This guest post is by Connor Hedrich, a young man on the autism spectrum who aspires to attend Lindenwood University. Connor is applying for the Spring 2025 Making a Difference Autism Scholarship via the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference started by me, Kerry Magro. I was nonverbal till 2.5 and diagnosed with autism at 4 and you can read more about my organization here.
Autistics on Autism the Next Chapter: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams will be released on Amazon on 3/25/25 and looks at the lives over 75 Autistic adults. 100% of the proceeds from this book will go back to supporting our nonprofits many initiatives, like this scholarship program. Check out the book here.
My involvement in robotics club provided my initial foray into the world of programming. Collaborating with others to construct something tangible was incredibly rewarding. This experience underscored the vital role of teamwork. While navigating different viewpoints wasn’t always straightforward, I learned the crucial skills of active listening and finding common ground to achieve our shared objectives. My autism, with its tendency towards focused interests, actually helped me to concentrate deeply on the technical aspects of our projects.
Code Ninjas proved to be a pivotal experience. Immersing myself in diverse coding languages like Javascript, Python, and C++ allowed me to translate my imaginative ideas into tangible creations. Whether I was developing interactive experiences within Roblox or architecting entire games in Unity, each project fueled my passion for learning and building. The summer camps, particularly those involving Minecraft Education Edition and drone programming, were fantastic opportunities to explore and apply my coding skills in engaging ways. My autistic focus allowed me to become deeply engrossed in these technical challenges, often leading to innovative solutions.
Taking the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Computer Science class during my freshman and sophomore years of high school marked a significant step in my academic journey. Delving deeper into Python, C#, and C++ solidified my aspiration to pursue a career in game development. While the coursework presented its challenges, my autistic drive for understanding and problem-solving allowed me to thrive in this environment, finding immense satisfaction in debugging and ultimately making my code function as intended.
Currently, as a junior at Lewis and Clark studying computer science, I am expanding my knowledge in areas such as C++, C#, Javascript, SQL, Web Design, and Unity game design. The workload is demanding, but my intense focus and dedication, often characteristic of individuals on the autism spectrum, are driving me to persevere.
I’m a perfectionist by nature, a trait that can be amplified by my autism, which often translates into achieving high grades. I have a strong desire to execute tasks correctly and consistently push my boundaries to improve. Ultimately, my goal is to create games that resonate deeply with players, offering them engaging and memorable experiences. This is my lifelong ambition, and I am committed to working diligently to realize it.
Through sharing my journey, I aim to inspire and motivate others within the autism community to pursue their passions, particularly in fields like technology and creative arts. My experiences demonstrate that while autism presents unique ways of processing the world, these can also be significant strengths, fostering deep focus, meticulous attention to detail, and innovative thinking. I hope to show that individuals on the spectrum can achieve their dreams and make meaningful contributions, and I am eager to connect with and uplift others on similar paths.
Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum started the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship aid to pursue a post-secondary education. Help us continue to help students with autism go to college by making a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit here.
Also, consider having Kerry, one of the only professionally accredited speakers on the spectrum in the country, speak at your next event by sending him an inquiry here. If you have a referral for someone who many want him to speak please reach out as well! Kerry speaks with schools, businesses, government agencies, colleges, nonprofit organizations, parent groups and other special events on topics ranging from employment, how to succeed in college with a learning disability, internal communication, living with autism, bullying prevention, social media best practices, innovation, presentation best practices and much more!
