A teen finally says it out loud: “What’s wrong with me?” And as a parent, you realize you don’t have an answer yet. That moment sits at the heart of our conversation with Jan Schlueter, a tech entrepreneur who moved from Germany to Tennessee and found himself pulled into autism and neurodiversity work through Vanderbilt’s Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, only to later recognize that his own daughter is autistic. We talk about what a late autism diagnosis changes, why it can bring real relief, and how it helps a young person rewrite the last decade with more compassion and clarity.

We also dig into a problem families feel every day: supports often fade right when life gets bigger. The transition to adulthood brings driving, jobs, money, travel, and independence, but resources for ages 16+ can be painfully limited. Jan shares how the Sandy driver readiness platform helps neurodivergent teens and young adults build confidence behind the wheel, plus a practical parenting approach that reduces pressure while increasing autonomy one route at a time.

Finally, we zoom out to the bigger vision: an autism-friendly ecosystem built through Neurodiverse Technologies, the Neurotech Frontiers incubation platform and conference, and new partnerships designed to connect research, products, and real-world support. If you care about autism support for adolescents, assistive technology, universal design, and building independence that lasts, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a parent or educator, and leave a review so more families can find these tools and ideas.

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