Matthew Kenslow is a pianist, juggler, motivational speaker and college graduate who was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (part of the autism spectrum) when he was 6 years old. In his thought-provoking book, Juggling the Issues: Living With Asperger's Syndrome, Kenslow takes readers inside what it’s truly like for someone living with the disability.
“My main message that I tell hundreds of people is that I have not given up on my goals,” he wrote in the book’s preface. “I persevere on my aspirations. If I can do that, certainly everybody else can too.”
Told through a series of stories about his personal experiences, Kenslow sheds light on common traits found in those with Asperger’s, such as the way their minds work, their lack of social and conversational skills, and poor eye contact with others, and how those challenges have impacted his everyday life. Simple tasks take longer for Kenslow — like reading or organizing his thoughts — while remembering things like the Periodic Table or the books of the Bible come more easily.
“We find patterns in things, and that is the key,” he wrote. “… what is difficult for me can be a piece of cake for most others, but what is challenging for most others can be two-plus-two for me.”
Juggling the Issues: Living With Asperger's Syndrome is an important read for anyone whose life has been touched by Asperger’s Syndrome. Kenslow’s insights aim to lend understanding, provide inspiration, and encourage readers to put aside differences and embrace the gifts that others have to share with the world.
I had a chance to learn more in this interview.
Why did you write this book?
For way over a decade, I have had a nonstop, harsh, inundating life of discrimination and innuendo because I am autistic. Even in modern times, being a college student and later university student, I still face discrimination in my own neighborhood. I was stared at, given the weirdest looks, ignored, laughed at, teased at, cussed at, ran away from, begged not to have children a couple of times, followed by a vehicle, and even had to gone near run for my life. It hurts me day and night, and even past midnight; it keeps me up practically every night of my life. I’m like, we are one score in the twenty-first century; shouldn’t bullying and discrimination be eradicated by now? Shouldn’t everybody have the understanding and acceptance of people with “disabilities”? That is why I took on the mission and have fought with my life to educate the entire world about who we are at all costs. This behavior is unacceptable and if it’s happening to me, then it’s happening to several other people. In fact, I witness that on other people, including on social media.
In March 2020, the CDC said that the prevalence of Autism in children is 1 in 54. A scientist at MIT – one of the country’s leading universities – claimed that by 2025, this country may have an Autism majority. Regardless, Autism is on the exponential rise. What is going to happen in ten years when there are a ton of Autistic people out in society? Currently, a ton of neurotypicals do not accept us out of ignorance. My goal is to educate every single person in the country and on earth about who we are, so that nobody (especially children) will ever be harshly discriminated again for “disabilities” they never asked for. That can be done through my book. That can be done through other people’s books. And that can be done through my multitude of YouTube videos. My book and YouTube videos explain from my thorough firsthand perspective about what goes through our minds. All I care about is doing my part in transforming a world where there could be “disabilities,” and that everybody accepts one another (including themselves) for who they are. I will never give up in that.
How is living with Asperger's/autism similar to juggling?
When I juggle in schools, in places of worship, and at benefits, I have given what I call my “Juggling Analogy,” which I came up with in 2018. While juggling, I have told thousands of people that we all have our own passions. I encourage them to never give up on their passions. As we go through life, we might be juggling many things, such as a skill, hobby, what job to get, what major to choose, what college or university to attend, and what career to have. If whatever we’re juggling with in life metaphorically drops (and at this time, I drop a ‘jugglebug’ on purpose), then I ask them what should we do. Should we give up and hide under the covers and never come out again? No, we bend down, pick it up, and keep going, and with that, you can do more and more amazing things. While saying that, I literally bend down, pick it up, and add a fourth jugglebug to the mix.
Likewise, living with Autism/Asperger’s is like practicing to juggle. There are going to be tougher challenges that just takes perseverance, just like I persevered in juggling to get to where I am today. We who have Autism need to accept that some things are harder to do, even when they are easy for the common person. There are always new tricks to learn in real life that just takes practice, just like learning new juggling tricks.
How can people create communities in schools, workplaces, and places of worship that are more inclusive towards people whose minds are wired differently?
My main encouragement to everybody to do – specifically the neurotypical – is educate yourself on what it is like living with different “disabilities,” especially Autism, since it is quite prevalent. My book and YouTube videos about Autism are resources for anybody to learn to understand from a firsthand perspective. Get to know each individual who has the condition. Learn from them on how they want you to treat them or refer to them as. Once staff, students, clergy members, employers (et al) gain a thorough understanding, then they would know how to approach them. I would encourage them to continue showing their support for them as a human being, give them uplifting words of encouragement when they’re down, reassure them of their sense of purpose – that they can contribute in this life with whatever is in their heart, and talk through strategies from organization and planning, schoolwork and exams, and getting along with their peers. I, as a person living with Autism and a future secondary educator myself, would like teachers and other school personnel to continue educating themselves about neurodiversity. I personally believe that Special Education teachers are everyday heroes. I do not know where I’d be without my speech therapists and R.S.P. teachers. I would love it if teachers, staff, clergy members (et al) would continue promoting the awareness, acceptance, and appreciation of Autism (and every other developmental or physical disability), including appropriate corrective (disciplinary) measures to combat ableism (or the discrimination of people with disabilities). For instance, if anybody witness students discriminating against a person with a disability, I ask that they please intervene and try bringing everybody together. I ask that teachers, pastors (especially children pastors and youth pastors) periodically explain to their students about diversity, spreading kindness, teaching oneself about the symptoms of a disability, and just being a friend for those individuals fighting the disability, thereby maintaining an inclusive environment. I ask for principals to form assemblies that bring in a guest speaker who has the disability, so that they can share their experiences and encouragements. I stress all of this because it is hard for some of us to start conversations. It is tremendously easy for us to get so nervous that we hide the fact of lonesomeness. I ask people to have patience with some of the more difficult students with a disability, as they try to articulate how they feel. I am a proponent for Universal Design for Learning and I encourage teachers to never give up on their students, especially the difficult ones, some of which who have Autism.
What is the biggest piece of advice you'd give to someone with Asperger's/Autism who is struggling to find their place in the world?
My encouragement for those like me who have Autism/Asperger’s is to not allow it the prerogative to beat you to the ground. You have a mission in life tied to the capability of accomplishing that mission. Be Number One. This does not mean trying to be in first place. Being number one should be viewed as a rank by which any person can achieve, and to be number one, you’re not setting your standards based on other people, you are setting your standards based on your own self. We are all unique individuals, created to do what we’re called to do. We all have a unique skills set. Being number one means that you are trying the best you can and persevering to meet your goals just the way you are. If I can accomplish everything that I did, then certainly you can too, plus more.
About the Author
Matthew Kenslow has grown up with a form of autism known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Life has been an adventure as he pieced together all of his surroundings amid both praises and taunts. His mission is to teach others from a firsthand perspective about how autistic people interpret things differently from the rest of the world. He believes God has blessed him with the gifts to juggle, play piano and recall facts about the American presidents, geography, science and mathematics. He juggles at elementary schools and encourages the students to never give up on their passions.
He has earned the Gold Medal of Achievement (which is equivalent to the rank of Eagle Scout) through Royal Rangers, a program he has been in since he was 5. Now, he is giving back to children and teenagers, teaching and mentoring them in a wide set of skills and knowledge. He graduated from Orange Coast College with an Associate of Science degree in Chemistry and with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Vanguard University of Southern California. He aspires to be a middle school math and science teacher. Currently, he is a student teacher for Enhanced Mathematics at his former middle school, Ensign Intermediate School, seeking to be done by December 2022, and is an employed substitute teacher for NMUSD.
Connect with Kenslow on Instagram (matthew_kenslow), Facebook (JugglingTheIssues) and TikTok (@matthewkenslow). Or subscribe to his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment