This guest post is by Adria Michelman, an autistic adult returning to school to pursue a new career in healthcare through the Central Sterile Processing program at MassBay Community College. Adria is applying for the Spring 2026 Making a Difference Autism Scholarship through KFM Making a Difference, the nonprofit founded by Kerry Magro. Kerry was nonspeaking until age 2.5 and was diagnosed with autism at 4.
Autistics on Autism: The Next Chapter shares stories from more than 100 autistic adults about what helped them while growing up and pursuing their dreams. All proceeds support KFM Making a Difference initiatives, including this scholarship program. To invite Kerry to speak at your school, company, or organization, submit an inquiry here.
Hi! My name is Adria, and I am a 44-year-old autistic woman living in Boston with my longtime partner. I am changing careers from teaching to healthcare and seeking scholarship support to continue my education.
Hi! My name is Adria, and I am a 44-year-old autistic woman living in Boston, Massachusetts. I have lived and worked here since I moved in 2014. Since then, I have worked to earn a teaching license, served in various districts across the greater Boston area, and built a life with my longtime partner. We met in high school and have lived together for more than 10 years. I am grateful to call him my life partner.
In college, I trained to become a teacher. I knew I wanted to work with students because of my interest in helping others. I worked with students with learning and behavioral disabilities in both resource-room and general-education settings.
I started to have trouble at work. I had difficulty working with administrators and managing some interpersonal relationships. I continued to pursue higher education by earning a master’s degree during my second year of teaching. I learned about an alternative postsecondary program for high school students with significant disabilities, became involved, and eventually worked as a job coach for some of its students.
The program was based at the University of Cincinnati, where I started taking classes. Eventually, however, I decided to attend a program at the University of Kentucky, where I completed a specialist degree in 2014.
Growing up, I knew there were things that were harder for me. When we moved from Minneapolis to Massachusetts, I had trouble making and keeping friends. I had difficulty with perspective-taking and reading facial expressions. Although I was able to manage academics, social difficulties continued to persist.
After initial neuropsychological testing in 1999, a psychologist told my parents that I had a nonverbal learning disability. My parents and I did some research and decided that it might be a good option for me to attend a private school with smaller classes and a lower student-to-teacher ratio.
We looked around and eventually found Eagle Hill School, where I later earned my high school diploma. Eagle Hill gave me a foundation for success and the ability to learn alongside peers with similar learning profiles. I benefited from excellent math instruction—math had always been difficult for me—and from teachers who cared about their students.
I was proud to be a member of that community and learned to advocate for myself so I could be a successful, proactive student. I applied to one college during my senior year of high school and was admitted in the spring of 2001. I started at Elms College, which was near enough to my parents for support but far enough away to give me independence and autonomy.
During that time, my mother began looking for a new job after her department at the University of Massachusetts closed. She interviewed for a position at the University of Kentucky. The interview went well, so my father and I explored Lexington, where the university was located. We loved it and moved there in the early 2000s.
I worked hard and enjoyed my time at the University of Kentucky. We enjoyed living in Lexington, watching the men’s basketball team, and appreciating the beautiful countryside. When I was about halfway through my graduate program, I met with a member of my dissertation committee. He told me he thought it would be best for me to forgo a Ph.D. and finish with a specialist degree instead.
After some tears and deliberation, I decided that this would be a good option. Around the same time, I considered moving back to Boston to reunite with my longtime partner and live together. I made the move in the summer of 2014 and continue to be grateful for the love and encouragement he has given me.
I moved to Massachusetts without a teaching license. Over time, I completed the tests required to become a teacher in the state. Passing the math test continues to be one of my greatest life achievements.
I worked in various districts near where I lived, always supporting students with disabilities. Often, I had trouble at work. Interpersonal difficulties with coworkers or supervisors sometimes led to my not being renewed or to being laid off. I continued to persevere, thinking that if I just worked harder, it would pay off.
After some time without a clear path to employment stability, I decided to seek disability services through the state. I qualified for services through the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, which supported updated neuropsychological testing. Through this testing, the diagnosis of nonverbal learning disability that I had received in 1999 was updated to autism.
After this diagnosis, I felt a sense of relief. I came to understand that, despite my hard work and dedication, I would continue to face certain challenges in jobs that required constant interpersonal interaction. I learned strategies I could use to ease anxiety and work proactively with others. I continue to work with therapists and mental health care providers to discuss these strategies and others.
I have also used this knowledge to consider—and eventually apply for—a program at my local community college in central sterile processing. This program will prepare me to clean, organize, and manage the medical instruments that healthcare professionals rely on. It is precise, essential work, and I believe it is well suited to my strengths.
I know that life will continue to challenge me as I grow and age. I am grateful for the love and support of those around me. I have enjoyed working in schools, meeting dedicated and thoughtful educators, and observing moments of joy with the students I have had the privilege to support.
Although it is different, a career in medical services would allow me to transition from working directly with people into an area that I am confident will better suit my learning needs. Becoming a teacher was a major accomplishment. Recognizing that it was not the right long-term career—and being brave enough to make a big life change—is another.
By Adria Michelman
Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also autistic, founded KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help autistic students receive scholarship support for post-secondary education. Help us continue this work by making a tax-deductible donation here.
You can also invite Kerry to speak at your next event by submitting an inquiry here. Kerry speaks with schools, businesses, government agencies, colleges, nonprofits, parent groups, and conferences on autism, employment, college success, mental health, inclusion, and bullying prevention.
