Troy d'ambrosio

5,000 students

Top 25 ranked program

NEW VENTURE DEVELOPMENT CENTER    

250 students $1.5M+ scholarships Engaged 40+ departments 45 startup companies

www.lassonde.utah.edu

Mission Statement “A strengths-based and family-centered technology and education program that values neurodiversity and provides youth with learning opportunities to realize self-determination and their potential across the life course.�

Key principals • Building on strengths and abilities • Communication challenges – but visual/spatial strengths • Neurodiversity – the range of talents and gifts • Talent needs support and direction

Unique Process • Strengths-based approach • Builds on visual/perceptual/spatial abilities • Students learn program with assistance from trained adult mentors • Mentors from creative companies (Universal Creative) caught the imagination of the students

Goal

Winter 2012

Winter 2011

Summer 2011

Summer 2009

Summer 2012

Summer 2011

Spring 2011

Timeline

Aspirations • EXPANDIBILITY and EXTENSIBILITY • Expansion of program nationally/internationally • Create “iSTAR in a box”: program materials, training materials, support network • Expand research to include more children in a variety of settings.

• Efficacy of a virtual community to reach more participants – extend the application and access

Opportunity for impact Team of three U graduate students • Pain point

• Market • Customers

• Strategy • Sustainable business model • Funding

Pain point Interventions focus on 18mo – 5yrs

Mainstream methods don’t play to strengths

Aging Out: Kids With Autism ‘Fall Off Cliff’ After Graduation Abcnews.go.com

Market drivers Students with Autism Gravitate Toward STEM Majors Blogs.scientificamerican.com

Helping Autism With High Tech Huffingtonpost.com

Young Adults With Autism Can Thrive In High-Tech Jobs NPR.org

“SAP sees a potential competitive advantage to leveraging the unique talents of people with autism, while also helping them to secure meaningful employment.�

Versity Personal confidence, social skills, and vocational readiness for youth with autism through our training program

Cheryl Wright, Ph.D.

Scott Wright, Ph.D.

Alex Drew

Greg Johns, MBA

Milestones

Versity

Business Model Two graduate students

Versity • Training • Curriculum • Expertise • Process

• Experience • Network • Space • Process

Identify 3D model users & outsource opportunities

Pilot project

Step 6 • Customer feedback

Step 5 • Hire trained employees • Complete & deliver project Provider

Step 4 • Recruit and train cohort

Versity Step 1 Identify and scope project with customers

Step 2 • Identify employee & supervisory skills required to complete project • Develop processes

Step 3 • Review and modify curriculum & training to meets project needs

Pilot project Versity Salt City School District helped identify and recruit students • 26 parents responded • 9 schedule and time commitment Parent/student orientation held May 30-31 Pilot program July 7 – 18 at CCC

New concept

New concept University housing

+ SUITE

APARTMENT

CAMERA PHONE? PHOTOGRAPH

TALK

CAMERA PHONE!!

FACETIME

New concept 20,000 sq. ft. – student “garage” • Maker space • Co-working space • Company launch space 400 residential units • 1 & 2 bed apartments • Lofts • Modular

Maker space

Co-working space

Company launch space

Event space

Residential Lofts

Residential Studio

Residential Studio

Lassonde Studios

Lassonde Studios