary Warren, a clinical psychologist and leading expert at Vanderbilt University, has dedicated nearly two decades to developing systems that promote early detection and support for individuals on the autism spectrum. In this interview, Dr. Warren shares his insights on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI)…

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Autism Tennessee Announce Their 2025 Volunteer Open House

May 10, 2025

On Monday, May 24th, 2025, our partners, Autism Tennessee, will be hosting their 2025 volunteer Open House, where visitors will be able to connect with their programs, meet current volunteers and facilitators, and AutismTN staff to learn more about how to make them part of your volunteer journey in 2025!   Event Details 🗓️ Date: May…

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Autism Tennessee Present Online Workshop: Mastering Budgeting and Financial Planning Essentials

May 6, 2025

On Monday, May 19th, 2025, our partners, Autism Tennessee, will be hosting a training from their ACE’ing the Spectrum series, presented by Cornerstone: Financial Strategies Group. This training is “Mastering Budgeting and Financial Planning Essentials,” held online only via Zoom. It will cover basic concepts for financial empowerment and is intended for anyone starting to…

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FCAI Spotlight: The Many Layers of Zack Williams by Hari Srinivasan

May 4, 2025

This article is part of a series highlighting the work and people associated with the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation (FCAI) at Vanderbilt University. The Frist Center brings together engineers, business scholars, researchers, and self-advocates to develop solutions for maximizing neurodiverse talent. With its focus on technology and innovation, the Center is redefining how…

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New Resource Available: “Supporting Fair and Inclusive Graduate Programs: A Guide for Faculty and Institutions”

April 30, 2025

We are excited to share a new resource developed with the support of Dr. Julie R. Posselt, one of our FCAI visiting faculty fellows. This new resource, entitled “Supporting Fair and Inclusive Graduate Programs: A Guide for Faculty and Institutions,” is a collaboration between the Council of Graduate Schools and the Equity in Graduate Education…

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Building a More Inclusive World: How Dylan Makani is Transforming Assistive Tech

April 29, 2025

In a world where communication is at the forefront of connection, Dylan Makani is reimagining what accessibility looks like. As the co-founder of Ner Chat, Dylan is making incredible and transformative shifts in assistive technology. Drawing from his unique perspectives and background in neuroscience and investment banking, he has created a platform that has empowered…

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New Website by Neurodivergent Teen Launches to Support Aspiring College Students

April 23, 2025

We’re excited to share this amazing resource, created by high school student Ellie Rosenthal-Strisik, a passionate advocate, neurodivergent student, and friend of the College Autism Network and Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. Ellie created this resource for students like themselves–not for their parents, counselors, or coaches to then translate for students. We’re excited to…

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College Autism Network Summer Webinar Series

April 23, 2025

Announcing the College Autism Network Summer Webinar Series exploring Autistic Students on Campus, co-sponsored by the College Autism Network and College Ready. This series of webinars will be hosted by Lee Burdette Williams, executive director of the College Autism Network, and Matt Gunter, Founder of College Ready and Inclusive Academia. Four webinars, four topics to…

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Employment-Based Mentorship Opportunity from NEXT Connects

April 22, 2025

NEXT is once again recruiting students to participate in their FREE co-mentorship program. In 2024, more than 60 universities partnered with NEXT, and they’ve made over 100 student-mentor matches! Participants are matched with established professionals trained in neuroinclusion, and meet virtually for 8 conversations between now and September. The program is flexible, free, and fully virtual — making…

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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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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.