In this compelling episode of the Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show, host Michael Stamatinos sits down with Jennifer Brooks Kaluza, founder and executive director of CAYA—short for "Come As You Are." Jennifer shares her deeply personal journey from being a senior executive at Elevance Health to launching CAYA, a mission-driven initiative supporting neurodivergent young adults—especially those with autism—who often fall through the cracks of the traditional healthcare and social services systems.
Drawing inspiration from her son Charlie, Jennifer opens up about the under-discussed challenges faced by autistic adults with low support needs: unemployment, social isolation, and a lack of appropriate services once they transition out of childhood programs. With an eye toward building a scalable digital platform and a commitment to creating a truly inclusive community, Jennifer is rewriting the script for how society supports this underserved population.
In this episode, Jennifer opens up about:
• Her decision to leave a successful corporate career and follow a calling
• The stark statistics behind underemployment and social isolation in the autistic adult population
• How CAYA helps neurodivergent individuals build the tools for independence, confidence, and a meaningful life
• The READY program, designed to help participants uncover their skills, align them with career paths, and gain real-world readiness
• The power of self-discovery, validation, and community in creating long-term success
• Her vision for scaling CAYA into a digital platform to serve young adults across the country, complete with microlearning, safe community forums, and mental health tools
• The challenges of bias and stigma in the workplace, and how she’s working with employers to foster neuroinclusive hiring practices and accommodations
• CAYA’s grassroots beginnings, community-led funding approach, and how local job fairs are bridging the gap between talent and opportunity
Jennifer also shares her powerful insights on what it means to live a life aligned with one’s purpose, offering encouragement to anyone who feels called to make a difference but doesn’t know where to start. Her journey is proof that with passion, courage, and a clear mission, change is possible—one conversation, one connection, one community at a time.
If this conversation moved you, inspired you, or made you think—don’t keep it to yourself. Share this episode with a colleague, post it on social media, or send it to someone navigating similar challenges. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss another story from the front lines of healthcare innovation.
Learn more about CAYA:
Website: https://cayaproject.org
Facebook & LinkedIn: Come As You Are
Email: jenny@cayaproject.org
The movement to build a more inclusive world needs all of us. Let’s take action—together.
The Advancing Healthcare Innovation Show started with the idea of wanting to highlight stories of what healthcare innovation truly looks like in action. Our mission, highlight real people who are really innovating within healthcare. Guests include healthcare entrepreneurs, providers, payers, and professionals from the investment community. We showcase little wins as well as valuable lessons learned from setbacks through these interviews. The real innovators in healthcare are often the ones in the trenches doing the work with razor-sharp focus. We find these innovators and bring their stories to light.
Find out more about how we are building bridges within healthcare. Join our group, Advancing Healthcare Innovation Forum on LinkedIn.
