News
“In A Different Key” Premieres December 13th
Nov. 28, 2022—We at the Frist Center are excited to support the release of a new PBS documentary, “In A Different Key.” Throughout the rest of November and into December, we will post great content about this upcoming premiere, the documentary, and the story it tells. Follow us on Instagram at @fcai.vanderbilt and Facebook for some sneak...
Frist Center Driver Training Project receives CIVIC Grant from NSF
Oct. 26, 2022—On October 17, The Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC) — a partnership between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) — announced 56 teams of civic and academic partners to be awarded Stage 1 Planning Grants of $50,000 to “support the strengthening of their partnerships and plans for ready-to-implement, research-based pilot...
NISE Fellow Hari Srinivasan Attends White House’s ADA Event
Oct. 7, 2022—Hari Srinivasan, Neurodiversity in Science and Engineering (NISE) Fellow, was invited to the White House on Wednesday, 28th September. The event celebrated the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which President Joe Biden co-sponsored as a bill in 1990. This Vanderbilt University neuroscience graduate student shook hands with the president twice and...
FCAI Associate Director Dave Caudel on Innovation Research Interchange Podcast
Sep. 19, 2022—Earlier this month, Frist Center Associate Director Dave Caudel was interviewed by the Innovation Research Interchange podcast, which aims to “cultivates resources for the innovation leaders”. Click here to listen!
Frist Center to Host 2022 Autism Summit – Register Today!
Aug. 27, 2022—The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is pleased to announce that this year’s College Autism Summit will be hosted at Vanderbilt University from 12th – 14th October. The College Autism Summit is organized by the College Autism Network, a collection of researchers, colleges, self-advocates, and other stakeholders engaged in evidence-guided efforts to improve access,...
Frist Center wins big NSF grant to support neurodiverse engineers
Aug. 4, 2022—The Vanderbilt School of Engineering’s Frist Center for Autism & Innovation, working in partnership with Fisk University, has won a $1.9 million grant from the National Science Foundation to create a system of programs to support neurodiverse students in engineering majors and careers. The Autism Self-advocacy Center for Equity and Neurodiversity in Engineering (A-SCENE) at...
Frist Center researchers publish study on depression and employment
Jul. 14, 2022—Two Frist Center Faculty Fellows, Drs. Jessica Schwartzman and Blythe Corbett, have published a new literature review on depression and employment outcomes in autism. The paper’s abstract is copied below and is available at this link. Abstract Autistic adults face elevated risks for depression and unemployment, yet a systematic review of studies on the intersection...
Now Hiring – Frist Center Partners with Mentra for Job Matching
Jul. 11, 2022—The Frist Center for Autism & Innovation is excited to announce its partnership with Mentra, a new online platform that assists neurodivergent individuals get quickly matched to job opportunities that are ideally suited to the individual’s needs and individual profile. Using this special link will take you to a signup form that has been custom...
Career Event for Neurodivergent Applicants
May. 18, 2022—Bank of America is hiring neurodivergent individuals and is currently seeking applicants for several positions. If interested, please apply to their virtual career event, June 13-17, to apply for one of these positions. Such openings are in a variety of locations, such as Atlanta, Ga.; Charlotte, NC; Pennington, NJ; Richardson, TX; Dallas, TX; Plano, TX;...
New Foothills Academy professional development for higher ed staff
May. 10, 2022—The College Autism Network announces the launch of a new professional webinar series called Foothills Academy. Foothills Academy webinars are professional development opportunities for higher education staff and faculty to explore practices and strategies to support autistic and other neurodivergent students. The first Foothills Academy webinar will be on June 1, 2022, at 2:30-4:00pm Central...
The Precisionists has 25 positions now in Nashville
Apr. 28, 2022—One of the Frist Center’s closest employment partners, The Precisionists Inc (TPI), is currently recruiting for neurodivergent talent in Nashville (they also have locations in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Ohio). TPI has 25 full-time job opportunities in downtown Nashville in Data and Business Analysis, Business Administration, Information Technology, Software Testing, and Software Engineering positions for...
Frist Center Scholar Awarded Prestigious Soros Fellowship
Apr. 13, 2022—Frist Center visiting scholar and autism self-advocate, Hari Srinivasan, has been awarded a prestigious graduate fellowship from the Paul and Daisy Soros Foundation’s Fellowship for New Americans. Hari first joined the Frist Center as the Center’s first Distinguished Visiting Scholar, while still an undergraduate at UC Berkeley. Now, Hari comes to Vanderbilt as a PhD...
Q&A with Deputy Director Tim Vogus on inclusive workplaces
Apr. 6, 2022—April marks Autism Awareness Month. In 2022, neurodiversity in the workplace is an issue capturing attention, as conversations on how to create more inclusive spaces for all continue among business leaders. Tim Vogus, deputy director of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation and the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr., Professor of Management at the Vanderbilt...
Support for Neurodiverse People in Ukraine
Mar. 19, 2022—The International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) has issued the following statement calling for humanitarian aid for neurodiverse people affected by the conflict in Ukraine. March 16, 2022 Translated Statement: Ukrainian | Russian | Polish In response to recurring conditions across the globe, INSAR stands with all people who need to escape oppressive conditions. We are concerned with families...
Frist Center partners with Mentra
Mar. 11, 2022—The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation has partnered with Mentra: “We’re on a mission to activate the neurodiverse workforce of tomorrow.” Mentra has an online platform that matches neurodiverse individuals with employers that value their strengths, helping to decode the complex world of navigating job offers and putting recruiters in front of candidates through...
Aspie Bootcamp: Python – registration for free, virtual summer program now open
Mar. 4, 2022—The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is pleased to announce the start of a new, virtual program this summer called Aspie Bootcamp: Python. This online course was created by and for autistic and neurodivergent folks who want to learn the basics of coding in the programming language Python, with an emphasis on how autistic...
Frist Center seeking applications for new fellows, affiliates
Feb. 7, 2022—The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation has announced its 2022 call for membership, which allows Vanderbilt faculty and staff to apply to become affiliates or fellows of the Center. The work of current fellows and affiliates has resulted in multi-million-dollar grants and was recently highlighted nationally on CBS’s 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper. Frist...
Autism Career Empowerment Resource Now Available
Feb. 1, 2022—In collaboration with the College Autism Network and the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center has released an online resource for career counselors working with autistic adults. Autism Career Empowerment (ACE) provides resources and training for college faculty and staff to provide autistic students with effective career counseling for employment success....
Autism Summer Internship application open for 2022
Jan. 21, 2022—This upcoming summer, the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation will hold its fourth annual Autism Summer Internship Program. This will include a cohort of research interns, all of whom are neurodivergent. This internship will focus on science and engineering (STEM) related projects. You may apply to be a research intern if you are currently...
Sign-ups open for summer 2022 Workforce Readiness and Prep (WRaP) camp
Jan. 21, 2022—Currey Ingram Academy is once again hosting a three-week program for students ages 15 – 20 who are on the autism spectrum. It is a collaboration between Currey Ingram Academy and the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. The Workforce Readiness and Preparation (WRaP) program uses a strengths-based approach to help young autistic people prepare for success in the...
Article: What Does It Mean to Be Neurodivergent?
Jan. 17, 2022—Shape recently published an article explaining the concept of neurodivergence, featuring experts including the associate director of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Dave Caudel. This article tackles the basics of neurodiversity, highlights the ongoing debates on “disability” versus “difference,” and the evolving views on culture, clinical, and professional landscapes...
Adult Participants with Autism sought for Social Skills Study
Jan. 7, 2022—The SENSE Lab is currently recruiting adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to be part of a study that examines an intervention, SENSE Theatre®, targeting improvement of social skills in adults with ASD. We are looking for 18-35-year-old men and women with ASD to join our study. Participation includes psychological testing (2-3 hours), social interaction...
Teen Support Group for anxiety/depression looking for applicants
Nov. 1, 2021—Clinicians at Vanderbilt University Medical Center are offering autism-adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) groups for teens with autism experiencing anxiety and/or depression. Eligible youth must be currently in middle school or high school and have an ASD diagnosis. To learn more, please review the flyer below. ASD_CBT_Clinical_Group_Flyer_ER
FCAI Honored with Prestigious Community Service Award
Sep. 22, 2021—It was announced Sept. 15 that Vanderbilt University’s Frist Center for Autism and Innovation (FCAI) was selected as the recipient of the 2021 Edward M. Kennedy Community Service Award, presented by the American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity (AAAED). Named after U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy—whose decades long political career championed for the healthcare...
Join us virtually for the College Autism Summit 2021 – deadline to register is October 22
Sep. 14, 2021—The College Autism Summit, sponsored by the College Autism Network, brings together scholars, practitioners, administrators, employers, and self-advocates to discuss evidence-driven strategies that help support college students with autism and related learning differences. Transition to college, experience while in college, and transition to employment and independent living are all areas of focus. The College Autism...
ECHO Autism Recruiting Primary Care Providers for 2021-2022
Sep. 8, 2021—ECHO Autism bridges the care gap between autism specialists, community health care providers, and people with autism. They are recruiting primary care providers seeking advice about autism, particularly those in rural or underserved communities without access to autism specialists. To learn more, please review the flyers below. Stamped-DoD Flyer VUMC-7-24-20 Stamped-Echo Autism Flyer VUMC-Long-7-24-20
Frist Center partners with employment group to build Jobs for the Neurodivergent
Jul. 1, 2021—Frist Center is announcing our partnership with Jobs for Humanity, an employment-based public benefit corporation working to bring historically underrepresented talent to welcoming employers, to produce a job board specifically for neurodivergent job seekers. The new website, Jobs for the Neurodivergent, is available at neurodivergent.jobs. Jobs for the Neurodivergent partners with various companies looking to...
NISE students Williams and Dunham receive Graduate School fellowships
Apr. 12, 2021—Two current participants in the Frist Center’s NISE (Neurodiversity-Inspired Science + Engineering Graduate Trainee Fellowship) program have earned a prestigious fellowship from the Vanderbilt Graduate School. The Frist Center for Autism & Innovation sponsors NISE through a National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) grant. The program takes a novel approach to the training of engineers and...
Register now for United Nations Autism Day virtual event on 4/8
Apr. 7, 2021—You can register now to attend the UN’s annual World Autism Awareness Day program at this link! It will take place on Thursday, April 8, from 9-10am Central Time (10-11am EST). The event, which is typically held in person at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, is virtual this year due to COVID-19....
Jobs for Humanity seeking volunteers for neurodiversity employment initiative
Apr. 2, 2021—The Frist Center for Autism & Innovation has partnered with Jobs for Humanity, a new web-based initiative promoted employment for underserved communities, to further empower neurodivergent adults in the workplace. Jobs for Humanity is planning to launch its “Jobs for the Neurodivergent” branch the week of April 19th, and they are seeking volunteers! In order...
Frist Center hosting full calendar of Autistic Pride Month events
Mar. 29, 2021—The Frist Center will be celebrating April as Autistic Pride Month by hosting a series of engaging webinars and panels. Here’s a brief overview of our upcoming events – there may be small changes to the further-out events, which we will update this article to reflect, so be sure to check back here for the...
Registration open for TN Disability Employment Awareness Luncheon on April 13th
Mar. 23, 2021—The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation believes that businesses which are inclusive of people with disabilities – in recruitment, retention, and advancement – benefit from a wider pool of talent, skills, and creative business solutions. With that in mind, the Frist Center is sponsoring Disability Rights Tennessee’s “Disability Employment Awareness Luncheon” (DEAL) on April...
March 30th Autistics’ Roundtable Webinar will address autism on screen
Mar. 22, 2021—The next Autistics’ Roundtable Webinar will be all about autism and disability in entertainment media! It will take place at 10am central time on Tuesday, 3/30. Anyone and everyone is invited to join, using this Zoom link at 10am (CST) on Tuesday. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from three autistic adults, including Frist Center...
EY looking to hire hundreds of neurodivergent employees
Mar. 8, 2021—Ernst & Young (EY) has made the exciting decision to add hundreds of neurodivergent employees to their staff over the next few years. They are specifically recruiting individuals with a background in technology, coding or data analysis. Applicants are being screened on a rolling basis, and interested parties are encouraged to apply now! EY’s Nashville...
Interest session for neurodivergent Vanderbilt employees, or employees with neurodivergent family/friends
Feb. 22, 2021—On Thursday February 25th at 5 p.m. CT, Vanderbilt’s Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion will be hosting a virtual interest session to propose starting a Neurodiversity Employee Affinity Group at Vanderbilt. Individuals who identify as neurodivergent, parents of neurodivergent individuals and anyone else who is interested in or impacted by this topic are welcome...
“This Moment in America” event to feature Frist staffer as panelist
Feb. 22, 2021—This week, Vanderbilt’s Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is hosting an event intended to gather minority perspectives on the present state of life in America. The event will feature a panel of diverse Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff, moderated by Dr. André L. Churchwell, the vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion and chief...
Tennessean op-ed on ableism in media, Sia’s “Music,” written by autistic advocate
Feb. 16, 2021—The Tennessean, a USA Today network newspaper, recently published an opinion article written by Frist Center communications coordinator Claire Barnett. The piece, titled “Disabled characters should be played by disabled actors | Opinion,” explains into the importance of disabled people having a first-person voice in their own media representation. Barnett, who is autistic and ADHD,...
Workforce Readiness and Preparation camp registration open for summer 2021
Feb. 12, 2021—This upcoming summer, the Currey Ingram Academy will be hosting a three-week program called Workforce Readiness and Preparation (WRaP) for autistic students age 15-20. Currey Ingram Academy and the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation initially collaborated to develop WRaP three years ago. The WRaP program exists to help students diagnosed with autism strengthen their...
February 18th webinar to cover autism & romantic relationships
Feb. 11, 2021—Another Autistics’ Roundtable Webinar is right around the corner! The February installment, which will take place at 11am central time on Thursday, 2/18, will focus on autistic adults and romantic relationships. Anyone and everyone is invited to use this Zoom link to join in. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from a relationship counselor...
Summer internship application open for 2021
Jan. 25, 2021—This upcoming summer, the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation will hold its third annual Summer Autism Internship Program. This will include a cohort of research interns and student volunteers, all of whom are neurodivergent. You may apply to be a research intern if you are currently completing or have just completed your bachelor’s degree. You may apply...
Register for December 16th webinar on Neurodiversity & mental health
Dec. 11, 2020—We are excited to announce that the December Autistics’ Roundtable webinar will focus on neurodiversity and mental health! Tune in on Wednesday, December 16th at 2pm (CT) to hear from an expert clinician and four self-advocates about their experiences with the unique mental health challenges faced by autistic adults. Our main speaker will be Dr....
Frist Center seeking applications for new fellows, affiliates
Oct. 26, 2020—The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation has just announced its 2020 call for membership, which allows Vanderbilt faculty and staff to apply to become affiliates or fellows of the Center. The work of current fellows and affiliates has resulted in multi-million-dollar grants and was recently highlighted nationally on CBS’s 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper. Frist...
Recruiting university faculty and TAs for autism training research
Oct. 19, 2020—A new research study is currently recruiting faculty members and teaching assistants at universities to test a short online training program on autism and universal design. The goal of the study is to improve university staff’s knowledge and attitudes towards autism and teach those staff members principles of universal design (i.e., making higher education environments accessible to all people,...
October 21st webinar to cover disclosure and self-advocacy
Oct. 16, 2020—We are excited to announce that the October Autistics’ Roundtable webinar will focus on disclosure and self-advocacy! Tune in on October 21st at 1pm (CT) to hear from five self-advocates about their experiences navigating disclosure in personal, academic, and professional settings. Our main speaker will be Autistic Self Advocacy Network Director of Operations Zoe Gross....
Clinicians – want to learn more about autism?
Sep. 21, 2020—More than a half million autistic individuals will turn 18 years old in the next decade. To meet their physical and mental healthcare needs, novel approaches to train and support community clinicians are essential. A new initiative is doing just that by recruiting primary-care clinicians who would like to learn more about the autistic adults they serve. This initiative...
September Autistic’s Roundtable Webinar now on YouTube
Sep. 17, 2020—Our September webinar is now available on YouTube! To view it, you can press play above, go to the Youtube link by clicking here, or access the link in our Instagram link tree. This Autistics’ Roundtable focuses on international perceptions of Autism, featuring speakers hailing from Denmark, China, Germany and the United States. The main speaker is Thorkil Sonne,...
Frist Center associate director added to Vanderbilt Diversity Council
Sep. 15, 2020—Dr. Dave Caudel has been invited to join Vanderbilt’s 2020-2021 University Diversity Council. He is the first-ever representative on this council from the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. The Diversity Council is made up of faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and postdocs. It is also charged with making periodic strategic recommendations to the interim chancellor...
Frist Center earns two large NSF grants to promote neurodiverse employment
Sep. 15, 2020—The National Science Foundation has awarded two highly competitive grants to Vanderbilt’s team working at the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. The first is a $5 million award that greatly expands a School of Engineering-led project for creating novel AI technology and tools and platforms that train and support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the...
Upcoming Autistics’ Roundtable Webinar: International perceptions of autism
Sep. 8, 2020—Join the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation on Monday, Sept. 14th at noon for the next Autistics’ Roundtable Webinar. The September installment will be focused on international perceptions of autism. The main speaker will be Thorkil Sonne, a family member advocate and the founder of Specialisterne. Sonne will be joining us from his home country...
August “Autistics’ Rountable” Webinar on YouTube
Sep. 2, 2020—The latest Autistics’ Roundtable Webinar is up on YouTube! It can be viewed at this link, or by clicking the play button above. It was filmed on Thursday, Aug. 13 from 2pm to 3pm (central time). The topic is how self-employment and entrepreneurship can be successful options for adults on the spectrum. The featured speaker is Dr....