AutismTN Connect is a welcoming community for Autistic adults (18+) to come together and share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. In this group, we aim to create a supportive and understanding community where members can feel free to be themselves and express themselves openly and honestly. We believe everyone has something valuable to contribute, and we welcome diverse perspectives and experiences.

Connect welcomes all Autistic people in Middle TN and beyond, including those who are self-diagnosed. The group meets monthly, and we offer a variety of activities and discussions to help members connect with others, learn from one another, and find support and encouragement.

Registration for Connect is required using the links in the orange buttons below.

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

Connect In-Person  typically meets on the second Thursday of each month 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. CT in Nashville, TN.

If you have questions about Connect, email the facilitator, Colin Peterson, at connect@autismtn.org.

Meet your facilitator: 

Colin Peterson (he/him) is an autistic self-advocate, facilitator, and theatre director who believes that everyone’s voice matters—and, most importantly, that they should know it matters. Originally from Orlando, Florida, Colin earned his degree in Philosophy from the University of Central Florida before moving to Nashville in 2010 (just before the flood), where he spent 15 years at Nashville Children’s Theatre (NCT), ultimately serving as Education Director.

At NCT, Colin helped transform the education program—doubling opportunities for students, opening the nation’s first inclusive sensory room for theatre audiences, making all extended care free, and expanding financial assistance by 87%. He championed fair pay for teaching artists, began compensating interns, and facilitated programs to build a more diverse roster of educators to reflect the community served.

His work has been recognized nationally, and in October 2025, he will be honored by the Nashville Business Journal’s Diversity Awards as an Outstanding Community Voice for his advocacy within the Autistic community.

Beyond education, Colin is also a professional theatrical projection designer and award-winning sound designer, receiving the 2019 AudioVerse Award for Best Action Sound Design. He has designed for over 35 productions with numerous Nashville companies including: NCT, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Nashville Rep, Studio Tenn, and Vanderbilt University.

Colin lives in Madison, TN with his neurodivergent wife, two neurodivergent kiddos, and a young, energetic dog—making his household lively, loving, and decidedly challenging for the sensory-sensitive.