We are thrilled to announce that Hari Srinivasan, one of our Neurodiversity Inspired Science and Engineering Fellows at the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, has been awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for his work in Neuroscience. The NSF GRFP is a tremendous achievement and a testament to Hari's hard work, dedication, and innovative research approach. As a neurodivergent individual, Hari brings a unique perspective to the field of Neuroscience, and his work, with its potential to make a significant impact on the lives of the community, i ..read more

 Autism Space seen as profit making space by Private Equity This is a continuing and troubling trend in autism.  '...private equity investments per year tripled or quadrupled from 2018 to 2021 compared to 2015.  ...expected investment to continue at breakneck speed “...They needed to start showing profits and revenue that match their valuation. … So at some point, [investors] need to start seeing a return on their investment,”  ...autism therapy space could be at the point of the investment life cycle where investors are pressuring operators to shift from scale to eff ..read more

https://www.dailycal.org/2018/04/05/access-ramp-volunteering   ..read more

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13623613241237871 While neurodiversity is popularly attributed to Judy Singer, it was in fact a collective effort of many autistic activists in the 1990s. A correct in attribution is overdue. "For some time, the coinage and theorizing of the concept of ‘neurodiversity’ has been attributed to Judy Singer. While Singer published one early book chapter on the neurodiversity movement in 1999, she was only one of many working on theorising neurodiversity, and certainly not the first. In fact... ‘neurological diversity’ or ‘neurodiversity’ concept – an ..read more

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40617-023-00833-w  Good grief is all I can say.  Adding the prefix of "Kind" to something does not automatically make anything automatically Kinder. As is peppering a paper with the word "Kind" to sublimely influence you that it must be kind.  And a sample size of 4 autistics in the study makes this a valid method, how? And what did this  "kind" translate to exactly. when a therapist drives you to the point of a tantrum in the first place, then offers to hold your hand, and saying "I can see you are frustrated." Is this a new ..read more

Save the date: Wednesday, May 29 Time: 10 AM PT Event: Free Virtual Panel Reserve your spot now at bit.ly/ambiv-events  I am very excited to share that, alongside Kim Chua, we will be moderating the upcoming AAPI Autism Self-Advocacy Panel, an initiative by the AMBIV Collective to amplify the voices of autistic self-advocates within the AAPI community for AAPI/AANHPI/APIDA Heritage Month in May. Join us on Wednesday, May 29 at 10 AM Pacific Time/ 1 PM Eastern Time for an empowering and insightful virtual discussion. Our incredible panelists, each with their own unique experienc ..read more

Interoception refers to the perception and awareness of internal bodily states. It involves the ability to sense and interpret physiological signals originating from within the body, such as hunger, thirst, heartbeat, temperature, respiration, and the need for bodily functions. Interoception is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and overall well-being as it allows an individual to respond appropriately to bodily needs and emotional states. This internal sensory system plays a significant role in emotional experiences and self-regulation by linking physical sensations with emotional responses ..read more

In the spirit of spreading ideas, TEDx is a program that brings people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, live speakers and TEDTalks videos combine to spark profound conversations and connections in a small group. The upcoming TEDxFolsom High School Youth event promises to be an inspiring experience. The speakers are prepared to unleash their inner selves, share their stories and emotions, and spread the one idea everybody has been waiting for. They aim to bring change to the community and show their spark to the world. The event will allow high school students to s ..read more

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/giving-voice/202402/the-spectrum-of-loss-grief-through-the-autistic-lens ..read more

I'm reclaiming the use of "person with autism" and am not offended by it. It is part of who I am.  When you reclaim language as a positive, it cannot be used against you. Others lose the power to use it as a negative against you. I am both 'autistic' and a 'person with autism ..read more