Caden McElwain

Well, I was diagnosed when I was two years old, so I don't remember too many details, but I remember it was right after I got the smallpox vaccination, which was a coincidence. So that, of course, didn't cause my autism. I always find that funny though, since that conspiracy theory is out there. And I remember how when I was diagnosed, the very doctor who diagnosed me said to my parents,

Well, I was diagnosed when I was two years old, so I don't remember too many details, but I remember it was right after I got the smallpox vaccination, which was a coincidence. So that, of course, didn't cause my autism. I always find that funny though, since that conspiracy theory is out there. And I remember how when I was diagnosed, the very doctor who diagnosed me said to my parents,

Well, I was diagnosed when I was two years old, so I don't remember too many details, but I remember it was right after I got the smallpox vaccination, which was a coincidence. So that, of course, didn't cause my autism. I always find that funny though, since that conspiracy theory is out there. And I remember how when I was diagnosed, the very doctor who diagnosed me said to my parents,

Don't expect college for him. Expect trade school at most for him and a group home. And my parents weren't going to tolerate that or have that. So they invested so much time and energy into me to get me to where I'm at today. That's great. Now I'm going to college, doing all this cool advocacy work, appearing on platforms like this.

Don't expect college for him. Expect trade school at most for him and a group home. And my parents weren't going to tolerate that or have that. So they invested so much time and energy into me to get me to where I'm at today. That's great. Now I'm going to college, doing all this cool advocacy work, appearing on platforms like this.

Don't expect college for him. Expect trade school at most for him and a group home. And my parents weren't going to tolerate that or have that. So they invested so much time and energy into me to get me to where I'm at today. That's great. Now I'm going to college, doing all this cool advocacy work, appearing on platforms like this.

I got a story in Autism Digest that comes out in August for their back to school list too. Oh, if it wasn't for my parents' dedication towards me, I doubt I would be in the position I'm at today. And I'm extremely grateful for them.

I got a story in Autism Digest that comes out in August for their back to school list too. Oh, if it wasn't for my parents' dedication towards me, I doubt I would be in the position I'm at today. And I'm extremely grateful for them.

I got a story in Autism Digest that comes out in August for their back to school list too. Oh, if it wasn't for my parents' dedication towards me, I doubt I would be in the position I'm at today. And I'm extremely grateful for them.

Well, I've never really asked that, if I'm being totally honest, but most likely it was falling behind on verbal communication skills, like not talking for a long time, not being able to look people in the eye, not interacting with people, heightened sensitivities to sound and light and that kind of thing.

Well, I've never really asked that, if I'm being totally honest, but most likely it was falling behind on verbal communication skills, like not talking for a long time, not being able to look people in the eye, not interacting with people, heightened sensitivities to sound and light and that kind of thing.

Well, I've never really asked that, if I'm being totally honest, but most likely it was falling behind on verbal communication skills, like not talking for a long time, not being able to look people in the eye, not interacting with people, heightened sensitivities to sound and light and that kind of thing.

I don't have those sensitivities in particular much now, but I know those are very common in children diagnosed at a young age.

I don't have those sensitivities in particular much now, but I know those are very common in children diagnosed at a young age.

I don't have those sensitivities in particular much now, but I know those are very common in children diagnosed at a young age.

I'm 20 years old as of Tuesday.

I'm 20 years old as of Tuesday.

I'm 20 years old as of Tuesday.

Well, starting now, I went to a specialized school. school, tell me get ready for public school. But then my parents decided to mainstream school me at a young age, kindergarten to be exact. They knew what I was capable of. They had the doctors and the various family members telling them that I wasn't going to be capable of anything. And I said,

Well, starting now, I went to a specialized school. school, tell me get ready for public school. But then my parents decided to mainstream school me at a young age, kindergarten to be exact. They knew what I was capable of. They had the doctors and the various family members telling them that I wasn't going to be capable of anything. And I said,