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Hello. My name is Matthew Kenslow and only if you feel led to, I'm asking for small donations to continue my spread of Autism Awareness, Acceptance, Appreciation, and Inclusion.
As a person with Autism myself, I know firsthand what it's like when people misunderstand you or when they don't treat you equally. I witness the lack of simple awareness of who we are. I am a part of a community of Autistics who are voicing their perspective. I, for one, talk about the pros and the cons of living with Autism, dispel common myths about Autism, and motivate people that they can do anything they set their heart and mind to (disability or not) as long as it's practical. If I could do it, then so can anybody, plus more. Consequently, I have written two books, Juggling the Issues (2020, 2019) and Unstoppable (2024).
Juggling the Issues is an anthology talking about the pros and cons, as well as organizations who helped me out and gave me a chance in life. Unstoppable is my journey through student teaching and my adventures in substitute teaching. I did my student teaching in enhanced mathematics at a local middle school in 2022. Throughout the district, I have literally been called "best sub" in multiple schools, begged to come back, and have had a great rapport with teachers, administrators, and parents. Yet, I did it all through Autism. All of that is told in this second book.
Additionally, I do volunteer assemblies across Orange County, CA. To date (summer 2024), I've spoken to nearly 9,000 students in a couple dozen schools. My goal is to reach all 600+ schools within the next few years - all at my expense, because I know my message of kindness and disability inclusion is getting through. I keep students engaged through my juggling, "magic," and science analogies and entertainment. Parents from all over have reached out to me saying that my assemblies were the first thing that their son or daughter talked about after school to them. Therefore, I will never charge for my assemblies because I do not want money to be an issue or the prevention of spreading my message from the heart to as many people as possible.
I also post on YouTube , TikTok , and Facebook daily, educating and encouraging people all around the world, as well as sharing special interests that I have. That is my other goal, to spread my message to the ends of the earth.
I have gotten quite a following, thanks to continual posting for over a half of a decade now, social media advertisements, and PR campaigns. Because of PR, I have appeared in Newsweek; ABC7 Los Angeles twice; Scripps News twice; Spectrum News; EP Magazine; Parenting OC; various radio interviews on iHeart, NPR, and SiriusXM; and several other places (watch/listen to some of my interviews below).
With all that said, such money for investment comes at a massive cost. With school loans I have to pay (I just earned a Master's in Education), along with all the living expenses/bills, my ads/PR budget is depleted. However, I strongly desire to invest more in PR. I know, based on testimony, that my message has truly "changed lives;" I know that it can change the lives of potentially millions of other people, especially those with disabilities and their families and friends. It therefore frustrates me that PR is quite costly, but I kind of understand why. Trying to do it on my own (i.e., substitute teaching, private tutoring, etc.) is like making pennies for an upcoming million-dollar payment. (Just using a simile). The stronger PR firms that I've found to be reputable and very impressive both told me $5,000 a month, with several months commitment ahead of time. After a year, I resigned to my fate and told myself that I need to ask for help from those who desire to see my message come to fruition.
Thus, I ask that you at least think about it. I also ask that you take the time to watch/listen to my television and radio interviews first, which I will link below. If you like my messages and what I do, then please consider donating and/or sharing.
My Live TV Interview with Sheldon Haygood - WBRC Fox6 News (Birmingham, AL)
On "Afternoon Focus" (Scripps News)
ABC 7 Los Angeles (March 2023)
On WSAZ Channel 3 News (West Virginia)
Why autism representation matters (Scripps News)
ABC7 Los Angeles (October 2023):
My Podcast Interview on Success Made to Last, Legends, with host, Rick Tocquigny
My Live Radio Interview with Dan Rea | WBZ NewsRadio 1030
Young author with Asperger's Syndrome motivates understanding, acceptance of different abilities (WJBF)
Additional News Stories on their websites:
Good Day Northern Michigan (2nd video)
WSAZ Channel 3 (the first time I was on it in 2022)
(...and many more, including news media in different countries (Canada, Ireland, UK, etc.))
Again, the majority of getting all over news media was at a massive cost, but I believe in what I'm doing. I hear the testimonials all the time, how they're "much needed to be heard" messages. I therefore ask upon as many people who feel led to support this endeavor.
From my heart, thank you.
Organizer
