Inventors And Entrepreneurs

Lionheart Academy of the Triad School Logo. ASCEND – the Assistive & Supportive Center for Empowerment, Neurodiversity & Development — officially launched this month on the campus of BrightStone in Franklin, and we are thrilled to announce that our second chapter is opening shortly in Greensboro, NC, at… Read More

And this year promises to be bigger than ever! The conference will again be held at Langford Auditorium on the Vanderbilt University Campus between October 13th – 15th, 2026, and is a cooperative event between the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation and Janus Innovation Hub. ​ Following the… Read More

ASCEND – the Assistive & Supportive Center for Empowerment, Neurodiversity & Development — officially launched this week on the campus of BrightStone in Franklin and will bring together leaders in research, technology, and community services, with self-advocates and civic stakeholders from the community. Our first ASCEND chapter is… Read More

The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is proud to introduce a brand-new partnership initiative to transform how innovation in neurodivergent support reaches the communities that need it! ASCEND — the Assistive and Supportive Center for Empowerment, Neurodiversity and Development — will enable state chapters, rooted in community… Read More

Thank you to the wonderful Dr. Nigel Newbutt, FCAI Affiliate from University of Florida, for sharing this opportunity! Applications are now open for PATHS Cohort 2, an 8-week program designed to prepare autistic talent for careers in the semiconductor industry. This program, co-designed with autistic personnel, is created specifically… Read More

During National Security Week, Vanderbilt University convened leaders from government, academia, and industry to examine how neurodivergent talent can strengthen national security and how workforce systems can better identify, recruit, and support cognitive diversity. The workshop was held in conjunction with the 2026 Asness Summit on Modern Conflict… Read More

April 1 marks the start of Autism Awareness Month, a time to increase understanding, celebrate autistic voices, and strengthen environments where neurodivergent people can thrive. At FCAI, our work focuses on practical, evidence-informed strategies that expand access, belonging, and opportunity across education and employment. We would like to take this… Read More

The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is thrilled to congratulate our internal partner, Neurodiverse Technologies, along with co-founders Jan Schlueter and Principal Investigator Dr. Nilanjan Sarkar, on receiving a $70,000 award through Vanderbilt’s Innovation Catalyst Fund. This significant funding will advance NAVIS (Advancement of Neurodivergent-Aware… Read More

Dr. Jessica Schonhut-Stasik is a research scientist in astrophysics, the Director of Communications for the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, and the CEO/President of The Neuroverse Initiative, a non-profit that works at the intersection of space science and neurodiversity. The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is proud to… Read More

We at FCAI are proud to announce the launch of the Neurotech Frontiers Incubation Program, a groundbreaking initiative developed in partnership with JANUS Innovation Hub. This six-month hybrid program will support early-stage startups building technology solutions that enhance the lives of autistic and neurodivergent individuals, their families, and… Read More