Jessica Stasik

“Square Pegs,” is a thought-provoking podcast with engaging content and insightful discussions, surrounding the experiences of neurodiverse graduate students. With a keen focus on promoting diversity and inclusivity, Arash Zaghi brings together a wide range of guests who challenge societal norms and share their unique perspectives. On the… Read More

Our May webinar is almost here! Join Frist Center Program Manager Jessica Schonhut-Stasik in conversation with Dave Thompson of Potentia on the subject of Belonging in the Work Place. Date: May 25th 2023 Time: 9am HST / 12pm PDT / 2pm CDT / 3pm EDT Register Here. All… Read More

On May 18th, the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) Research Ethics Grand Rounds will be having a webinar panel discussion with a focus on what “Nothing About Us Without Us” can look like within a research setting. The panel will include two VKC researchers and two disability self-advocates who serve… Read More

Keivan Stassun, Director of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. The  American Academy of Arts and Sciences  announced the election of four Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center faculty among its 2023 cohort of 270 new members, including Frist Center for… Read More

This summer Tech Kids Unlimited, a non-profit organization which teaches students how to learn differently, is offering a summer program for autistic youth who wish to participate in a research study to learn game design and employment skills. Participation is free and students will earn up to $115 in… Read More

The College Autism Network is very pleased to announce a webinar series designed for higher ed professionals who are starting a new initiative or program on their campus. “Square One: Launching a Campus-Based Autism Support Initiative”. Square One is a three-part virtual instructional series for higher education professionals interested in launching… Read More

On June 5, 2023, the National Academy of Sciences is hosting conversations on Disrupting Ableism and Advancing STEM. The events will begin with a National Leadership Summit on June 5, 2023, in Washington D.C. and online. The launch event will take on a hybrid format on June 5. Read More

We are so proud of NISE fellow Hari Shrinivasan, who wrote his first Boston Globe op-ed this week entitled “Is it better to describe someone as ‘autistic’ or as a ‘person with autism?'” In this piece, Hari discusses the importance of intent and context when using identity-first or person-first language;… Read More

 We’re excited to announce that one of our partners, The Precisionists, Inc. (TPI), a Wilmington, Delaware-based organization focused on employment for adults with disabilities, is launching a neurodiversity employment program that will provide business support services as part of a pilot program at Nashville- based HCA Healthcare. The… Read More

We are thrilled to announce the opening of applications for the Neurodiversity Inspired Science and Engineering (NISE) graduate fellowship for the upcoming academic year. NISE is a unique fellowship program that seeks to advance the field of science and engineering by embracing the strengths and talents of neurodiverse individuals. Fellows… Read More