Staff
FCAI Program and Communications Manager Speaking at SciAccess 2024; FCAI, Disability Research, and Upcoming Non-Profit
May. 6, 2024—On May 10-11th, 2024, we are thrilled to announce that FCAI Program and Communications Manager Jessica Schonhut-Stasik will deliver multiple talks at the free, virtual SciAccess conference. Jessica, along with an array of incredible speakers at the intersection of disability and STEM, will provide three unique talks outlined below. Registration is free and available at the...
FCAI Partner Jobs for Humanity Releases Impact Report; Work Supported by Associate Director Dave Caudel
Apr. 27, 2024—The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is proud to partner with Jobs for Humanity. This organization supports inclusive hiring practices for individuals from underrepresented groups, including those on the autism spectrum. Jobs for Humanity has recently unveiled an inspiring impact reportshowcasing their remarkable achievements over the past three years. The report highlights the significant...
FCAI Associate Director Dave Caudel Discusses the Strengths and Challenges of Neurodiversity in New Talk
Mar. 30, 2024—Last week, FCAI Associate Director Dave Caudel spoke for a Disability @ Work session hosted by the UNC Charlotte Career Center. Caudel discussed the strengths and challenges of neurodiversity, and these undeserved and underutilized members of our society. You can view the video below or on YouTube here. Every spring, the UNC Career Center offers programming...
FCAI Director Keivan Stassun Interviewed for The Special Needs Voice Podcast
Feb. 23, 2024—Our director, Keivan Stassun, was interviewed for the latest Special Needs Voices Podcast episode. You can listen by searching on the Spotify app or at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/show/6hmcBoR4vMaqFq4Kefpz6D In this episode, Keivan “will be speaking about topics such as his childhood and how it affected his career progression, his son with Autism that inspired...
FCAI Associate Director and Program Manager Speak at OCALICONLINE 2023
Nov. 30, 2023—On November 16th, FCAI Associate Director Dave Caudel and Program and Communications Manager Jessica Schonhut-Stasik spoke at the 2023 OCALICONLINE Autism and Disabilities Conference about the programs and opportunities available at the Frist Center. OCALICONLINE is run by OCALI who are “a model agency for inspiring change and promoting access for people with disabilities. But...
FCAI Program and Communications Manager Speaks at the International Forum on Research Excellence
Nov. 11, 2023—On Saturday, 11th November, First Center for Autism and Innovation Program and Communications Manager Jessica Schonhut-Stasik spoke at the 2nd Annual International Forum on Research Excellence in Long Beach, California. The session Jessica led opened with a talk about Neurodiversity in STEM: How Great Supports Lead to Great Endeavors, where Jessica told her own story...
FCAI Director and Floreo CEO Present at The Tennessee Enabling Technologies Summit
Nov. 10, 2023—On Thursday November 9th, Frist Center for Autism and Innovation Director, Keivan Stassun, and Floreo CEO Vijay Ravindran, presented at The Tennessee Enabling Technologies Summit, giving a presentation called Advancing Independence and Employment with Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence Technologies. Stassun and Ravindran spoke alongside others from the Tennessee tech sector to discuss various topics in...
WEBINAR ANNOUNCEMENT: INDK Filmmakers Meeting to Discuss New Educational Tool
Nov. 7, 2023—The Frist Center team are so excited to announce our November Webinar. The team from “In A Different Key” the movie, will be joining us to discuss their new toolkit, designed to support understanding around autism. The In A Different Key movie is available on PBS for free, and the toolkit contains discussion booklets and...
College Autism Summit Returns to Nashville for Biggest Summit Yet!
Oct. 30, 2023—Exhibitors filled the Student Life Center ballroom with excitement and buzz. The College Autism Network returned this year to Vanderbilt University’s Student Life Center for the largest summit yet, the 7th College Autism Summit, with the theme ‘Finding a Balance.’ The College Autism Summit gathers nationwide educators, researchers, advocates, and other professionals together to discuss tensions and opportunities...
FCAI Director, Visiting Fellow and Program Manager Speak at Neurowrx Conference
Oct. 30, 2023—Last week, FCAI Director Keivan Stassun, Program and Communications Manager Jessica Schonhut-Stasik, and Visiting Fellow Judy Reilly spoke at the 3rd International Gathering for Neurowrx, hosted by Aspiritech. Neurowrx is a global alliance of corporations, non-profit organizations, and individuals working together to foster and inspire employment for people on the autism spectrum in science, technology, engineering, arts,...