12 Years Later, How an Autistic Child Has Changed A Career… For The Better

In 2006, I wrote about Patty and my decision to homeschool our son Trevor in order to provide a more appropriate learning environment for his autism. It’s now been twelve years, and it’s time to write about how things turned out.

Trevor began seventh grade with a personalized education plan. Patty concentrated on the arts and language, while I concentrated on math and science. He also went to a homeschool-assisted school that offered English and math classes, as well as a science class at the middle school he would have normally gone to. Patty and I collaborated with Trevor’s school counselor to create the curriculum plan. We felt that a combination of homeschooling and traditional schooling would give Trevor the best chance of success. Trevor’s counselor was fantastic in collaborating with us and prioritizing Trevor’s well-being. In seventh grade, the blended teaching method worked very well, but we also noticed that Trevor was not getting enough peer socialization. We decided to begin the process of reintegrating him into the public school system in eighth grade. Patty’s focus remained on the arts and language, while Trevor’s middle school now provided math and science topics. I like to tell people that I was fired as a homeschool teacher by my wife and son. In reality, mainstreaming was the best option because it allowed him to get needed socialization by spending more time at school while also providing him with some extra 1:1 attention through homeschooling. Trevor was ready to be fully mainstreamed into the public school system when he was in ninth grade. While we were packing up our homeschool supplies, our involvement in Trevor’s education and socialization was still strong.

The ninth through twelfth grades had their high points, but they also had their low points. Many other students took advantage of Trevor’s autism and bullied and mocked him. He couldn’t tell the difference between kids mocking him and kids being his friend. Because he lacked his peers’ social interaction skills, he would say and do inappropriate things. He did have a few close friends who were sincere in their friendship, some of whom he is still in contact with today. Trevor’s participation in drama club was a bright spot throughout high school. He took part in numerous performances, both on stage and behind the scenes. Trevor’s “clique” was the drama club, and while some in the club took advantage of his autism, many accepted and looked out for him.

Trevor graduated from high school in 2011 and intends to attend college. He attended a local junior college for two years while living at home because he felt the transition from high school to a large university would be too abrupt for him. He had developed a passion for movies and photography, so he decided to major in film studies with a photography emphasis. These two years were crucial in Trevor’s development because he was able to continue his academic progress while also working on socialization and adaptation skills. He decided in his sophomore year that he wanted to transfer to a four-year university and major in film and media studies. His choice of where to go was an excellent example of decision making based on empirical data analysis and pros/cons articulation. He created a visibility board with a variety of decision criteria, such as major offering, closeness of family, and church offerings. He narrowed his options to two colleges: Central Washington University and Arizona State University, both of which required him to live away from home. He ultimately chose Arizona State after concluding that it was the best option based on his research. During this time, Trevor also published Six-Word Lessons on Growing Up Autistic, a book about his experiences growing up with autism.

We drove Trevor to the ASU Tempe campus in August 2013, assisted him in setting up his dorm room, and then dropped him off to begin his junior year of college. While being a thousand miles away from him was unsettling, we had peace of mind knowing that there were several family members in the area, including Trevor’s big sister Briana, who was now a nurse in nearby Scottsdale. His final two years of high school were marked by rapid development. He had to figure out a lot of things on his own, meet new people, and be responsible for his own education. Fortunately, he found a church group within walking distance of ASU. He fit right in, and the church group was a highlight of his time at ASU. He got to live with and deal with roommates, the majority of whom he felt were too immature for him. We received several problem calls from him when he misplaced his wallet, had computer problems, or was having difficulty coping with certain situations. He earned a degree in Film & Media Studies from ASU in December 2015, Cum Laude.

His post-college life was fraught with anxiety. He was no longer in school, and it was time for him to support himself. He didn’t have a job when he graduated, so Patty and I decided to hire him as our Media Director. He worked for us for 17 months, during which time we were able to assist him in developing good work habits. We instituted a monthly review process called “dones,” in which he would lay out what he would have done by the end of the month at the beginning of the month, which we would then review at the beginning of the next month. It was an excellent process in that all three of us were on the same page regarding what he needed to do, and he was held accountable for getting things done. Trevor joined Northwest Center in July 2017, where he divides his time between facilities management and marketing. His marketing assignments have yielded positive results, including interviews with two local TV news stations.

Trevor is now 26 years old. He lives on his own in a condo we bought for him, along with two other autistic tenants. He pays his own rent, manages his own finances, and is as self-sufficient as any 26-year-old. He still faces some challenges that he will face for the rest of his life. He’ll always need someone to guide him through difficult situations. It took a lot of effort on all of our parts, but Patty and I are excited about Trevor’s future and grateful that we were able to assist him.