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  • Tuesday, December 08, 2020 8:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    I am proud to be part of Autism Tennessee and am humbled by the role the organization plays in lives throughout Middle Tennessee. Serving as Board President for the past two years has allowed me to witness and experience what I already knew to be true -- we exist to enrich the lives and experiences of individuals on the autism spectrum, their families, and their surrounding community through support, advocacy, and education. Our staff members, volunteers, and board of directors come from various backgrounds, religions, nationalities and perspectives. All of these differences, in and of themselves, are our core strength, and they equip us to serve our diverse population with genuine care and intention.

    As a mother, I experienced the fear of the unknown when my son was diagnosed with autism. My need for information to better understand how this would impact my entire family was encompassing. I sought knowledge and resources, lots and lots of resources! Knowledge, resources, and relationship building are the core of Autism Tennessee, and the organization quickly became a lifeline for me. As our journey with autism continues, I am grateful to know Autism Tennessee has a team that understands my fears and accepts my questions with open arms. 

    I believe that wherever you are on your autism journey, a newly diagnosed family; an adult on the autism spectrum; an educator; or just a caring friend, you will find all the knowledge and resources you need when you reach out to Autism Tennessee. I hope that you will join the staff, volunteers, and board of directors at Autism Tennessee as we celebrate every milestone that once felt like a mountain. 


    Happy Holidays, 

    Amy Stewart
    Board President, 2019 and 2020

  • Tuesday, December 08, 2020 5:00 AM | Anonymous member

    President: Dr. Darrell Gwaltney, Jr. 
    Vice-President: Paul Wydra
    Secretary: Chris Sabis
    Treasurer: Walt Hovious

    Each of these individuals has a personal and/or professional connection to autism that they may, or may not, have chosen to share in their bio. 

    If you would like to join our board, contact us! Diversity at leadership levels is important to Autism Tennessee. We welcome and encourage you to consider ways to get involved in our work. 


    Dr. Darrell Gwaltney-
    Dean & H. Franklin Paschall Chair of Biblical Studies and Preaching Ph.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City; M.Div., Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; B.A., Missouri Baptist College; Additional Studies: Regent's Park College, University of Oxford 

    I came to Belmont to serve as dean for the College of Theology and Christian Ministry in 2004 and was named the H. Franklin Paschall Chair of Biblical Studies and Preaching in 2012. I also serve as the Director of the Moench Center for Church Leadership.

    I teach biblical studies, theology, worship and preaching, and church leadership classes whenever I can get away from the administrative duties of my job as dean. I love students and conversations with people about faith and life as we think deeply and purposefully about how to be best prepared for the work God has called us to do.

    In addition to my classroom and administrative responsibilities, I have an active ministry working in local churches. I serve as an intentional interim and work in leadership development roles for churches. Working in churches helps me be better prepared for the classroom.

    Serving as dean for the College of Theology and Christian Ministry at Belmont is particularly fulfilling because of the wide variety of denominational backgrounds and vocational interests among the students. Our students imagine themselves serving in churches and community non-profits, as musicians and doctors, artists and lawyers, and pastors and missionaries. It is exciting to serve here because everyone walks a somewhat different path of faithfulness.

    The faculty and students in the College of Theology and Christian Ministry form a community of people who are seeking to understand God’s claim upon their lives. I believe I am privileged to work with such faithful colleagues and students.

    I am an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan, a lover of books, an erstwhile programmer, gardener, and big fan of my wife of 36 years, Donna, my daughter Meghan and her husband, Alvaro, my daughter Jordan, and my son Trey.



    Paul Wydra
    - Paul has worked at Middle Tennessee State University for almost 13 years now. He is the Director of Development Initiates and works with fundraising efforts for the James E. Walker Library, the Honors College, University College and special events, special projects and affinity groups. Prior to working in the development office, he was the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for over 10 years. In that position, he worked with Alumni Affinity Groups, Young Alumni, the alumni scholarship program and organizes events all throughout Tennessee and out-of-state. MTSU is the second largest undergraduate university in Tennessee with over 21,000 students and has almost 140,000 living alumni. 

    Paul received his Master of Education degree in Higher Education - Management & Supervision from MTSU in August of 2011. Paul is currently the Vice President on the board and has been involved in Autism TN for over two years and loves the people he works with on the board and on staff. His mother is a retired special education teacher,  who for years worked directly with special needs children and autistic children.



    Chris Sabis- Chris heads Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison's Government Compliance & Investigations group. Chris concentrates his practice in the areas of Government Investigations and Litigation. He has extensive experience in False Claims Act (FCA) matters involving allegations of healthcare and procurement fraud, white-collar fraud investigations, commercial litigation, and government investigations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs). Chris has significant experience in the mediation of FCA cases and is a Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator by the Tennessee Supreme Court. He also has advised clients on provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the CARES Act, including emergency leave provisions and the Paycheck Protection Program enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Chris earned his J.D. at Georgetown University Law Center, where he was Senior Notes Editor of the Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of Rochester.

    Chris serves as a Hearing Examiner for the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility. He is a member of the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court and of the Tennessee Bar Association, where he has served as Chair and Vice Chair of the Federal Practice Section. He is a member of the Nashville Bar Association and Chair and former Secretary of its Historical Committee. Chris is also a member of the American Health Law Association, the Health Care Compliance Association, and the American Bar Association.

    Active in the community, Chris is the Co-Chair and Past Chair of the Board for Stars Nashville, a non-profit that provides prevention, intervention, treatment, and training programs addressing bullying, substance abuse, violence, and social and emotional barriers to success in Tennessee schools. He is a Secretary of the Board of Directors of Autism Tennessee and is the Environmental Sustainability Chair for the Rotary Club of Nashville. Chris has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Belmont University. He enjoys hockey, theater, and spending time with his wife and two young boys.



    Walt Hovious- Walt is an accountant at Pilot.com and a member of the Tennessee bar. He studied at the Saint Louis University School of Law and Belmont University.  He is Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Autism Tennessee. He lives in Bellevue with his wife Casey and a little one on the way.


  • Monday, December 07, 2020 2:22 PM | Anonymous member

    Make your own pizza dough! (Video at bottom to follow along!)

    Supply List:

    Mixing Bowl
    Measuring Spoons
    Measuring Cups
    Rolling Pin
    Pizza Stone or Cookie Sheet/Jelly Roll Pan

    Ingredients:

    1 Cup warm water (105-110 degrees)
    1 TBS Sugar
    1 TBS Active Dry Yeast
    1 TBS Olive Oil
    2 to 2 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
    1 tsp Salt

    Directions:

    Option A: Put Pizza Stone in the oven and then heat oven to 475 degrees F. Option B: Preheat oven to 475. Then, grease a pizza pan or large jelly roll pan and set aside.

    1. Put warm water into a large mixing bowl (check the water temp 105-110 degrees).
    2. Add sugar and yeast and stir to combine.
    3. Let mixture sit for 5 minutes, or until it becomes frothy and bubbles form.
    4. Add olive oil and gently stir to combine.
    5. Add 2 cups of flour and salt and mix with a spatula until a ball begins to form (dough will still be slightly sticky). Add more flour as needed to form a dough ball.
    6. Transfer to a floured surface and knead into a smooth dough, adding up to ½ cup extra flour if needed.
    7. Roll dough into your desired shape and gently transfer to your prepared pan.
    8. To ensure the dough doesn't form air pockets, use a fork to prick the dough all around (gently so you do not poke holes all the way through the crust).
    9. Bake on the lower rack of your preheated oven for 5 minutes and remove from your oven. (this is just to very slightly prebake the dough). If you notice air bubbles forming, poke them with a fork to let the air out.
    10. Add pizza sauce and toppings of choice!
    11. Bake on the lower rack of your oven for around 15-20 minutes until the crust looks crispy and lightly browned.
    12. Let cool, cut and serve.


  • Thursday, December 03, 2020 8:44 AM | Anonymous member

    I am uploading two videos. One of them discusses preparing for a new job when you have autism. The other focuses more on moving out of state and geographic region. I try to mention how autistic people can write down things to set a routine and also mentioned how moving out of state could be an advantage based on geographic region. 
    Here's a link to  Reis' website. 



    Thank you,

    Reis Fitzsimmons

    **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others. 

  • Monday, November 30, 2020 8:07 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l0FJ3jH_Qs&feature=youtu.be


    This video will go into how the problem solving abilities and attention to detail of autistic people can be used to solve problems in manufacturing. This industry does highly seek autistic workers for their technical skills, focus on routine, and detail-oriented nature. 

    Thank you, 

    Reis Fitzsimmons

    **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.

  • Tuesday, November 24, 2020 9:18 AM | Anonymous member

    But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient in you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.” Paul. II Corinthians 12:9

    Recently, my daughter Allison and I attended a baby shower. It was a Harry Potter theme. I don’t know much about Harry Potter, but I was so impressed, from the food to the decorations, how they weaved everything into their theme. What a creative gift they had. ❤ As I sat my present on the table, I realized how my simple wrapping paled in comparison to the other gifts. When I mentioned it to Allison, she giggled and agreed with me, noting these kinds of things weren’t my best skill. 

    Here’s the thing. There’s a whole lot of things I’m not good at. I can cook enough to keep my family fed, but no one chases me down for recipe ideas. I dress appropriately for the weather, but have no idea whether or not I’m in style. I can stand on a stage, sing, and speak to countless people about subjects I’m familiar with, but making one on one small talk can be a bit uncomfortable for me. Truth - I am a little quirky and socially awkward.

    I could go on and on about the things I’m not able to do well. But I know God made me like He made me for reason. I believe God equips each of us specifically for what He’s called us to. Knowing this keeps me looking up, because I want to accomplish everything He’s called me to and nothing He hasn’t. Knowing this helps me celebrate what others are able to accomplish, without feeling less. No one is meant to do everything well. We need each other. We need each other’s gifts.

    I’m not saying I don’t get disappointed at times, especially when I feel like I’ve been on the shelf for quite a while or I’ve missed the mark. But I do believe in a God’s timing and His perfect love. He has delighted me on numerous occasions with the accomplishments He’s allowed me to be a part of.

    I will to continue to boast about everything I’m not, because I am amazed and grateful for all our God is.

    Until next time,

    Know the Hope! Really!! 

    Tammy Vice


    Disclaimer: **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.


  • Thursday, October 22, 2020 9:47 AM | Anonymous member
    “... I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,”


    ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:19‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

    The other day, I asked Morgan what she wanted for lunch. Her answer was “How about food?”.   This was not sarcasm. This is her autism. Where many of us are grateful to be given choices, it causes her a great deal of anxiety. Why? The answers to some questions are infinite. I believe she’s actually afraid of giving the wrong answer. Morgan still doesn’t understand that her choice is just that, Her Choice. If I can ever get her to understand that, I believe it will free her from a lot of the anxiety choices cause her.

    As I’ve worked with Morgan for several years on this life skill, I’ve come to realize just how important choices are for all of us. They give us independence and freedom. At the same time, they come with responsibility and consequences. Good ones build us up and bad ones tear us down. Hopefully, as we mature, we learn to make choices that are not only good for us, but respectful of others. When others respect us, they allow us to make choices too.

    Everyone deserves the right to make choices to the extent they are able. Often times, the choices of individuals with disabilities are overlooked. Whenever we assume we know what’s best for anyone without offering them a voice, we may not realize it, but we’re being dismissive of that person. On several occasions, when I thought I knew exactly what Morgan wanted, but gave her the option, I found out I was wrong. 

    God loves us so much that Even He Allows us to CHOOSE Him. If that decision was forced, it would mean nothing. As much as I want others to believe as I do, I have to remember that every person has the right to make their own decisions. My Individual Joy and Confidence in what I believe comes from knowing I’ve been given a choice, and I choose Him.

    I will continue to offer Morgan every choice I can, working with her through the anxiety and OCD, because more that anything, I want her to find her own voice, her own joy.

    **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.

  • Friday, October 02, 2020 9:30 AM | Anonymous member
    This video is special because it indicates to employers how hiring an autistic candidate can come to an advantage. One that I have not discussed before is that high-functioning autistics can remember random facts or absorb and retain large amounts of information and data. For example, I would not say that an autistic might do well in sales or marketing. However, they would more likely succeed as a data analyst, proofreader, or lab technician. Please let me know what you think of this one. 

    Thank you, 

    Reis Fitzsimmons 

    **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.


  • Monday, September 28, 2020 10:16 AM | Anonymous member

    ‬‬”Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups.”

    Morgan and I looked up the word PEACE for an art project she was asked to do for Borderless Arts TN. The word she picked up on in our reading was “Friendship”.

    There are so many things I want to teach Morgan, so many things I want her to understand about the world around her. At the same time, I’m thankful for her people perspective. Regardless of race, religion or politics, she refers to all people as “friends”.

    Until Next Time,

    Peace,

    Mom & Morgan

    The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.

  • Tuesday, September 15, 2020 9:33 AM | Anonymous member

    This video shows how I relate to sensory overload and how autistic kids and adults have trouble with their environment sometimes. They can be sensitive to bright lights, loud sounds, or lack of social understanding. 


    Thank you

    Reis Fitzsimmons

    **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.


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Address:
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