News
New Foothills Academy professional development for higher ed staff
May. 10, 2022—The College Autism Network announces the launch of a new professional webinar series called Foothills Academy. Foothills Academy webinars are professional development opportunities for higher education staff and faculty to explore practices and strategies to support autistic and other neurodivergent students. The first Foothills Academy webinar will be on June 1, 2022, at 2:30-4:00pm Central...
The Precisionists has 25 positions now in Nashville
Apr. 28, 2022—One of the Frist Center’s closest employment partners, The Precisionists Inc (TPI), is currently recruiting for neurodivergent talent in Nashville (they also have locations in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Ohio). TPI has 25 full-time job opportunities in downtown Nashville in Data and Business Analysis, Business Administration, Information Technology, Software Testing, and Software Engineering positions for...
Frist Center Scholar Awarded Prestigious Soros Fellowship
Apr. 13, 2022—Frist Center visiting scholar and autism self-advocate, Hari Srinivasan, has been awarded a prestigious graduate fellowship from the Paul and Daisy Soros Foundation’s Fellowship for New Americans. Hari first joined the Frist Center as the Center’s first Distinguished Visiting Scholar, while still an undergraduate at UC Berkeley. Now, Hari comes to Vanderbilt as a PhD...
Support for Neurodiverse People in Ukraine
Mar. 19, 2022—The International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) has issued the following statement calling for humanitarian aid for neurodiverse people affected by the conflict in Ukraine. March 16, 2022 Translated Statement: Ukrainian | Russian | Polish In response to recurring conditions across the globe, INSAR stands with all people who need to escape oppressive conditions. We are concerned with families...
Frist Center partners with Mentra
Mar. 11, 2022—The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation has partnered with Mentra: “We’re on a mission to activate the neurodiverse workforce of tomorrow.” Mentra has an online platform that matches neurodiverse individuals with employers that value their strengths, helping to decode the complex world of navigating job offers and putting recruiters in front of candidates through...
Autism Career Empowerment Resource Now Available
Feb. 1, 2022—In collaboration with the College Autism Network and the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center has released an online resource for career counselors working with autistic adults. Autism Career Empowerment (ACE) provides resources and training for college faculty and staff to provide autistic students with effective career counseling for employment success....
Autism Summer Internship application open for 2022
Jan. 21, 2022—This upcoming summer, the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation will hold its fourth annual Autism Summer Internship Program. This will include a cohort of research interns, all of whom are neurodivergent. This internship will focus on science and engineering (STEM) related projects. You may apply to be a research intern if you are currently...
Sign-ups open for summer 2022 Workforce Readiness and Prep (WRaP) camp
Jan. 21, 2022—Currey Ingram Academy is once again hosting a three-week program for students ages 15 – 20 who are on the autism spectrum. It is a collaboration between Currey Ingram Academy and the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. The Workforce Readiness and Preparation (WRaP) program uses a strengths-based approach to help young autistic people prepare for success in the...
Article: What Does It Mean to Be Neurodivergent?
Jan. 17, 2022—Shape recently published an article explaining the concept of neurodivergence, featuring experts including the associate director of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Dave Caudel. This article tackles the basics of neurodiversity, highlights the ongoing debates on “disability” versus “difference,” and the evolving views on culture, clinical, and professional landscapes...
Adult Participants with Autism sought for Social Skills Study
Jan. 7, 2022—The SENSE Lab is currently recruiting adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to be part of a study that examines an intervention, SENSE Theatre®, targeting improvement of social skills in adults with ASD. We are looking for 18-35-year-old men and women with ASD to join our study. Participation includes psychological testing (2-3 hours), social interaction...