Meet the Team

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

Everyone in leadership identifies as autistic which helps NAPS accurately represent the diverse voices in the autistic community.

Black and white picture of a girl with a white over shirt covering her top.

Executive Director

Patricia Powell

Patricia has been the executive director since NAPS became a nonprofit in 2022. She was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in 2001, when she was a sophomore in high school. She was born in Mission Viejo, CA, and grew up in Santa Ana, CA. She has called Tennessee her home since August 2012.

Patricia@nationalautismpeersupport.org

Administrative Director

Robbie Miller

Robbie has been with the organization since the Spring of 2023. She has a background in non-profit administrative support, social media management, and team-building. She was diagnosed with ASD Level 1 and co-occurring ADHD in 2023. She continually seeks to learn new things and has a passion for advocacy.

Robbie@nationalautismpeersupport.org

A circle with the name Nashville in the middle, Autism at the top, and Peer Support at the bottom over a bluish-green background.

Chief Facilitator

Hope Denney

Hope joined NAPS in January 2022. She enjoys helping autistic adults both understand and better advocate for themselves. Because she loves learning, she is an enthusiastic hobby hopper.

Hope@nationalautismpeersupport.org

Meeting Facilitator

Steve Cirkvencic

Steve was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a self-diagnosed and self-employed musician who enjoys yoga, walking, and monster truck races.

Steve@nationalautismpeersupport.org

Founder

Chad Beadles

Chad is a single parent who raised two neurodiverse children. He is an Executive with an international corporation within the insurance industry.

He has multiple degrees and designations and continues to support NAPS to help provide support and belonging to others.

Administrative Assistant

Laura Hammons

Contact Info: N/A

Our History

Nashville Autism Peer Support was founded by Chad Beadles in 2015. He devised the idea for the group from a Partners in Policymaking Leadership Institute homework assignment. The Partners in Policymaking Leadership Institute is a program provided by the TN Council on Developmental Disabilities and offers individuals with a disability or their loved one(s) the knowledge of how to become a better advocate for themself or their loved one(s).

Our Mission

To provide a safe place for individuals with autism and their support networks to find resources, acceptance, and understanding while working to educate the community to increase awareness.

Our Vision

For every individual with autism to be accepted for who they are and for the public to be educated on autism.

Our Values

Authenticity

We value autistics being their authentic selves and not apologizing for it.

Acceptance

We value acceptance for every autistic individual.

Self-Advocacy

We value autistics advocating for their needs and helping others do the same.

Community

We value offering a space for autistics to find community with one another.

Understanding

We value autistics sharing their story so others can understand them better.

Respect

We value every autistic being respected for who they are as a person.