Vanderbilt University Frist Center for Autism and Innovation

Save the date: Aug. 5, 2026 in Boston.

The Northeast Regional Neurodiversity Coalition Conference (NRNC) brings together higher ed, employers, and practitioners to share practical strategies for more inclusive learning and workplaces.

FCAI is proud to amplify this event because A-SCENE partner institutions are involved and the agenda aligns with the education-to-employment pathway.

Conference info and registration: https://nehenc-conference.sites.northeastern.edu/

Read about A-SCENE: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/autismandinnovation/a-scene/

Welcome to campus, ASI interns!

This week, FCAI welcomed our Autism Summer Internships students for the start of their summer experience. We are excited to see what this cohort accomplishes.

Learn more: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/autismandinnovation/self-advocates-and-civil-stakeholders/outputs-self-advocates-and-civic-stakeholders/student-programs/autism-summer-internships-asi/

📣 RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED 📣

🧪 WHAT IS THE STUDY?
This study is by one of our own NISE fellows, Hari Srinivasan, and is taking place in person at the Wallace Lab on Vanderbilt Campus.

The study is entitled: Virtual Bubbles, Real Insights. Investigating Peripersonal Space in Autism.

A recent article by Vanderbilt Journalism Lab about this research can be found at the this link: https://lnkd.in/dB_nT3am

⁉️ ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
📅 Adults aged +18
🧠 Autistic and non-autistic participants required
👀 Normal hearing and vision (corrected-to-normal sufficient)

The study asks participants to undertake simple tasks in virtual reality and answer questionnaires.

🤝 GET INVOLVED

If you are interested in participating please schedule a 90 minute visit at the following link: https://lnkd.in/dqwifWyR or using the button below.

For more information about the study, please reach out to Hari Srinivasan, PhD Candidate in Neuroscience, Wallace Lab, Vanderbilt University at [email protected]

FCAI is proud to be a partner of our first Neurotech Frontiers event on the West Coast, May 19, 2026 at San Diego State University.

Three FCAI staff members will be attending to speak on their expertise, learn, connect, and share our work on inclusive and assistive technology. Come say hi to Keivan, Jess, and Dave!

Get tickets: https://ow.ly/EaPu50YXMax

🎉 Proud to be part of Vanderbilt’s National Security Week conversations on how neurodivergent talent can strengthen national security.

🔒 FCAI joined Vanderbilt’s Institute of National Security and the Neurodynamic Network to convene leaders across government, academia, and industry to discuss workforce design, hiring, and support systems that can better align with the cognitive demands of modern conflict.

🏔️ Learn more about the summit: https://ow.ly/OHep50YXL7x
🕸️ Learn more about the Neurodynamic Network: https://ow.ly/Tfxc50YXL7y

🎉 In April, our Director of Communications, Dr. Jessica Schonhut Stasik, was featured on The Anxious Achiever with Morra Aarons-Mele.

🎙️ In the episode, Dr. Schonhut Stasik talks about late-diagnosed autism and ADHD, burnout, and what it can look like to build a career that fits how a brain works, rather than forcing oneself to fit systems that were not designed with neurodiversity in mind.

Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF-N0wAoZuQ&list=PLb3J-NAyOBZC7T7lhw9g0o-M9nLOl4HRa&index=9

Listen to other staff featured podcasts here: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/autismandinnovation/podcasts/

Now available: the latest FCAI Salon Series recording — The Educational Experience of Autistic Girls with Dr. Brittney L. Goscicki.

We cover camouflaging and masking, as well as practical ways to support autistic girls in education using neuro-affirming approaches.

Thank you to Dr. Olivia A. Greene for joining as a self-advocate and sharing her perspectives.

Watch the recording here: https://ow.ly/gbQZ50YSxoA
Read more about the event here: https://ow.ly/tCy350YSxoC

📣 Thank you to TransitionTN, TN‑TAN, and the Tennessee Department of Education for a great Virtual Transition Academy + Transition Fair on April 16.

🤝 FCAI was glad to join with a virtual booth, share resources, and connect with transition professionals and educators supporting students with disabilities.

❤️ We appreciate everyone who stopped by to chat. You can read more about our experience here: https://ow.ly/Wzzb50YSuX9

Happening at Noon today. Register for online or in person attendance here: https://vanderbilt.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nm8CjGZCSZGbkBBkH_1MDg

👀 Join us for this month’s FCAI Salon Series: “The Educational Experience of Autistic Girls” with Brittney L. Goscicki (Vanderbilt University).

👏 Dr. Brittney Goscicki will discuss how gender and disability can shape autistic students’ educational experiences, and what educators and communities can do to better support autistic girls.

🖋️ Register for in person or virtual attendance, here: https://ow.ly/FQSL50YIn4M

📅 Monday, April 27
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM CT
📍 Hybrid (OMC, Vanderbilt and Zoom)
Abstract coming soon

🎉 As we move from awareness to action this month, we are highlighting partners creating real employment pathways for autistic people. 🎉

💻 Aspiritech is a tech services company that empowers individuals on the autism spectrum through meaningful employment and community. Their work spans accessibility testing, AI and LLM building, cybersecurity, and more.

📣 We asked Aspiritech's Tara May what she was most excited about right now, she said: "We are especially excited about the continued growth of Aspiritech Academy, which has expanded to support 200+ autistic jobseekers with certification and career readiness skills." We can't wait to hear more!

Learn more about Aspiritech here: https://ow.ly/fz2450YK2pI
See upcoming events at Aspiritech: https://ow.ly/YBNu50YK2pF