Self-Advocacy

On August 5, 2026, higher education, industry, and practitioner leaders will gather at Northeastern University in Boston for the 3rd Annual Northeast Regional Neurodiversity Coalition Conference. Hosted by the Northeastern Regional Neurodiversity Coalition (NRNC) in partnership with Northeastern University, the University of Rhode Island, and UConn,… 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

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

In April, our Director of Communications Dr. Jessica Schonhut Stasik, was featured as a guest on The Anxious Achiever podcast with Morra Aarons-Mele. In the episode, Dr. Schonhut Stasik reflects on what it can take to build a meaningful, sustainable career when your brain does not align with the… 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

Every campus should aspire to be inclusive of the students it enrolls, and the College Autism Network’s new Autism-Inclusive Campus project recognizes and celebrates campuses that make neuroinclusion a campus-wide priority. Through this initiative, the College Autism Network’s consulting team helps colleges and universities identify, assess,… Read More

A new Tennessee-based partnership is launching what organizers believe is the first structured workforce pathway for neurodivergent adults to become Virtual Driving Readiness Instructors, using advanced driving simulation to help learners build confidence and skills before transitioning to on-road instruction. The initiative brings together assistive technology developers, university researchers,… Read More

On May 19, three Frist Center for Autism and Innovation (FCAI) staff members will speak at Neurotech Frontiers Summit 2026: Where Innovation Meets Neurodiversity, a one-day event bringing together innovators, researchers, founders, clinicians, and advocates working at the intersection of emerging technology and neurodiversity. This convening builds on our October… 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