Students Tackling Autism-Related Syndromes (STARS) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that was founded by Kim Jameson, the parent of an autistic son, in 2015, at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN, to support students socially, academically, and pre-professionally. STARS is open to all students at Christian Brothers University, including autistic students and their peers, and students from other universities in the Memphis area have recently joined the program. STARS consists of several subprograms, including a social program that holds weekly game and social nights, an academic coaching program, a philanthropy program that involves giving back to the community, and a pre-employment program focusing on career-readiness.
Participants in the InsideOut program on a field trip to a local rock-climbing gym in 2024
In 2019, I noticed that many students participating in STARS spent less time exercising and more time engaging in solitary, technology-based activities than their peers. Research indicates that autistic individuals, on average, spend less time doing physical activities and more time doing sedentary, screen-time-based behaviors (Must et al., 2014). This may place autistic individuals at greater risk for obesity and associated metabolic conditions (Corvey et al., 2016; McCoy et al., 2016). Memphis, Tennessee, has the 7th highest obesity rate of major cities in the United States (McCann, 2024) and ranks 2nd in diabetes mortality rate (Buscemi et al., 2021). In addition to physical health concerns, Memphis also has high rates of mental health concerns. In 2020, Memphis was rated as the most stressed city in the United States (Harris, 2021). These mental health concerns are especially high among 18- to 29-year-olds, with over 1/3 of young adults reporting high rates of anxiety and depression (National Center for Health Statistics, 2025). Some research indicates that physical activity is as effective as Prozac at treating depression (Singh et al., 2023). Recognizing these challenges both nationally and locally, I saw an opportunity to integrate structured physical activity into STARS, leading to the creation of the InsideOut program
The InsideOut program started with 4 participants (2 autistic students and 2 peers—one being myself) in 2019. Participants would meet weekly, pairing with their peers, for about an hour and engage in a physical activity chosen by the autistic student. One pair preferred to engage in walking outside, while the student I worked with preferred weightlifting.
I began exercising with an autistic student in his freshman year. During this time, I was not a psychologist or a professor—I was simply a workout buddy. The student I worked with was intimidated by the gym—the sensory and social aspects of a gym can be overwhelming. Initially, he struggled to bench press the 45-pound bar. We developed a friendship over this student’s four-year college career, and this persisted through the COVID-19 pandemic (which involved uncomfortably exercising while wearing masks). By the time this student graduated, he was able to bench press 135 pounds and had noticeably packed on muscle. Post-graduation, he continues to exercise on his own.
Over the past 6 years, the InsideOut program has grown. In 2023, the program grew to 9 participants (4 autistic students and 5 peers, 4 of whom were collegiate athletes). Several of the autistic students developed friendships with their peer collegiate athletes and would attend their sporting events. One of the collegiate athletes, following participation in the program, chose to pursue a career as a therapist for autistic youth. Currently, the InsideOut program meets weekly and engages in group activities like going on walks and playing basketball, with special trips to go rock climbing and bowling.
The benefits of the InsideOut program have extended far beyond exercise-related goals. To date, there has been a 100% graduation/retention rate for all student participants. Here are two comments from student participants:
“The InsideOut program offered me the experience of engaging in physical activity…I learned the basic responsibilities and functions of making healthy choices to be physically fit…”
“I felt a lot has been missing from my life for quite some time. This program is what was missing.”
In the future, I would like to continue to grow the program and seek out grants or partnerships with fitness centers or fitness tracking companies. This April, thanks to the assistance of iFit, I am running the Boston Marathon to raise awareness for STARS and the InsideOut program. Other colleges and universities have shown interest in adapting the program at their own schools, and there may be possibilities to start similar programs at high schools and middle schools.
The InsideOut program demonstrates how structured physical activity can foster not only better health outcomes but also meaningful social connections for autistic students and their peers. Through exercise, participants have gained confidence, formed friendships, and developed habits that extend beyond college life. The program’s 100% retention and graduation rate speaks to its broader impact on student success. Looking to the future, the goal is to expand these benefits to more students nationwide—creating opportunities for fitness, friendship, and personal growth at every level of education.
Colby Taylor, PhD, is a psychologist and an Associate Professor of Behavioral Sciences at Christian Brothers University, as well as the Director of the STARS InsideOut Program. For more information, email ctaylo41@cbu.edu.
References
Buscemi, J., Saiyed, N., Silva, A., Ghahramani, F., & Benjamins, M. R. (2021). Diabetes mortality across the 30 biggest U.S. cities: Assessing overall trends and racial inequities. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 173, 108652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2021.108652
Corvey, K., Menear, K.S., Preskitt, J. et al. Obesity, physical activity and sedentary behaviors in children with an autism spectrum disorder. Maternal Child Health Journal, 20, 466–476 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1844-5
Harris, M. (2021, February 9). Memphis leads nation as most stressed-out city nationwide. Memphis Flyer. https://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis-leads-nation-as-most-stressed-out-city-nationwide
McCann, A. (2024, March 11). Most overweight and obese cities in the U.S. WalletHub. https://wallethub.com/edu/fattest-cities-in-america/10532
McCoy, S.M., Jakicic, J.M. & Gibbs, B.B. Comparison of obesity, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors between adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and without. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46, 2317–2326 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2762-0
Must, A., Phillips, S. M., Curtin, C., Anderson, S. E., Maslin, M., Lividini, K., & Bandini, L. G. (2014). Comparison of sedentary behaviors between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children. Autism, 18(4), 376-384. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361313479039
National Center for Health Statistics. U.S. Census Bureau, Household Pulse Survey, 2020–2024. Anxiety and Depression. Generated interactively: February 26, 2025 from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/pulse/mental-health.htm
Singh, B., Olds, T., Curtis, R., Dumuid, D., Virgara, R., Watson, A., Szeto, K., O’Connor, E., Ferguson, T., Eglitis, E., Miatke, A., Simpson, C. E. M., & Maher, C. (2023). Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: An overview of systematic reviews. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57(18), 1203–1210. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-106195
