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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....
New toolkit available: Helping young autistic people set self-determined goals
Aug. 6, 2020—“Supporting Teens and Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Setting and Pursuing Self-Determined Goals” was produced through a collaborative effort of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC), its Treatment and Research Institute on Autism Spectrum Disorders (VKC TRIAD), and the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. This plain-language toolkit is designed to help parents and caregivers,...
Frist Center celebrates HOD intern Alex Lithgow
Apr. 27, 2020—This spring, the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation hosted its first-ever Human and Organizational Development (HOD) intern. Senior Alex Lithgow spent the semester working as the Communications & Advocacy Intern alongside Frist Center Communications Coordinator Claire Barnett. Lithgow attended HOD class on Mondays and spent Tuesday through Friday at the Frist Center, beginning in January....
Support autistic adults through Electronics Recycling Solutions
Dec. 4, 2019—The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation aims to support and empower adults with autism in the workforce through research and community partnerships. Electronics Recycling Solutions (ERS) is one of those local organizations putting the Frist Center’s principles into practice. Their business model “is designed to provide sustainable, long term employment for adults with autism...