Our Mission

The Center for Understanding seeks to reduce the disenfranchisement of individuals and families who experience the world with autism spectrum differences through individually designed advocacy, systems navigation support, training, support groups and holistic empowerment.

Our Services: (Present)

• One-to-one individual and family systems assessment
• One-to-one adult systems navigation and coaching support
• Information and referral
• Local, regional and national training for families and service providers
• Recreational and support group programming for adolescent and adults with autism differences, through a peer-to-peer model
• Collaborative case review for support teams
• Community collaboration with the ARC of Williamson County, the ARC of Davidson County, the ARC of Tennessee, the Autism Society of Middle Tennessee, the Council on Developmental Disabilities, Vanderbilt University and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, the Center for Independent Living
• National collaboration with the Marino Foundation, the Global and Regional Asperger’s Syndrome Partnership (GRASP), and the Autism Society of America

Our Services: (Future)

• After school Social Thinking® Programs (Michelle G. Winner)
• After school self-help skill training programs
• After school life skills/community exploration programs
• Parent respite retreat programs
• Marriage connection retreat programs