Inspiring Conversations with Matthew Powell of Autism Career Training

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Powell.

Hi Matthew, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I started my journey with special education during high school being involved in Special Olympics and Best Buddies. After high school, I obtained a bachelor’s degree in special education from Trevecca, in Nashville and later a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Trevecca as well. I also worked at High Hopes Development Center as a teacher and sports coordinator. After High Hopes came Independence High School as a teacher, department head and assistant football coach. Most recently before my role at Autism Career Training, I worked for Maury County Schools District Office as a Special Education Coordinator. Currently, I am the Executive and Program Director for Autism Career Training located in Nashville and also facilitate online classes for Trevecca.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I had a lot of the traditional struggles transitioning from high school to college and living on my own. These struggles helped to shape me into the man that I am today.

We’ve been impressed with Autism Career Training, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Autism Career Training (ACT) provides various programs and supports to prepare young adults with Autism for future career success. Autism Career Training currently serves trainees in the greater Nashville area through a center-based day program, after school social groups and Saturday Fun Club. Autism Career Training was founded by Karen Blake, whose son Matthew, was diagnosed with Autism at 18 months in Atlanta. Karen and her husband, Steve, moved to Nashville in 2005 and realized there was a great need for a center-based applied behavior analysis therapy in Middle Tennessee. In response, Karen founded the Autism Foundation of Tennessee, which later become Autism Education and Therapy Center in 2006.

During Karen’s time with Autism ETC, she began to take notice of another missing piece of the Autism community in Middle Tennessee. The area lacked a center-based program bridging the gap between the traditional school system and the work environment for students with Autism. She believed that a vocational tract should be available for teenagers and young adults with Autism.

In 2020, Karen founded Autism Career Training (ACT) to meet the needs of these individuals. Karen partnered with Matthew Powell and Dr. Andrew Burnham to craft vocational and prevocational training programs to equip trainees with the necessary skills to succeed in the workplace.

The unemployment rate among people with an ASD diagnosis has been reported as high as 90%. With less than 20% of people with ASD participating in the workforce. It is estimated that more than 70,000 teens with ASD enter adulthood each year in the United States. While the Autism community has made a lot of progress in this area, these individuals are still a very underserved population.

ACT was founded on the principles to serve this underserved population. ACT utilizes a researched based curriculum with an emphasis on the social and sensory integration inside of the work environment. During the center-based programs, trainees are exposed to pre-employment, employment, and independent living skills daily.

Trainees can be successful at ACT, whether if it is with help from a communication device or various accommodations and prompts to complete a task. ACT’s current enrollment includes trainees with varying academic and communication skills. ACT is set up to meet the high needs of their trainees with low student to teacher ratios and various program opportunities. ACT uses a wide variety of curriculum and techniques including gross motor, fine motor, communication, and sensory integration daily.

ACT offers a highly individualized program. Instruction is tailored based on the trainee’s initial skills, learning objectives, vocational aspirations, and life goals. Trainees progress through the program at their own pace and each milestone is considered a success!

ACT works to build careers and not just employment opportunities for their trainees. The career skills and pathway look different for every trainee! ACT’s programs are individualized to meet the trainees needs and the parents are a key partners in this journey. ACT uses monthly team meetings to build a whole team approach and to look at varying types of data from all programs. ACT is always looking for partnerships in the community to help integrate our trainees in the community through employment and leisure activities.

ACT is located on a six-acre farm in the rolling hills of South Nashville. Its location is convenient to I-65 and I-24 and has great proximate to Brentwood and Antioch. The center is a ranch-style home that has been specially upgraded and adapted to accommodate persons with disabilities. The property allows enough room for a wide variety of training programs. ACT welcomes our prospective trainees and families to tour the facility with a member of our staff.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
There are many things in my day to day life that begin my happiness. I like to spend time with my family and friends. I love seeing my children exploring the world and learning new things. I also get excited about ACT when our trainees hit milestones and master skills they have been working on.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://autismcareertraining.org/
• Instagram: @AutismCareerTraining
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutismCareerTraining