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• Connect Online Adult Community Group

  • Start
    Thursday, January 04, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, August 07, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    20 sessions
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  
  AutismTN Connect Online Community Group is a welcoming community for Autistic adults (18+). To learn more about Connect, visit https://autismtn.org/connect.

  This group typically meets on Zoom on the first Thursday of each month from 6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. CT.

  If you have questions about Connect, please contact Casey Davis, the Connect Facilitator, at casey@autismtn.org.
  
  Note: AutismTN Connect also meets In-Person!  If you'd like to attend, please register HERE.

  A special thanks to Alonso Calderón Guzmán for designing the Connect image!

  
  

  
  

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• The Spectrum Connection: Togetherness Tuesdays

  • Start
    Tuesday, January 09, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Tuesday, July 08, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    19 sessions
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  

  The Spectrum Connection (TSC) is a Community Group for LGBTQIA+ Autistic adults and is member-led with the support of a queer AutismTN employee. TSC is a welcoming and inclusive environment for community building through social networking, education, activities, resource-sharing, and conversation. TSC hosts one Zoom meeting and one in-person meeting each month.

  Togetherness Tuesdays are an opportunity to check in with your fellow TSC members,  discuss upcoming events, and be in community with one another. We meet on Zoom the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT.

  If you are interested in The Spectrum Connection, Click this link to fill out The Spectrum Connection Interest Form and schedule an orientation.

  If you have questions, please contact leah@autismtn.org.

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• Unveiling Autistic Identity

  • Start
    Wednesday, January 10, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Wednesday, August 06, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    20 sessions
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  
  AutismTN's Unveiling Autistic Identity community group provides a welcoming space for adults who are discovering their Autistic identity later in life. As professional and public understanding of autism continues to improve, many people are becoming aware that they are Autistic in adulthood, either through a professional diagnosis or self-identification, often as a result of seeking mental health support or when their children are diagnosed. This group fosters inclusive and supportive conversation and connection for late-identified Autistic people to share experiences and offer mutual support, explore their newfound identity and examine what it means for their lives, share in the self-discovery process, and empower each other to embrace their Autistic identity and become self-advocates.

  This group typically meets on Zoom on the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. CT.

  If you have questions about Unveiling Autistic Identity, please contact Andrea Gutierrez, UAI Facilitator, at andrea@autismtn.org.

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• WENBY (Women, Gender Expansive, and Non-Binary Adult Community Group) Connect Online Gathering

  • Start
    Thursday, December 19, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, August 07, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    9 sessions
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  
  

  Join us for WENBY Connect, AutismTN's new community group dedicated to Women, Gender Expansive, and Non-Binary Autistic adults!

  When: Every month on a Thursday (see specific dates) from 5:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. CT
  Where: Zoom

  Event Details:

  WENBY Connect is a new extension of AutismTN's Connect Social-Networking group for Autistic adults in Middle TN and beyond. WENBY Connect is an hour dedicated to Women, Gender Expansive, and Non-Binary Autistic adults to spend time hanging out and exploring new experiences together. This program extension came about after feedback from current Connect group members looking to meet other women and non-binary neurodivergent peers.

  By "Gender Expansive," we mean someone whose gender identity and/or gender expression expands beyond, actively resists, and/or does not conform to the current cultural or social expectations of gender, particularly in relation to male or female. This can include, but is not limited to, people who identify as genderfluid, genderqueer, or agender.

  Some folks who are interested in WENBY Connect may also find community and support in AutismTN's The Spectrum Connection. The Spectrum Connection (TSC) was developed in 2019 to provide support and resources along with a space to connect and build community for LGBTQIA+ Autistic adults.

  If you have questions about WENBY Connect, please contact admin@autismtn.org.
  

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• Familias Latinas Especiales - Un grupo de familias del espectro del Autismo de Tennessee

  • Start
    Monday, January 13, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Monday, September 08, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    8 sessions
  • Location
    Online via Zoom
  • Registered
    2 registrants

  Register

  
  

  Un grupo de familias del espectro del Autismo de Tennessee

  Grupo de para familias latinas de niños con autismo

  Este grupo se reúne en línea el segundo lunes de cada mes a las 6:30 p. m. y ofrece a los padres y cuidadores de personas con autismo la oportunidad de construir una red de apoyo. 

  Cuándo: El segundo lunes de cada mes.
  Hora: 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. CT 
  Dónde: En línea

  Los solicitantes de registro recibirán el enlace de Zoom en el correo electrónico de confirmación de registro
  

  Facilitado por: Teresa Lira y Luz Belleza-Binns

  
  

  Este evento está abierto a los padres/cuidadores que no son miembros de AutismTN. Por favor, comparta la información sobre el grupo con cualquier padre/cuidador que pueda beneficiarse de su participación.

  English

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• Spectrum Dads

  • Start
    Tuesday, January 21, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Tuesday, September 16, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    9 sessions
  • Location
    Online via Zoom
  • Registered
    16 registrants

  Register

  AutismTN's Spectrum Dads is an inclusive online space where fathers and father figures can connect with other parents and caregivers to share experiences, to build relationships that can offer ongoing support and encouragement, and connect with others who understand the unique unique aspects of supporting an Autistic person (of any age).

  Spectrum Dads typically meets online on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. When you register, the Zoom link will be in your confirmation email.

  AutismTN Spectrum Dads: 
  

  Tuesday, January 21, 2025

  Tuesday, February 18, 2025

  Tuesday, March 18, 2025

  Tuesday, April 15, 2025

  Tuesday, May 20, 2025

  Tuesday, June 17, 2025

  Tuesday July 15, 2025

  August 19, 2025

  September 16, 2025

  Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. CT

  Location: Online via Zoom

  If you have questions about this group, please email outreach@autismtn.org, or call/text AutismTN's HELPline at 615-270-2077.

  Click here for frequently asked questions!

  
  

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• Game Day

  • Start
    Saturday, February 01, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Saturday, September 06, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    8 sessions
  • Location
    Near Rose Park in Nashville TN (location will be provided upon registration)

  Register

  

  Join AutismTN for a few hours of fun and games!
  Game Day is a great opportunity to make friends in a relaxed environment. We'll have a variety of games to play, including classic favorites like Connect4 and Scrabble, as well as newer games like Catan. Light refreshments are provided.

  Game Day is appropriate for children, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum. Parents/caregivers and siblings may join too. Bring a friend or come and make new ones – everyone is welcome! 

  If you have any questions, please reach out to Ashley Lira-Rivera: ashley@autismtn.org. 

  ¡La facilitadora del día del juego de AutismTN, Ashley Lira-Rivera, habla inglés y español! Comuníquese con ella si tiene preguntas o necesita ayuda para registrarse.
  

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• AutismTN Connect In-Person: Dinner Outing at Dragon Phoenix Buffet

  • When
    Thursday, July 10, 2025
  •  
    6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Location
    Dragon Phoenix Buffet, 2828 Elm Hill Pike #101, Nashville, TN 37214
  • Spaces left
    5

  Register

  
  

  Join us for a Dinner Gathering at Dragon Phoenix

  When: Thursday, July 10 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. CT

  Where: Dragon Phoenix Buffet, 2828 Elm Hill Pike #101, Nashville, TN 37214

  Please note: This grant-funded event is specifically for Autistic adults (18+).

  Come enjoy great food and good company with other Autistic adults at Dragon Phoenix Buffet, a casual all-you-can-eat buffet offering a wide variety of Chinese dishes, sushi, and more.

  This gathering is designed to be relaxed and welcoming. You’re invited to show up exactly as you are, whether that means chatting with new friends or simply enjoying your meal in a supportive and affirming space.

  We’ll cover the cost of your buffet meal (including tax and tip), so there’s no cost to attend. Just bring your appetite!

  About AutismTN Connect In-Person:
  AutismTN Connect In-Person is a welcoming space for Autistic adults to come together in-person and share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs.

  
  

  This event is generously support by a grant from NEXT for AUTISM, which helps us provide free monthly Autistic-led Self-Advocate Community Group gatherings.

  If you have questions about Connect In-Person, please contact AutismTN at support@autismtn.org 

  Want to support AutismTN's mission, so we can host more free and low-cost events?

  Make a donation today at www.autismtn.org/Donate!

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• The Spectrum Connection (LGBTQIA+ Autistic Adult) Wave Pool Meetup

  • When
    Sunday, July 20, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Location Provided Upon Registration

  
  

  Wave Pool Meet Up

  Exclusively for members of The Spectrum Connection (TSC)
  (LGBTQIA+ Autistic Adult Community Group)

  Event Details:

  Date: Sunday, July 20th 2025

  Time: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT

  The registration form can be found on TSC's private Discord server.
  Location and details will be provided upon registration.

  With funding from the NEXT for Autism grant, this event is FREE for TSC Members.

  

  To join The Spectrum Connection, fill out the interest form or email leah@autismtn.org

  We look forward to seeing you!

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• Spectrum Social: Sensory-Friendly Pool Party

  • When
    Thursday, July 24, 2025
  •  
    6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Tommy Garrott Aquatic Facility, 210 Albert Gallatin Avenue, Gallatin, TN 37066
  • Spaces left
    138

  Register

  

  6th Annual Sensory Friendly Pool Party!!! 
  sponsored by ABS Kids

  
  

  During this all ages Spectrum Social: Sensory Friendly Pool Party, the Tommy Garrott Aquatics Facility will be open only for AutismTN guests (it will be closed to the public). The facility lights and sounds will be adjusted, and the lifeguards will limit their use of whistles for our sensory sensitive friends.

  Features at Tommy Garrott Aquatics Facility include a zero-depth pool complete with a splash pad, a 57-foot waterslide, a 134-foot waterslide, and a 167-foot waterslide, kids train slide, water tower, spray toys, umbrellas, two concession areas, and plenty of room to relax. Concessions will also be open during that time, should you be interested in purchasing snacks and beverages. Visit their website for more information.

  
  

  When: Thursday, July 24th, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM CT
  

  Address: 210 Albert Gallatin Avenue, Gallatin, TN 37066

  Registration Details
  

  • Registration is required to attend
  • Attendance will be limited to help with sensory sensitivities 
  • Group registrations are limited to 5 attendees per group
  • Registration will close on Friday, July 18th

  
  

  In the event of inclement weather, this event will be canceled. We will attempt to reschedule based on venue availability. 

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• Spectrum Social: Screening of "The Unbreakable Boy" at Mill Ridge Park

  • When
    Friday, July 25, 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM
  • Location
    Mill Ridge Park - 12847 Old Hickory Blvd, Antioch, TN 37013

  

  Join us on Friday, July 25th beginning at 7:00PM for a free outdoor screening of "The Unbreakable Boy" in partnership with Mill Ridge Park in Antioch!

  No Registration Required! 

  Come enjoy the playground and basketball courts before the movie starts at sunset. Bring a blanket or lawn chair (no drive-in viewing). Toilets available on site.
  

  Enjoy delicious food from Nashville's food trucks this year at Outside Cinema with Mill Ridge Park too!

  Catch KONA ICE, a local Antioch food truck, before or during the movie, and savor a nice cold shaved ice.

  Located at 12847 Old Hickory Blvd, Antioch, TN 37013

  
  

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• UAI In-Person: Frist Art Museum

  • When
    Saturday, July 26, 2025
  •  
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Provided Upon Registration
  • Spaces left
    25

  
  

  Join us for this AutismTN UAI In-Person Special Event:

  Gathering at Frist Art Museum

  **Please note: this event is open to members of the Unveiling Autistic Identity Community Group for late-discovered Autistic adults**

  Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025

  Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. CT

  Location: Provided Upon Registration

  Event Details:
  

  The Frist Art Museum is a nonprofit art exhibition center dedicated to presenting and originating high-quality exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach activities. The Frist offers the finest visual art from local, regional, domestic, and international sources to inspire people to look at their world in new ways through the lens of art.

  Participants will follow a self-guided tour of Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories, an exhibition from Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. Displaying quilts and coverlets grouped by themes compare industrialization, societal injustice, and emerging expression from the 18th century to modern day. Additional exhibits will offer a history experience for your senses, the detailed work of a uniquely talented painter, and an interactive opportunity to create art of your own in the Martin ArtQuest gallery.

  .

  If you have questions about UAI In-Person, please contact Andrea Gutierrez, UAI Facilitator, at andrea@autismtn.org

  Want to support AutismTN's mission, so we can host more free and low-cost events? Make a donation today!

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• ACE'ing The Spectrum: Transition Planning for High School Seniors

  • When
    Thursday, July 31, 2025
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Hybrid: in-person (Central Nashville) and online via Zoom
  • Spaces left
    100
  • Registered
    Be the first

  Register

  
  

  Join AutismTN for a presentation from Community Partner Transition Tennessee on how parents/caregivers and teachers can plan and support their high-school age students as they graduate and move from school-based services.

  About Transition Tennessee:

  Transition Tennessee is a free website that provides high quality and on-demand professional development, resources, and transition-focused student activities. The mission of TransitionTN is to make sure that all students with disabilities in Tennessee have access to the best opportunities, instruction, supports, and services to help them achieve their goals for after high school. We address this goal by:

  • Equipping transition professionals (e.g., teachers, school leaders, Pre-ETS providers) with research-based practices and effective policies
  • Connecting transition professionals with practical and relevant resources
  • Delivering high-quality professional development
  • Engaging student lessons that cover a wide range of transition topics
  • Information and links to important outside agencies to support students in transition
  • Practical tips sheets for families

  About the facilitators:

  Leah Burgess is an Education Consultant in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. Her previous work history has focused on serving individuals with Serious Mental Health, Intellectual and Developmental disabilities. She has worked with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) to ensure that adults and youth with disabilities receive Supported Employment Services. Through working with VR, she has focused on transition-age youth receiving Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and provided services in classroom and individual settings. She successfully placed youth into paid summer work experiences that reflected their job interests.

  Hope Armstrong is an Educational Consultant in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Master of Arts in Education in School Counseling. Her previous work has focused on serving youth in various settings. She has provided Pre-Employment Transition Services to youth and young adults in the high school and postsecondary education settings. She worked in partnership with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) to help these individuals reach their goals. She also has experience working as a teacher, intervention specialist for a family preservation program, and program manager of a therapeutic foster care program.​

  ​Have questions about this event? Contact us at outreach@autismtn.org or call our HELPline at (615) 270-2077.

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• AutismTN Connect In-Person: The Clay Lady Studios Workshop

  • When
    Saturday, August 02, 2025
  •  
    1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    The Clay Lady's Campus: 1416 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN 37210
  • Spaces left
    16

  Register

  
  

  Join us for a Clay Workshop at The Clay Lady’s Campus!

  When: Saturday, August 2 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CT

  Where: The Clay Lady's Campus: 1416 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN 37210

  Please note: This grant-funded event is specifically for Autistic adults (18+).

  Come get your hands messy and your creativity flowing during a relaxed and supportive clay workshop at The Clay Lady’s Campus! You’ll be guided step-by-step through a hand-building project, and all materials will be provided. Whether you’re an experienced artist or trying clay for the first time, this workshop is designed to be fun, low-pressure, and accessible for all.

  Your finished piece will be fired and glazed by The Clay Lady’s team, and available for pickup a few weeks after the event.

  There’s no cost to attend, but space is limited—please be sure to RSVP.

  About AutismTN Connect In-Person:
  AutismTN Connect In-Person is a welcoming space for Autistic adults to come together in-person and share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs.

  
  

  This event is generously support by a grant from NEXT for AUTISM, which helps us provide free monthly Autistic-led Self-Advocate Community Group gatherings.

  If you have questions about Connect In-Person, please contact AutismTN at support@autismtn.org 

  Want to support AutismTN's mission, so we can host more free and low-cost events?

  Make a donation today at www.autismtn.org/Donate!

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• UAI In-Person: All-Access Night at Main Event Murfreesboro

  • When
    Monday, August 25, 2025
  •  
    5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Provided Upon Registration
  • Spaces left
    25

  
  

  Join us for this AutismTN UAI In-Person Special Event:

  All-Access Night at Main Event Murfreesboro
  

  **Please note: this event is open to members of the Unveiling Autistic Identity Community Group for late-discovered Autistic adults**

  Date: Monday, August 25th, 2025

  Time: 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. CT

  Location: Provided Upon Registration

  Event Details:
  Main Event is Murfreesboro's newest hub for densely-packed entertainment that is perfect for group fun, offering 26 bowling lanes, multi-level laser tag, classic billiards and a shuffleboard, and a spacious arcade with over 100 modern and retro games.

  Registrants will receive an All-Access pass which you can use to try a little bit of everything, or a whole lot of your favorite thing! We are not able to bring in refreshments; however, there will be food available to purchase at the full-service restaurant inside Main Event. Look for more details about dining options in the email that goes out a few days ahead.

  This location reports being fully wheelchair accessible, including the activities. Staff and volunteers will also be happy to assist with any requests for support during our visit. Anyone who would like to join us to hang out but would rather not play any games at all can decline the All-Access pass when you register, and we will balance out any wait list folks with those opportunities.

  About AutismTN UAI In-Person:

  The Unveiling Autistic Identity (UAI) community group provides a welcoming space for adults who are discovering their Autistic identity later in life.

  This event is generously support by a grant from NEXT for AUTISM, which helps us provide free monthly Autistic-led Self-Advocate Community Group gatherings.

  If you have questions about UAI In-Person, please contact Andrea Gutierrez, UAI Facilitator, at andrea@autismtn.org

  Want to support AutismTN's mission, so we can host more free and low-cost events? Make a donation today!

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