Spectrum

Voices

Spectrum

Voices

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Real Skills. Real Content. Real Opportunities.

Spectrum Voices is Infinite Spectrum Foundation’s flagship media and life-skills program. Through monthly workshops, we give autistic youth ongoing opportunities to strengthen communication, self-advocacy, executive functioning, and creative media skills — building the confidence and capability to pursue real work opportunities, one session at a time.

Unlike one-and-done trainings, Spectrum Voices puts participants in the producer’s chair every month. Each session pairs a self-sufficiency skill with real podcast and digital media work, so participants aren’t just learning concepts — they’re producing and practicing, month after month.

Every workshop follows the same real-world structure: a self-sufficiency skill, a podcast or digital media skill, a hands-on activity to reinforce it, and Video Self-Modeling practice — an evidence-based technique that builds confidence by having participants review and learn from their own recorded successes. Once a month, that structure extends into a Spectrum Outing, scheduled separately, that takes the skills out of the room and into the community.

Because it’s ongoing, growth compounds. Participants don’t graduate once and stop — they return, build, and strengthen the same skills month over month. That’s not a single milestone. It’s a track record built one workshop at a time.

Limited to 15 participants. Apply early — spots fill quickly.
 
Open to individuals on the autism spectrum. No prior media experience required.
 
Intensive, hands-on training with real content production built in.
The Summer 7 Week Cohort cost is $500, with a sliding-scale scholarship available based on household income. 
 
WHAT PARTICIPANTS LEARN

Skills That Open Doors

Every skill built in Spectrum Voices is designed to be used — in the studio, and out in the real world through Spectrum Outings.

Digital Storytelling Research Reference: Lewis-Dagnell et al. (2024). Using ‘I am’ Digital Stories to facilitate autistic young people to have a voice in their transition to adulthood. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs.
Spectrum Outings

Spectrum Outings

Take the communication, social, and self-advocacy skills built in Spectrum Voices out into the real world — through structured, in-person outings designed for practice, not performance.

  • Real-world conversation practice
  • Social skills applied in community settings
  • Self-advocacy in unfamiliar situations
  • Confidence built through repetition
  • Optional family reflection — sharing a challenge or a win from the outing
Podcast Production

Podcast Production

Learn the full production pipeline — from idea to published episode — using professional audio tools and techniques.

  • Audio recording & microphone technique
  • Episode planning & guest coordination
  • Audio editing & mixing basics
  • Publishing & distribution workflows
  • Show notes & episode metadata
Content Creation

Content Creation

Develop a voice and build the writing, scripting, and storytelling skills needed to create content that resonates with a real audience.

  • Script writing & episode structuring
  • Interview preparation & research
  • Social media content for podcasts
  • Audience engagement strategies
  • Brand voice & messaging consistency
Digital Communication

Digital Communication

Build the professional digital skills that every modern media and communications role requires — from tools to workplace communication.

  • Digital tools & production software
  • File management & project organization
  • Professional email & communication
  • Portfolio building & presentation
  • Workplace readiness & professional norms
PROGRAM STRUCTURE

7 Weeks. One Cohort. Real Output.

Each week builds on the last — participants move from learning the fundamentals to producing and publishing real content under professional guidance.

Introduction to the program, team, and equipment. Explore what podcasting is, how it works, and how it connects to workforce opportunities. Set personal goals for the cohort.

 
 

Hands-on recording sessions. Learn microphone technique, room acoustics, and the fundamentals of professional audio capture. First recordings reviewed as a group.

 
 
 

Learn how to plan and write an episode from scratch. Practice interview preparation, research techniques, and structuring a compelling narrative arc.

 
 
 

Edit a full episode using digital audio tools. Learn cutting, mixing, music/sound integration, and the standards that separate amateur recordings from professional ones.

 
 
 

Participants plan, record, and produce a full episode of Spectrum Stories with a real guest. This is the centerpiece of the portfolio.

 
 
 

Build the digital layer around the podcast — social media content, show notes, graphics, and the professional communication skills needed to distribute work publicly.

 
 
 

Finalize portfolios, present work to a panel of community members and partners, and celebrate completion. Introductions made to employer and opportunity network.

 
 
 
The Research Behind Spectrum Voices

Why This Works

Spectrum Voices is built on two research-supported practices: Video Self-Modeling and Digital Storytelling.

Video Self-Modeling has participants watch footage of themselves successfully performing a skill — recording an interview, explaining an idea on camera — a practice research shows builds communication, self-expression, and confidence for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

Digital Storytelling gives participants a structured way to shape their own experiences into a narrative they control, strengthening self-advocacy and giving them a voice in decisions that affect their own lives.

Every script, recording session, and published episode in Spectrum Voices puts these two practices into action — not just media training, but a research-backed path to real self-sufficiency.

Source: Bellini, S., & Akullian, J. (2007). A Meta-Analysis of Video Modeling and Video Self-Modeling Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Exceptional Children, 73(3), 261–284.

A Professional Portfolio

Real episodes of Spectrum Stories that are publicly available, shareable with employers, and evidence of professional-level work — not classroom exercises.
A Professional Portfolio

In-Demand Skills

Podcast production, content creation, audio editing, and digital communication — skills that are valuable across media, marketing, communications, and beyond.
In-Demand Skills

Network & Opportunities

Connections to ISF's partner employers and organizations. Introductions to the community of professionals who support neurodiverse hiring and inclusion.
Network & Opportunities
APPLY TO SPECTRUM MEDIA LAB

Ready to Join the Next Cohort?

Applications are open for the 2026 cohort. We accept up to 15 participants per cohort — and spots are filled on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged. No prior media experience is required. What we're looking for is a genuine interest in storytelling, communication, or digital media — and a willingness to show up and do the work.

If you have questions before applying, reach out to us at contact@is-foundation.org or call (850) 270-3151. We're happy to walk you through the program and answer any questions.

Families are encouraged to reach out as well — we work collaboratively with parents and guardians throughout the program to make sure every participant has the support they need to succeed.
2026 APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED

Program Application

    This information is used only to verify program eligibility and is kept confidential. It will not be shared publicly.
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