Yesterday, the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, in collaboration with the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, hosted a Salon Series event featuring Dr. Jim Coleman, Professor of Biology at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
If you missed the live conversation, the recording is now available either below, on YouTube, or on our Salon Series page.
In the conversation, Dr. Coleman reflected on being diagnosed as autistic at age 59 and shared observations from decades in higher education leadership and the classroom. The discussion explored what meaningful support can look like for neurodivergent students across settings, and why institution-level “best practices” often break down in real classrooms.
Dr. Coleman also shared themes and stories from the narrative nonfiction book project Pathologically Genuine, including the “superpower and kryptonite” of being pathologically genuine, the concept of “unwelt,” stimming, loneliness, and the gap between research and the polished portrayals of autism that often circulate online.
Thank you to Dr. Jim Coleman for sharing his story with us!
Each month in the academic calendar the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation brings a FCAI Fellow and Affiliate to campus to lead a Salon Series. Keep an eye out for next months affiliate to be announced soon!