自慰视频

>

Partners

Who Are You?

Our Scope

Partners

The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is working with major local, national, and international partners. Here we provide information and links to our Employment Assessment and Referral partners, High School and College Pipeline partners, Major Area Employer partners, and Community partners. We also partner to support start-up ventures, these companies are included on this page but you can also learn about them听here.

Partners that display the "start-up support" icon in their bio have received direct support from the Frist Center at some point in their neuroinclusion journey.

News From Our Partners

Employment Assessment & Referral

We partner with employment assessment and referral organizations to connect neurodivergent candidates to strengths-based career pathways. These partners help reduce barriers to employment by supporting matching, preparation, accommodations, and sustained success in the workplace.

  • Goodwill

    In 2022, served over 2.1 million individuals worldwide and helped more than 128,998 people train for careers in industries such as banking, IT and health care, to name a few, and get the supportive services they needed to be successful, such as English language training, additional education, and access to transportation and child care.

    Goodwill works to enhance people鈥檚 dignity and quality of life by strengthening their communities, eliminating their barriers to opportunity, and helping them reach their full potential through learning and the power of work.

    听

  • Ernst & Young

    (EY) is a global professional services firm, offering accounting, consulting and more. In 2016, EY opened its first Neurodiversity Center of Excellence (CoE) in Philadelphia. Additional Centers have since been opened in Dallas, Chicago, San Jose and Nashville. EY is currently seeking full-time employees for opportunities in their Neurodiversity Centers of Excellence. For more information, contact April Smith at听april.smith@ey.com.

  • Jobs for Humanity

    According to their听, Jobs for Humanity 鈥減aves the way to a fairer future for all by connecting historically underrepresented talent to welcoming employers.鈥� In addition to serving members of the neurodivergent workforce, the organization also facilitates job searches for people with blindness and low vision, refugees, Black leaders, single mothers, and the formerly incarcerated. Visit their website to听, or email听contact@jobsforhumanity.com听to ask for more information on how you can become involved.

  • Mentra

    is a neurodivergent-friendly talent platform that intelligently matches neurodiverse individuals with employers that value their strengths. Mentra puts recruiters in front of candidates rather than forcing them to navigate through the challenging process of finding a job. How? Through humantistic AI and community-driven design.

  • The Precisionists Inc.

    is a national company focused on creating 10,000 jobs for people with disabilities by the year 2025, by providing industry best practices for delivering administrative and technology services performed through teams which include individuals with disabilities. TPI has established a satellite office in Nashville to work with the Frist Center听for Autism and Innovation as part of demonstrating the听Nashville Model. Specifically, TPI will assist with job placement opportunities and workplace accommodations for individuals identified through the Frist Center听for Autism and Innovation high school and college pipeline partners (see below). The Precisionists were also featured in an article by Lehigh Business, which can be听. To learn more about job opportunities through TPI, complete听 (link broken, fix in progress, in the meantime please reach out to jessica.s.stasik@vanderbilt.edu to be connected).

  • SourceAbled

    Rangam is a minority woman, disability-owned global workforce solutions company. Their philosophy of 鈥渆mpathy drives innovation鈥� influences everything they do. They specialize in attracting and retaining global talent for Engineering, Scientific, Clinical, Healthcare, Administrative, Finance, IT, and other employment categories.

    is Rangam鈥檚 hiring program for talent with disabilities and/or neurodivergence, including autism. The SourceAbled team prides itself in that it mirrors the talent population. Many of their own employees are autistic, neurodivergent, have a disability, or have a direct, personal connection to those communities. 鈥淲e understand our talent community 鈥� because we are part of the community.鈥�

    For more information, please contact Dave Kearon at听dave@rangam.com.

  • Specialisterne, USA

    , a Danish company and social innovator, utilizes employees on the Autism Spectral Disorder (ASD), giving them a competitive advantage in business. Management and staff create a working environment adapted to the special needs of people with ASD to harness their talents. Today, out of more than 50 employees, approximately 75% are diagnosed on the autism spectrum. The Frist Center听for Autism and Innovation is working with Specialisterne to develop new听psychometrics听specially designed to assess the unique capabilities of autistic individuals for appropriate听job placement.

Workplace Program Consultancy

We collaborate with workplace program and consultancy partners to help employers build neuroinclusive hiring, onboarding, and retention practices. Together, we strengthen organizational culture and equip leaders and teams with training and tools that support long-term inclusion.

  • AllianceBernstein

    At , we鈥檙e fostering a culture of diverse perspectives and innovation to help advance our clients鈥� success. And we're doing it responsibly鈥攂oth in how we act and how we invest on behalf of our clients.

  • Potentia

    Employers are experiencing unprecedented turnover, lack of engagement, and acute workforce retention challenges. delivers solutions to those challenges through STARS, our Neurodiversity training and recruitment program, and EMPOWER, our workforce engagement and retention program.

    With turnover and job vacancies at nationwide highs, there鈥檚 never been a better time to connect with your workforce and bridge these gaps.

    Potentia is that bridge.

  • iSocial

    is a nationally known powerhouse of university researchers, professional practitioners, and top business executives. All are committed to radically improving the lives of the neurodiverse. iSocial uses Zoom to deliver the most impactful social and IT career skills development workshops for people in this important and under-supported population. Madeline from IBM said, 鈥渋Social is a life changer!鈥� Effectiveness is based on over 8 years of university research, 1,000 subjects with 17 peer reviewed technical articles proving efficacy. Here is a link to a technical description of iSocial and the research that supports their services:

    The program includes comprehensive social and life skills development workshops. Registrations are on both a corporate and an individual basis. Six cohorts are teamed in Zoom workshop sessions. Workshops are tailored to cohorts matched by common goals, abilities, careers, and interests.

    The iSocial and life skills workshops include the programs described below. These workshops are also available as a semester elective for college bound and college curious students. Attendees include people with basic needs as well as managers from IBM, Mercy Health, the US Air Force and more.

    1. Social Life Workshop is a foundational social skills program.
    2. Professional Communications and Leadership Skills Workshop develops higher level social and life skills. Here is a link to a description:
    3. Information Technology career development workshops for the neurodiverse. Participants in these live, virtual programs benefit from a mainstream IT career development path designed for neurodiverse learners.
      • Certification for IT careers through Cisco, Microsoft, IBM, HP, AWS and more.
      • Courses are conducted exclusively for neurodiverse students and taught by technology professionals who are skilled at teaching the neurodiverse.
      • Entry level as well as expert level courses available.
      • This program is the result of iSocial teaming with Skillsoft/Global Knowledge, the world鈥檚 largest and most trusted IT education company.

    For more information contact Bob Etzel: betzel@isocl.net

    听

  • Link OT

    is the first ever neurodiversity consultancy service that utilizes evidence-based medical frameworks to get inside the psychology of what it means to think, process, interact, and self-regulate differently, resulting in neuro-inclusive recruitment, hiring, onboarding, integration and retention practices. What makes Link OT different from other neurodiversity consultancies:

    1. Team: Link OT utilize board certified Occupational Therapists and Speech Language Pathologists with decades of experience working with neurodistinct clients to provide employee and employer-facing services.
    2. 鈥淣othing about us without us:鈥� Link OT relies on the expertise of our neurodistinct senior advisors who tout deep corporate experience to help design and then implement their services.
    3. Consulting model: Link OT creates neuro-inclusive recruitment, hiring, integration, and retention practices from the inside out. This means they use the guidance and direction of employees and ERG鈥檚 with the messaging and support of senior leaders to create a metrics-based and impactful training focused on managers, who are instrumental to employee success at any organization.

Non-Profits & Foundations

We work with non-profits and foundations to expand community support, increase access to services, and amplify opportunities for neurodivergent individuals and their families. These collaborations strengthen advocacy and create pathways for connection, belonging, and impact.

  • AbleVoices

    is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, social impact organization that teaches photography to youth and adults with disabilities as a means for self-expression, empowerment, and advocacy. Our foundational program is the Photography for Self-Expression course that is taught in schools, community organizations, and virtually. The ultimate goal of Photography for Self-Expression is to teach individuals to create photographs that communicate their interests, preferences and strengths, as well as foster the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in their communities. The culminating activity of the Photography for Self-Expression course is to display participant photographs in a public gallery so family, friends, and the community can view the photos and learn about the perspective of individuals experiencing disability.

  • Friendship Foundation

    supports parents and families who have children and young adults with special needs by providing a safe, accepting and inclusive environment where they can enjoy sports, art, music and many other social programs with their peers. Our friendly staff and helpful volunteers create a fun experience for all. It is our belief that every person is precious and capable of love, connection and friendship.

    Programs are targeted to specific age groups while some encompass a broad gathering of all ages including parents.At each program, children with special needs are paired with student volunteers for an event full of fun peer interaction. The Friendship Foundation serves to augment our local educational systems and professional therapies by creating a natural setting for individuals with special needs to practice their learned skills amongst their peers.

  • The Neuroverse Initiative

    is a 501(c)3 non-profit working at the intersection of space science and neurodiversity. Mission Statement: At TNI, we are committed to advancing neuroinclusion in Space Science through Training, Research, and Advocacy. We believe that the Space Sciences should be accessible to all and that a diversity of minds will only accelerate our discovery and understanding of the Universe. TNI have three scopes of work:

    Training: TNI is committed to training students, faculty, and all members of the Space Science community in neuroinclusive practices by providing education on neurodiversity, promoting understanding and acceptance. Through workshops, seminars, and resources, the initiative aims to foster a supportive and inclusive community for individuals with diverse neurological profiles.

    Research: TNI aims to improve our understanding of the ND population and their experiences and impact in the Space Sciences through peer-reviewed research. TNI conduct studies, gather data, and publish findings that contribute to the body of knowledge surrounding neurodiversity in the field. This research serves to increase awareness, inform best practices, and promote inclusivity for individuals with diverse neurological profiles within the Space Science community.

    Advocacy: TNI is dedicated to improving the world for the ND community within the Space Science field by conducting outreach programs, promoting education, and advocating for inclusivity. TNI's efforts focus on raising awareness, providing educational resources, and advocating for policies that support individuals with diverse neurological profiles, ultimately striving to create a more inclusive and supportive environment within the Space Science community.

    听

Research & Development

We partner with research and development organizations to advance innovative, evidence-based supports for neurodivergent individuals. These collaborations accelerate new tools, programs, and approaches that improve learning, communication, and quality of life.

  • Floreo

    leverages the power of Virtual Reality to deliver a supplementary method of teaching social and communication skills for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Our library of science-based lessons is fun and engaging for the learner, and also provides a supervising adult the opportunity to monitor and track the learner鈥檚 progress. Floreo is currently being used by schools, therapy practices, and parents.

  • TACT

    (Teaching the Autism Community Trades) is an innovative and groundbreaking non-profit teaching skilled trade and technical skills to neurodistinct autistic youth and adults who aim to mitigate the historical 90% unemployment rate for this community. As the most successful transition to employment workforce development program in Colorado, TACT is leading the way to a more inclusive future placing hundreds of grads into careers with fully integrated gainful employment.

  • The Uniquely Abled Project

    The enables those with autism to start meaningful careers while filling a major need for employers. Our main program is the Uniquely Abled Academy model, with the vital role of providing skilled capable workers to fill critical vacancies in the manufacturing industry. Hosted by community colleges in partnership with autism experts and state and local service agencies, this education model provides an intensive semester of technical and professional training followed by job placement and ongoing support for both graduates and employers. To date the program has been free for students, and the placement rate for our over 100 graduates is close to 100%. A career as a CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) manufacturing machine operator is an excellent fit for those with level 1 autism who like working with their hands.

    If you are interested in establishing a local Uniquely Abled Academy, the UAP will provide information, materials and organizational support. Please contact Ivan Rosenberg at IRosenberg@UniquelyAbledProject.org

High School & College Pipeline

The Frist Center鈥檚 pipeline partners help create clear transitions from school to postsecondary education and employment for neurodivergent students. Together, we support skill-building, planning, and access to opportunities that align with students鈥� strengths and goals.

  • Benton Hall Academy

    is a Nashville school that specializes in educating high school, middle school, and lower school students that may struggle academically or socially in traditional schools. Approximately 30% of their students are on the autism spectrum. In addition to providing neuro-diverse students an education, the school also works to help them transition to college or a job after they graduate, adding the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation as another pathway for their students鈥� future.

  • Currey Ingram Academy

    The mission of 听is to provide an exemplary K-12 day school program that empowers students with learning differences to achieve their fullest potential. The school delivers on this mission by providing:

    • small classes
    • evidence-based instruction
    • individualized learning plans for each student
    • strong arts, athletics and extracurricular activities
    • speech-language and academic occupational therapies
    • character education and social coaching
    • personalized college preparation and counseling
    • parent, community and professional education opportunities

Incubator

The Frist Center partners with incubators to support innovative ventures that advance neuroinclusion and expand opportunity. These collaborations help ideas grow into sustainable programs, products, and services with real-world impact.

  • Janus Innovation Hub

    听

    Where bold ideas take root, is dedicated to empowering first-generation immigrant entrepreneurs by providing the mentorship, resources, and network needed to turn ambitious ideas into successful ventures. Through collaboration, strategic partnerships, and a strong community, we create opportunities for innovators to navigate challenges, scale their businesses, and make a lasting impact. Our mission is to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, fostering a thriving ecosystem where entrepreneurs can connect, grow, and succeed.

Major Employers

We collaborate with major employers committed to building neuroinclusive workplaces and expanding employment opportunities. These partnerships create pathways to meaningful work while helping organizations recognize and leverage the strengths of neurodivergent talent.

  • UBS

    With a 150-year history and a network of offices in over 50 countries on five continents, has extensive experience managing the wealth of high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals. This includes helping to protect global financial systems, meeting the regulatory guidelines and recommendations through a global, regional and structural approach. Their BCM program, which considers various levels and types of disruptions that might affect a building, business district, city or a wide-scale condition within a region or multiple regions, is constantly expanded as new information, techniques, and technologies become available. UBS is the first major Nashville employer to hire autistic individuals, the first of whom have joined the UBS Surveillance team.

  • Auticon

    Business analytics, test automation and complex software development projects are becoming increasingly important as digitization progresses. Precision and lateral thinking is required in IT departments. This is where auticon鈥檚 exceptional employees come in: they are all on the autism spectrum who have outstanding cognitive strengths.

    believes people with autism are an asset to any team. Special talents in logic, detail and pattern recognition are typical for many people with autism as well as enormous concentration and a pronounced interest in IT, physics, mathematics and technology. Autists can thus make a significant contribution to outstanding performance quality in the areas of IT and compliance.

  • Aspiritech

    is a world-class QA testing company that empowers individuals on the autism spectrum to fulfill their potential through meaningful employment combined with social opportunity. Brenda and Moshe Weitzberg founded Aspiritech in 2008 with the dream of finding suitable employment for their adult son Oran. Oran is a college educated, kind, capable person on the Autism spectrum, who had difficulties finding work that suited his talents. After researching a company in Denmark that employed adults doing software QA testing, Moshe and Brenda had their answer. From a kitchen table start-up, Aspiritech now has 120+ employees in two locations and is growing everyday.

Local Community

The Frist Center works with local community partners to build networks of support, resources, and belonging for neurodivergent individuals and their families. These collaborations strengthen regional capacity through education, advocacy, and connection to services.

  • Autism Tennessee

    exists to enrich the lives and experiences of individuals on the autism spectrum, their families, and their surrounding community through support, advocacy and education.

    Autism Tennessee advocate for the needs of Autistic people, their families, and their networks. We amplify the experiences of multiply-marginalized Autistic people by embracing intersectionality and acknowledging the systemic ways oppression excludes many neurodivergent perspectives. They celebrate Autistic culture by enthusiastically centering Autistic communication, thinking, feeling, and ways of being. We recognize the Autistic neurotype as a natural variation within human neurodiversity.听

  • All Access Inclusion Network (AAIN)

    The mission of the is to promote awareness, accessibility and inclusion of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families by building capacity throughout a community network of arts, education, athletic, and entertainment organizations.

    AAIN are focused on true inclusion, which means creating meaningful experiences and opportunities to belong through participation in programs and representation within the organization. They exclusively recommend supports that are research-based rather than supports designed to allow for individuals to tolerate environments without allowing for meaningful participation.

    For information about AAIN, please reach out to Blaire Donnelly-Mason at: blaire.donnelly-mason@vumc.org

  • Chattanooga Autism Center

    The (CAC) has a 鈥渞esource hub鈥� to help people find services and resources in the region that are the most commonly asked options by autistic individuals, parents, educators, professionals, and others in the community. You can scan the categories on the webpage and click on the blue headings to find details and contact information. The resources are located in East TN, North Georgia, and beyond. This much information can be overwhelming for some, and many people are not sure where to start. The CAC can help provide some guidance and direction by calling the CAC at 423-531-6961 opt 0 or email them at info@chattanoogaautismcenter.org

    Visit their resource hub at:

  • National Autism Peer Support (Nashville)

    : We are a community of people with autism. All our board members, volunteers, and director have autism. We are here to provide a community of those with autism 鈥� profession or self diagnosed.

    Mission: To provide a safe place for individuals with autism and their support networks to find resources, acceptance, and understanding while working to educate the community to increase awareness.

    Vision: For every individual with autism to be accepted for who they are and for the public to be educated on autism.

  • Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging

    The (DDA) is the state agency responsible for the oversight of services and support for people with disabilities and adults aged 60 and over. The department partners with people, families, community-based providers, advocates, and others to ensure people are supported to live the lives they envision for themselves.

    DDA provides services and supports to both children and adults in a variety of ways.

    Supports for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities:

    For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, these include supports through the Home and Community Based Waivers, the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), the Katie Beckett Program, the Family Support Program, and other programs. It aims to provide an array of services that support people and families to reach their optimal development and prepare them for independence, employment, and community engagement.

  • Tennessee Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

    At the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), our goal is to ensure Tennesseans of all abilities have the opportunity to reach their full potential as members of our state鈥檚 community, workforce and economy. Our (VR) Program, focuses on connecting Tennesseans with disabilities, their advocates and potential employers with resources that pave pathways to employment and elevated levels of independence.

  • Tennessee Geographic Alliance

    The primary mission of the is to advance geographic literacy by enriching geographic teaching and learning in K-12 classrooms across the state of Tennessee. As the foremost geographic educational outreach organization in the state, the TGA embodies the spirit of learning, excellence in teaching, and high-quality professional development needed to cultivate geographic knowledge and reasoning.

    The Tennessee Geographic Alliance seeks to develop K-12 student and teacher geographic comprehension of our interconnected world.
    听
    The culture of the TGA and faithfulness to its mission and vision characterize our spirit and defines who we are, what we do, and our approach to enriching geography in K-12 classrooms.

  • 自慰视频 Kennedy Center

    • Researchers work together to solve the mysteries of developmental disabilities and human development. Our approach to research is interdisciplinary, forming partnerships between researchers and clinicians in behavior, education, genetics and neuroscience in order to make breakthroughs in prevention and treatment.
    • Services are offered to people with disabilities, families, educators and healthcare and other service providers. Our programs apply the latest knowledge obtained through disabilities research and provide service models.
    • Training allows our progress to benefit communities. Clinicians, students and researchers, nationally and internationally, come to learn the 自慰视频 Kennedy Center's latest innovations.
    • Impacting communities. We reach out to the community for opportunities to learn more about the science of developmental disabilities and the needs and strengths of the people affected by them. As a result, our research, training and services are focused and effective, having a strong impact on communities.
  • Tennessee Works

    (TW) is a statewide partnership of agencies and organizations with one goal: to increase the number of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who are employed in the state. In other words, TW are working to ensure every person with a disability can find a good job, with good pay, that brings real satisfaction, and makes a real difference. Together, TW are working to implement policy and systems changes that make competitive employment the first and desired choice for every Tennessean.

Technology

We partner with technology-focused organizations to support innovation and broaden access to opportunity in tech. Together, we help create more inclusive pathways into technology careers and elevate underrepresented voices in the industry.

  • Repped in Tech

    is for the technology professionals who've felt like outsiders in their careers.

    It's for all women 鈥� the non-binary, trans women, and women of color in tech 鈥� who've felt like they've needed to hide who they are in the industry. It's for the Black people in tech, the Brown people in tech, and all diverse technology professionals who've been in the shadows for far too long.

    We're here to give you a platform: A space to make your voice heard, your vision seen, and your value felt.

    As diverse technology professionals ourselves, we know what it's like to feel overlooked, underestimated, and put in a box. But we also know the power of taking up space 鈥� of amplifying our voices through the power of content creation.

    We believe the tech world needs to hear your voice. Diversity in tech can unlock real change, real innovation, and real creativity.

    And we're here to inspire yours. We're here to give you the tools, resources, and support to show the world what diverse minds can do.

    For more information, please reach out to Trinity Christiana at squad@reppedintech.co.听

  • Ner Chat

    is an assistive technology app designed to enhance communication for individuals with speech and communication challenges, particularly those with special needs, by providing an accessible platform for augmented and alternative communication (AAC) messaging, allowing them to interact digitally with greater independence and autonomy.

Health Services

The Frist Center collaborates with health services partners to improve access, coordination, and quality of care for neurodivergent individuals and people with disabilities. These partnerships support systems that promote safety, independence, and whole-person wellbeing.

  • Impruvon Health

    brought to you by Impruvon鈩�, a health technology company dedicated to creating solutions for IDD Residential, Senior Living, and Behavioral Health Teams to improve the efficiency of healthcare work flows, restore independence for residents and safeguard lives.

  • Amerigroup/Wellpoint

    is focused on achieving health and wellness for the entire family. We listen, respect, and engage families to understand their culture, values, beliefs, and lifestyles so we can develop meaningful relationships. We engage and support members and their families to set goals based on what is important to them, building on their strengths and enhancing each person鈥檚 resiliency.

Financial Institutions

We partner with financial institutions and fund organizations that support families and advance innovation through responsible advising and investment. These collaborations help strengthen long-term stability while accelerating solutions that improve outcomes for neurodivergent communities.

  • AIF (Autism Impact Fund)

    bold mission is to revolutionize the status quo for diagnosing, treating, and living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), neurodevelopmental disorders, mental health issues, and complex chronic conditions through a venture capital model that helps accelerate developing and delivering emerging technologies, translational science, and innovative services to empower individuals to reach their full potential.

  • Oak Wealth Management

    follows a fiduciary standard and when we advise on financial decisions we take your best interests into account with an customized approach. We put your needs in first position to help maximize your potential of working towards your financial goals and aspirations. With our strategic advice, we can help you create an approach that is designed to address your specific goals and financial circumstances.