About the People in "The Out-of-Sync Child Grows Up"

ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS

These are their names, what they are doing now, and the ages they were when they (or their parents) wrote for The Out-of-Sync Child Grows Up .


Lecia Baker lives in Georgia, where she copes with her SPD and pursues a degree in interpreting American Sign Language. She wrote her poem at 18.

Kylie Boazman graduated from Smith College in 2014 where she studied anthropology in an effort to better understand people and the world around her. She has received a master’s in sociology and anthropology and is working on a second master’s in disability studies. She hopes to become an anthropology professor and disability activist. Originally from Boise, Idaho, Kylie has lived in several parts of the country and the world. She looks forward to attending graduate school and traveling whenever possible. Kylie wrote for The Out-of-Sync Child Grows Up when she was 20.

Kori Cotteleer graduated from Iowa State University, with a degree in animal ecology/pre-vet and a minor in biology. She is currently working at a nature center doing outreach education as well as working at a wildlife rehabilitation center. Kori's home is in Illinois works on Sanibel Island, Florida, alongside her sister practicing wildlife rehabilitation. She wrote her story at 20.

Hayley Fannin is a technical college graduate living in Washington State. She loves Disney movies and is on the path to find a permanent career, currently working and enjoying life with family and friends by her side. She wrote her poem, which opens the book, at 19.

Jason Fisch is a high school student, a champion on the basketball court and in the classroom, and involved in volunteering in his community and especially for the STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder in Greenwood Village. He lives with his family and dog Bronco in Colorado. He was 14 when he wrote.

Andrew Herbert has undergraduate and graduate degrees from a world renowned school of music. His undergraduate degree is in classical guitar, and his master's is in music composition. His music professor said he “was the best student he had in 30 years of teaching and would set the bar so high for the other students.” Living in Texas, he is a music professor and loves to teach. His mother wrote about him as a 12-year-old.

Ian Hoyman lives in Colorado. He is a writer and loves reading, his dog Ripley, and playing the bass violin by himself and with his father, a bassoonist. He was 14 when he wrote his pieces.

Michael Jacobs, as a little boy, had severe auditory overresponsivity, was afraid of stairs, and didn’t ride a bike until age nine, after four years of OT. Today, he is a U.S. Marine, Assault Climber/Infantry Unit, and is studying criminal justice. He was raised in New Hampshire. He wrote is story at 18.

Karly Koop teaches kindergarten and first grade in a homeschool co-op and runs the Wiggle Room (a sensorimotor lab) at an elementary school near her Texas home. She is learning American Sign Language and to play the piano. She has earned a brown belt in karate, her passion.

Kevin Larson has SPD and autism (and calls himself an “autist”). He lives in South Carolina with his parents and younger brother and currently is a student at Texas A&M University, where he is majoring in meteorology and minoring in physics and mathematics. He is a National Merit Scholar, a member of the Phi Eta National Honor Society, a student mentor, a member of TAMSCAMS (the university's chapter of the American Meteorological Society), and on the Honors Student Council. His interests include math, science, meteorology, cartography, numismatics, languages, and Mario Kart speedrunning. He wrote his pieces at 15.

Kerry Magro is a motivational speaker, talk show host, film consultant, and advocate for people with autism, SPD, and other disabilities. He wrote Defining Autism from the Heart and Autism and Falling in Love and contributed to College for Students with Disabilities: We Do Belong. He has a master’s in strategic communication from Seton Hall University and lives in New Jersey. He was 25 when he wrote for The Out-of-Sync Child Grows Up. www.kerrymagro.com

Bob Palmer is the subject of his wife Melissa’s story about dating him when he was 21. Now he is a loving husband and wonderful father to two girls with sensory issues of their own.

Daisy Roberg is the subject of her mother’s story about Daisy when she was 18. The family lives in New Jersey.

Chloe Rothschild is an autism advocate living in Ohio. She wrote at 18.

Leanna Taylor is majoring in forensic science at Loyola University Chicago. Her home is in Maryland. She wrote her piece at 16.

Daniel Travis lives in Michigan and is a Web developer. He also runs websites offering support to those struggling with SPD. He loves music, writes comedic fiction, and tries to make a positive impact in every life he touches. He wrote at 24. www.spdlife.org

Justin Wayland is enrolled in a science and technology magnet program at a Maryland high school. He enjoys petting his cats and programming and wants to be a computer scientist. He was 16 when he wrote.

Lydia Wayman lives in Pennsylvania and holds an M.A. in English and nonfiction writing. Lydia advocates for the autism community through speaking, writing, and visual arts. She loves cats and being creative; she is co-writing a middle-grade novel with an autistic main character. She was 24 when she wrote her piece for the book.

Tyler Ann Whitney lives in Oklahoma and loves school, softball, theater, judo, karate, and witty TV sitcoms. Her dream job when she grows up is to work at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, as a forensic anthropologist. She was 14 when she wrote.

Shalea Wilson is the subject of her mother Deb’s story. Shalea enjoys laughing, making her own earrings, and getting her nails done. She loves to swim and play Wii bowling. She attends a transition academic program in Washington State and works for S’cool Moves, assembling educational kits. She helps to educate others about SPD by participating in demonstration videos shared with educators and therapists. Her mother wrote about her when she was 12.