Nigel to nonPareil

Nigel Wollenhaupt is a 19 year old young man who lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas. At the age of 4 he was diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum. He then started to attend multiple therapies to enable him to learn to cope with his differences from typical people.

After years of therapies he received his "official" diagnosis of PDD-NOS at the age of 7. Nigel has always loved people, but doesn't have the skills to interact easily with others. He has always been an ideal student and received numerous citations and awards for his citizenship in school.

In the United States, 1 in 68 children are diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum. There are many services and sources of funding for treatments for children. However, once these children leave the school system there is little assistance available to them. An alarming 88% of adults on the Autism Spectrum are unemployed or under-employed. 

The nonPareil Institute in Plano, Texas was created to address that need and offer training and employment to adults with autism in an environment that is accepting of their differences. Their program teaches these individuals how to program and develop video games for mobile devices. They also work with their crew members to create artwork and publish novels and stories created at nonPareil.

Nigel has been interviewed by nonPareil and put at the top of the list for a spot at the institute. (There are currently over 1,000 people on the waiting list, hoping to attend.) He needs to begin attending in the next 2 months, or he will lose his spot. The initial cost of his Orientation Fee and Probationary Tuition, plus fees and taxes, is estimated to be $6,000. His mom (Sherrie) and sister (Rhysa) are hoping to raise this amount from caring indivuduals who hear about this amazing young man's opportunity and would like to give him a helping hand.

Sherrie, Rhysa, and Nigel would like to sincerely thank everyone who has helped put this fund raising page together and to thank YOU for coming to Nigel's page and considering giving your assistance. If you can't donate, please share this page with all of your friends. If we can get his story in front of enough people we can make his future very bright and he won't be one of the 88% of adults on the spectrum with no meaningful employment and little hope of a life of independance and fullfillment.