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