Nashville

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

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

All of our new 2026 interns on their first day at the center, on the left ASI lead Dave Caudel. This week, FCAI welcomed the newest cohort of students participating in our Autism Summer Internships (ASI). Through ASI, students gain meaningful, paid work experience with Vanderbilt and community partners while… Read More

WHAT IS THE STUDY? This study is by one of our own NISE fellows, Hari Srinivasan, and is taking place in person at the Wallace Lab on Vanderbilt Campus. The study is entitled: Virtual Bubbles, Real Insights. Investigating Peripersonal Space in Autism. A recent article by Vanderbilt Journalism Lab… Read More

Aspie Bootcamp: Python Course Instructor Myranda Shirk teaches the class on Zoom. Today marks the start of this year’s Aspie Bootcamp: Python, part of FCAI’s programming commitment to creating pathways for autistic and neurodivergent learners to build skills that support education and career goals. Over the course of the program,… Read More

The latest FCAI Salon Series recording is now available: The Educational Experience of Autistic Girls, featuring Dr. Brittney L. Goscicki (Lecturer, Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University). You can find the recording on the FCAI YouTube, our website, or embedded below. In this session, Dr. Goscicki shares research… Read More

On April 16, 2026, the FCAI Director of Communications, Dr. Jessica Schonhut-Stasik, participated in the Transition Fair as part of TransitionTN’s Virtual Transition Academy, “Building Futures: Empowering Every Student for College and Career Readiness.” Hosted by the Tennessee Department of Education in partnership with the Tennessee Technical Assistance… Read More

Headshots for Peabody College/Vanderbilt .UniversityPhotos by Joe Howell FCAI’s Salon Series continues this month with The Educational Experience of Autistic Girls with Dr. Brittney Goscicki. This session will explore what research and practice can teach us about supporting autistic girls in education, with attention to the ways gender and… 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

We’re thrilled to announce that applications are open for the 2026 Workplace Readiness and Preparation (WRaP) Program! This transformative three-week summer program is designed for students aged 15-20 on the autism spectrum who are ready to take the next step in their professional journey. About the Program: For seven years,… Read More