This guest post is by Jovan Acevedo, a young man on the autism spectrum who was accepted and into Auburn University. Jovan 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.
I always ask my mom and day why I am autistic but not my sister. I ask if they are sad that I am autistic and they say they would only take me the way I am and that they are lucky to have me. I was autistic since 3 but mom says she knew it earlier but doctors kept saying that I was a busy boy and it is too early to tell. I ate soft baby food until I was 4 and I did not talk until 4.
Then I started talking and now I talk too much. I also write Yelp reviews on restaurants, I write better than I talk is what everyone says. My parents always took me traveling everywhere so I got used to being around people and in large groups. My sister plays volleyball so I traveled all over the country and go to meet so many cool and fun people, parents from the team were my favorite. And coaches were awesome they let me sit on the bench and cheer.
I still go to my sister’s games now that she plays in college, but I can’t sit on the bench but I can still give all the players hugs and tell them how great they are. They are very tall and pretty and fun and so nice to me. I am going to Auburn next year and I got in the Eagles program so I want to manage one of the sports teams.
When I was little I always ran away from my parents and loved to run and my mom says she was in the best shape chasing after me. Now I run cross country and track and I am very fast. My teammates are awesome and so nice, we practice every day and when we don’t I still go for a run. I don’t know if I can run at Auburn but I would like to.
I love elevators and airplanes. My favorite app is Flightradar24 and I memorize so many flights around the world and i learn geography and geography is my favorite class. I have a map on the wall to cross off all the states I traveled to, and I hope I see all the states soon. Hawaii and Alaska are probably last ones. But I have been to 35 and will be more this year.
Mom and I drive all over and make sure we hit states I need to see, for my graduation I want to fly to Rhone Island and get a car and drive to all the northeast states with my mom.
My family did not think that I will ride a bike, go to school or drive a car. Now I am doing everything and I did ABA for 5 years when I was little, mom says those were the hardest years for her and me. I did ride BMX and competed and I drive a car too. And I am in school but getting alternative diploma.
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!
