*For years, conversations about autism and the arts have centered on inclusion. Jazz Hands for Autism is focused on something bigger: opportunity. That mission was on full display as the nonprofit organization celebrated its 25th concert.
The event, held at Playa Studios in Culver City (CA), brought together musicians, families, educators, community leaders, sponsors, and supporters for an evening honoring Earth, Wind & Fire legend Philip Bailey while spotlighting the talents of neurodivergent performers.
What unfolded was more than a concert. It was a reminder that talent exists everywhere when barriers are removed and opportunities are created.
“Our whole goal is to help musicians or people with autism turn their interest in music into a career that is sustainable,” said Dr. Ifunanya Nweke, founder and executive director of Jazz Hands for Autism.
Over the past 12 years, the organization has built a reputation for helping autistic and neurodivergent musicians develop their skills, perform publicly and gain access to paid professional opportunities.
According to Nweke, Jazz Hands for Autism has served more than 200 neurodivergent musicians, trained more than 1,400 educators, helped participants secure more than 300 gigs and generated more than $52,000 in earnings through its programs.
“Our whole goal is to help musicians or individuals with autism turn their interest in music into a line of work,” she added. “By doing so, we change communities and change the way people are taught in general.”
The milestone concert came just days before the premiere of the Earth, Wind & Fire documentary (06-03-26) at the Tribeca Film Festival. Bailey, reflecting on the doc, described the experience as deeply personal.
“When I watched the documentary, it was kind of like watching my life pass before my face,” Bailey volunteered. “I spent so many years doing that. It’s kind of surreal.”
More Than a Stage
For attendees, the evening showcased far more than musical ability.
It highlighted confidence, self-expression and the power of creating environments where artists can thrive.
Joshua Hines, Director of Communications and Development for Jazz Hands for Autism, said working with students transformed his understanding of meaningful work.
“I didn’t expect to really find work that would be fulfilling to me in my life,” Hines told us.
Before joining the organization, he spent years working in corporate environments. While those jobs paid the bills, he said they lacked a deeper sense of purpose.
That changed when he began teaching and interacting with students through Jazz Hands.
“Sometimes these classes were the only time in someone’s day that they were able to perform, that they were able to express themselves and play music,” he also said. “It felt like I was working toward something good instead of somebody’s bottom line.”
The evening also carried personal significance for Hines, who dedicated his involvement in the event to his father, who passed away about a month ago.
“I dedicate my part, any part I’ve had in this night, to him and his memory,” he shared.
Building Careers, Building Confidence
Board member Christopher Cornish said one of the organization’s most important responsibilities is ensuring neurodivergent creatives have access to opportunities often denied to them elsewhere.
“We’re here to support them and give them a platform and show the world that they are just as special as the next person,” Cornish said. “They’re talented, and they just see the world differently.”
Cornish noted that sustaining the organization’s growth requires ongoing fundraising, sponsorship support and community engagement.
“It takes a village,” he added. “We’re constantly working on trying to improve and create opportunities.”
The commitment to opportunity has attracted support from professionals across entertainment, business and public service sectors.
Francisca Freeman of Mansa Spirits, a sponsor of the event, said supporting Jazz Hands for Autism was an easy decision.
“Any type of nonprofit that benefits communities like this is very important to us,” Freeman told us.
Entertainment executive and music supervisor Angela Jolivet of Moon Baby Media echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of creating pathways into the entertainment industry for talented artists regardless of how they experience the world.
“Their skills and their talent are always going to be useful in this world,” Jolivet said. “We need to make sure we’re continuing to support and encourage them every step of the way.”
Changing the Narrative
For Andrea Jennings, founder of Shifting Creative Paradigms and an accessibility commissioner for the City of Pasadena, one of the most impressive aspects of the evening was the quality of the performances themselves.
Jennings praised both the musicians and the organization’s commitment to authentic inclusion.
“I’m really pleased to see that we are authentically integrating disabled talent,” she said. “These individuals are very talented.”
She also recalled one of the evening’s most memorable moments during a discussion with Philip Bailey, when a student asked whether his music would still resonate in today’s world.
“It was a really good question,” Jennings thought. “It was a really layered answer that Philip Bailey gave.”
That exchange captured the spirit of the evening — a room filled with curiosity, talent, mentorship and possibility.
For supporters like Patricia Dean, who has championed Jazz Hands for Autism for years, the organization continues to prove what happens when talented people are given the resources and encouragement they deserve.
“These students are so amazing,” Dean told EURweb videographer Donovan Kilgore. “The amount of talent in that room exceeds anything we could imagine.”
Why It Matters
In an entertainment industry that frequently talks about diversity and inclusion, Jazz Hands for Autism is creating tangible results.
The organization isn’t simply offering music lessons. It’s helping autistic and neurodivergent musicians build confidence, develop professional skills, earn income and pursue sustainable careers.
Twelve years after its founding, the numbers tell part of the story.
More than 200 musicians served.
Plus, over 300 paid performance opportunities secured.
And more than 1,400 educators trained.
Twenty-five concerts and counting.
But for many in attendance, the most meaningful measure of success was something less quantifiable: seeing musicians take the stage knowing they belonged there.
Looking ahead, Hines invited supporters to continue the journey.
Borrowing a phrase frequently used by one of the students, he offered a fitting summary of the organization’s future:
“Jazz Hands (https://www.jazzhandsforautism.org) just keeps getting better and better.”
