News

Autistic people are alarmingly under-represented in the American workforce; around 80 percent of autistic adults are un- or under-employed. So, when the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a program that would forge partnerships between public researchers and private companies, the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation saw an opportunity. A… Read More

At the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, we strongly believe that autistic people (and those with other types of neurodiversity) have valuable insights and skills to add to the workforce. An increasing number of companies around the globe have also begun to recognize the value of neurodiverse talent, and now… Read More

      The College Autism Network‘s annual College Inclusion Summit is just six weeks away, on Oct. 23, 24 and 25, 2019. This year’s Summit is being held right here at Vanderbilt University, and is co-hosted by the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. You can register… Read More

The Precisionists, Inc. (TPI) have a unique goal: to create 10,000 jobs for people with disabilities by the year 2025. The company is a national leader in the disability employment space, and a partner of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. In Nashville, TPI has worked closely with the… Read More

If you’re on the autism spectrum, being a college student is both uniquely rewarding and challenging. With that in mind, we’d like to share a few tips and resources. Whether you’re a Vanderbilt student or not, it’s important to remember that there are school resources at your disposal. Your college should… Read More

The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation has just announced its new membership program, which will allow Vanderbilt faculty and staff to apply to become affiliates or fellows of the Center. Frist Center literature. // Photo by Claire Barnett An affiliate can be any VU/VUMC faculty or staff member who has… Read More

In summer 2019, the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation held its first-ever Summer Autism Internship. Interns included a cohort of participants and their mentors – almost all of whom were on the autism spectrum. Their goal was to learn STEM skills and conduct research in support of the… Read More

The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is officially engineering technologies and transforming the workplace, inspired by neurodiversity. On Thurs., Jul. 25, the Frist Center held its Grand Opening. The private event was held in the Innovation Pavilion, on the first floor of the Engineering and Science Building. Frist Center… Read More

The National Science Foundation (NSF) received more than 800 idea submissions for the NSF 2026 Idea Machine competition. Entries were judged and 33 are still in the running for the grand prize, including our entry, NSF announces: we need YOU to help NSF determine which entries will advance… Read More

A support group for Neurotypical Women with life partners who have Asperger’s Syndrome, now a part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder, have announced regular meetings in the Nashville area. As many people on the spectrum struggle with social norms, neurotypical spouses of those individuals may struggle with an apparent lack of… Read More