News
“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....
Frist Center seeking applications for new fellows, affiliates
Oct. 26, 2020—The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation has just announced its 2020 call for membership, which allows Vanderbilt faculty and staff to apply to become affiliates or fellows of the Center. The work of current fellows and affiliates has resulted in multi-million-dollar grants and was recently highlighted nationally on CBS’s 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper. Frist...
Recruiting university faculty and TAs for autism training research
Oct. 19, 2020—A new research study is currently recruiting faculty members and teaching assistants at universities to test a short online training program on autism and universal design. The goal of the study is to improve university staff’s knowledge and attitudes towards autism and teach those staff members principles of universal design (i.e., making higher education environments accessible to all people,...
October 21st webinar to cover disclosure and self-advocacy
Oct. 16, 2020—We are excited to announce that the October Autistics’ Roundtable webinar will focus on disclosure and self-advocacy! Tune in on October 21st at 1pm (CT) to hear from five self-advocates about their experiences navigating disclosure in personal, academic, and professional settings. Our main speaker will be Autistic Self Advocacy Network Director of Operations Zoe Gross....
Clinicians – want to learn more about autism?
Sep. 21, 2020—More than a half million autistic individuals will turn 18 years old in the next decade. To meet their physical and mental healthcare needs, novel approaches to train and support community clinicians are essential. A new initiative is doing just that by recruiting primary-care clinicians who would like to learn more about the autistic adults they serve. This initiative...