Author: Paul Meier

About the author: • On the autism spectrum himself providing the perspective of an insider. • Been working with kids since 1985 as a professional and/or volunteer. • Founded and has run CNY Autism Consulting since 2011. • Speaks at universities, schools, and agencies. • Sits on the NY State Department of Education Advisory Council for Post-Secondary Disability Education. • Experienced in working with those who have coexisting mental health, developmental, and physical diagnoses. • Experienced in autism crisis management. • Works with all ages and levels of functioning. • Mentors two brothers with autism, in their home, his home, and the community. • Took in and parented an autistic teen. Also: • Repeated third grade in school, and was in a self-contained classroom for fourth and fifth grade. • Couldn”t ride a bike until age eleven. • While repeatedly failing in high school accused of being: lazy, unprepared, unconcerned, and not working to abilities. • Failed courses in college, graduating with a 2.2 GPA, and not knowing if there would be a diploma until the day before graduation. • Was fired from multiple jobs, and almost fired from several more. • Struggles with handwriting to the degree he has difficulty doing much more than signing his name or making a shopping list. • Most days has a sink piled with dirty dishes.