This guest post is by Daniel Cadez III, a young man who was diagnosed with autism at 12 and who plans to attend Lawrence Technological University. Daniel is applying for the Spring 2023 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: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams, our nonprofit’s new book, was released on March 29, 2022, on Amazon here for our community to enjoy featuring the stories of 100 autistic adults.
My name is Daniel Cadez III. I am 18 years old and attend Lakeland High School in White Lake Michigan. When I was 2 years old my aunt bought me a battery operated train set. I spent the days making elaborate tracks and watching how the trains moved. Since then I have been fascinated by locomotives. I learned how to manipulate them so that they would go faster and backward. As I grew, I began to design new locomotives using pieces from old engines and parts I made up. I never got over my love of trains and I don’t think I ever will.
Autism has been challenging. When I was little they thought I had ADD because I had a hard time focusing. I did not have ADD, but they still wanted to put me on medication. My mother kept on for a true diagnosis. It took years to find one. School was really difficult for me. Socializing with kids who wanted to do “normal” boy things like sports was not something I enjoyed. I was drawn to kids like me. Awkward, kind, quieter. As soon as I was diagnosed and getting the help I needed, I flourished in school. It was not longer stressful. I had it and my grades proved it. I ended up moving in 9th grade and did well with the transition. I had great support at my new school even though I didn’t know one person. I did ok at first, then Covid had us all in virtual school. I began getting very comfortable not having to be around people.
Going back to school in September 2022 was extremely difficult. I experienced so much stress and anxiety. I had never felt so overwhelmed. I was taking the bus to and from school. Having my little brother didn’t help. I was also starting technical school every afternoon. My parents and teachers that knew me said this was a perfect fit, but I hated the idea. Thankfully they pushed and encouraged me. I love my technical school. This really helped me deal with my anxiousness returning to school because it was something I looked forward to. My focus is Engineering, Robotics and Mechatronics. I have been able to learn so much and know that I want to focus on mechanical engineering. I would have never known that if my teachers and parents were not so involved in helping me succeed in this! I still struggle but am learning tools to help me. My GPA last semester was 3.95!
I come from an Italian Heritage. My grandfather, Francesco Lacaria, came from Italy in 1969. He left behind his wife and 3 small children to find work and a home. It would be 14 months until his wife and children came to meet him in Detroit, Michigan. My grandmother, Rosa, was a strong woman who learned English and business alongside her husband. They had to start from nothing to make a good life. Family is so important in the Italian culture. My mother was born in the United States but the culture she grew up in was very much an immigrant Italian life. When I came along, my grandfather had just died. I didn’t get to experience as much because my grandmother got sick right after that. I know as a small child she would try to teach me Italian but I never was able to become fluent because her illness took her too soon. I feel the Italian culture and the influence whenever we are at family get together and events. It’s always really loud and there is lots of delicious food. When I am around my family, I do understand what it may have been like in the early years. There is so much tradition.
As I have gotten older, people have gotten busier and times together are less. I do miss experiencing that with my family. But even though the times are different, I still have the same values my grandparents passed down. How hard work accomplishes success. Respect is the foundation of any good relationship. Family is very important and never to be forgotten.
I think my biggest quality is creativity. This comes at comes with other things such as creative ways to problem solve and enjoyment in challenges. Seeing how things are put together and how they function have always interested me. I am fascinated especially by old fashion technology. I have my own hobbies, which while on a small scale can be very challenging as I have to try and create things with the materials I limit myself with. I’ve been doing such things for years enhancing my skills. I’ve found that it can apply with many other things. My enjoyment also applies when I attend my technical school; I get so much enjoyment out of assembling things. It’s a large passion of mine. I believe that engineering classes would be very fun and challenging. I want to increase my skills by doing newer and bigger things. Engineering is truly a part of my life I’d like to expand upon.
My goals are to be independent and own my own home in my 20s. I have been accepted to Lawrence Technological University and that is where I would love to study. I went to an open house and the students are building a 9-foot working train! It is a private university and very expensive. My second choice is the University of Michigan. I have been accepted into their engineering program as well. Getting this scholarship will help me pay for school. Cost is going to be the deciding factor on where I go to school. I have applied myself as diligently as possible. I thank you for considering me.
Follow my journey on Facebook, my Facebook Fan Page, Tiktok, Youtube & Instagram.
My name is Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum. I started the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship aid to pursue post-secondary education. Help support me so I can continue to help students with autism go to college by making a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit here.
Autistics on Autism: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams was released on March 29, 2022 on Amazon here for our community to enjoy featuring the stories of 100 autistic adults. 100% of the proceeds from this book will go back to our nonprofit to support initiatives like our autism scholarship program. In addition, this autistic adult’s essay you just read will be featured in a future volume of this book as we plan on making this into a series of books on autistic adults.
