Caden McElwain
Appearances
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
I was struggling with the class subject, math to be exact, which I still struggle with, quite frankly, but the math class I'm taking this semester is going to be online, and I concentrate better online when it comes to math. The subject was wrestling me out to the point of me getting sick and passing out and breaking down into tears every day.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
And that little incident alone is what inspired me to start going to therapy, start working out, and start taking better care of my health.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Yeah, I absolutely see a difference. I've been learning to embrace myself more. I haven't been harming myself too much when it comes to academics and adult stuff. That's been a major part of the current success I'm having now. So you've got, what, one more year or two more years of school? I got two more years, so this upcoming year and then next year.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Like I said, my parents have been major supporters of mine in this living life. They've put in so much time and energy into me, sometimes at the cost of their own sanity. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, ABA therapy, cutting out teachers at IEP meetings when they weren't doing their jobs, the teachers that is.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
The very last year of high school when I was about ready to start preparing for my freshman year of college.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Yeah, I had the school resources. I had an online class, a good relationship with my teachers, a supportive set of parents. I had a lot of help.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
While they were younger than me, the first younger sibling is nine years old with the youngest being six years old. So we did have to explain autism to them. And we just told them autism isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's just a different way of thinking.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
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.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
When I was younger, I used to throw those kinds of events. I can't really go into the details of them because I hate thinking about that time because they did get dark. I needed second, third, and fourth chances before I got the help, turned my life around, and I get stressed and anxious about things, but it doesn't escalate to the point that those tantrums and meltdowns go to.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
And I think people need to understand that people with autism, they will grow out of those meltdowns. They'll get the resources they need, especially if they're high-functioning. They just need a chance and time. I used to have these kinds of fits. I needed second, third, and fourth chance. You just need to give them a chance.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
So one thing that's out of my comfort zone currently is driving a car and getting a license. Really don't get it. I've had a permit for a couple times now. That's expired. I've been super stressed to take it again, especially now that the book's online. Maybe it's because of the safety measures on the road that I definitely got to work on driving. But with everything else, I'm easygoing.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
I like giving things a shot, especially if they're out of my comfort zone.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
What I am is a guy who sees mistakes that were made in the world throughout history and wants to correct them. I think the world is super divided right now, but if we unite together and realize we're all the same and put our differences aside, we can make the perfect society.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Absolutely.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Well, my younger siblings are having a sleepover down in the basement where my room's at tonight. Okay. I'll be making sure they're safe and get to bed on time. But nothing else. Just chilling, watching YouTube, and getting ready for a hike tomorrow. Oh, okay. So where are you hiking? I don't know the trail yet. All I know is it's most likely going to be 10 miles. Oh, okay.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
One of my pastimes is running. I used to be in my high school's cross-country team, but I've been really getting into weightlifting this year.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
I have a dormant roommate at school. I'll have one again this year. Hopefully, he's not as bad as the last one was. So there was this roommate I had that would vape in the dorms. And it came to a point where I just didn't veg out in the dorms anymore unless it was to sleep and get dressed. I mainly hung out in the little lounge area they had to do my studying.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
And true story, I actually slept in there a couple of times without knowing it.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
I'll start with the weaknesses because they make the strengths better. I would say the social stuff. further weaknesses I gotta work on and mainly my ego a little bit. I can get overly passionate about certain things and that puts my endorphin button as my dad likes to call it. But I've been working on that and not being on a high horse so much. And the positives is I'm extremely grateful
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
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.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
I've been learning to embrace who I am this year. I have a cause that I believe in now, and I'm incredibly passionate.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
You can follow me on Facebook at Caden Ronald. Follow me on Instagram at 73posts here, all one word. Check out my written works on the sports column at Caden McQueen, K-A-D-I-N-M-C-E-L-W-A-I-N. And you can check out my past interviews by typing in my name, same as the sports column one, Caden McQueen.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
I don't have those sensitivities in particular much now, but I know those are very common in children diagnosed at a young age.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
I'm 20 years old as of Tuesday.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
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,
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Start looking for group homes and trade schools now. But as I told you, my parents weren't going to have that. They knew I was capable of doing amazing things in this society. They knew I could handle public school. They ignored the naysayers and enrolled me. And I thrived like I always do, at least academically.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Well, like I said, academically, things went fine. In fact, I was one of the smartest kids in the class. But socially, elementary school was fine. I was popular because back then they didn't see differences and they were taught respect depending on the kid.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
But middle school and high school, as typical with anyone, not just people who are neurodivergent, it was a nightmare of bullying and discrimination everywhere. Especially with students. To be fair, though, I stuck my nose in a couple people's business throughout middle school and high school. For example, like telling on kids who were on their phones during class and petty stuff like that.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Looking back on it now, it's actually kind of funny, but I do say that those kids should have known I was on the autism spectrum, or at least different, as I think if they had known, because I didn't interact with many of the students then. I was a total bookworm, as we say, and a good student, so I never had time for those kinds of interactions.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Then maybe those students would have better understood the situation.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Ironically, given I have trouble with certain social elements, public relations. I initially wanted to work in the music or politics industry, but those two industries are extremely toxic.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
One, you gotta work for a big-name client, and for another, politics to be exact, you can make it big, depending on the politician, but you have to throw away your morals, and that's just not the type of person I am. So, I think now I want to work for a non-profit organization centered around autism, so I can continue the advocacy work I'm doing now.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Third year, actually. I just finished off my sophomore year, and I got my fourth consecutive Dean's List in a row last semester.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Well, I was mainly focused on completing high school. We all moved down there as a family. Then COVID hit and everything was online, as you know. So in a way, the online thing was a blessing in disguise for me because I didn't have to worry about
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
the stigmas didn't have to worry about the bullying and being treated unfairly it was just me and the computer and thanks to the online education i got i ended up graduating a couple months early on valentine's day of 2022 to be exact so over the years you've had to deal with bullying and all those type of things what are the challenges that you deal with today has anything changed there
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
About the same stuff as when I was a teenager, the social stuff, taking things literally, not understanding facial expressions as much as I said, and honestly, holding grudges against people for a while over stupid stuff. I can't go into the details of one of those grudges out of respect for those involved, but those are the main things. Okay.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
I've been really focused on my mental health and self-esteem this year particularly. I've been going to therapy, working out, trying to eat better. I was able to kick energy during to help improve my mental and physical well-being. Next is coffee and fast food. That's great. Eating healthy is a very good thing. I'm not going to be 20 years old forever.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
So it's important to me to focus on my mental health and physical health now so I can live a prosperous, happy life later.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
There, I'm already doing the advocacy work now. It started with a class project for my freshman year of college in 2022. The assignment was to think of a way to help the community. So my group and I set up a GoFundMe for Volatilism Society of America. We ended up raising over $1,000 for that organization, and we won a contest with our project.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
But I saw, as typical with my generation, the TikTok generation, my group really wasn't into it. They only wanted to do the assignment to get the grade and the brownie points and prize money we got for winning the contest. And I noticed that autism isn't a cause problem. commonly paid attention to in mainstream media and politics.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
There are a couple of bills out there that's come to my attention recently, but I still say we definitely have a lot of work to do. We truly do. So I thought, hey, if no one else is taking this serious, I might as well start a movement. So that class project led to a bunch of different opportunities for me. That's awesome.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Appearing on platforms like this to tell my story, meeting up with politicians in my area to discuss ways to help the autism community, planning fundraisers for the autism community, planning events for the autism community. So I think eventually I want to work with an autism organization.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
My dream job, if I didn't have to worry about taxes, mortgages, loans, bills, and all the other adult responsibilities, would be to be in the music industry as a singer-songwriter or But there's a lot of struggling singer-songwriters out there, as I'm sure you know, you're in that industry. I want to work for an autism organization, the PR department to be exact.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
As a hobby, I definitely want to continue the advocacy work I'm doing now. Eventually, once I have that success in PR and all the other endeavors, I want to run for political office in my area or in this country. I think we need more neurodivergent minds in government just so we can teach the world kindness and compassion and unity for once.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Well, I've mainly been looking for autism organizations, but I'm open to anything. I got an internship waiting for me for as controversial as they are in this community.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Autism Speaks, who I hold a couple of grudges against for their past controversies, but I will say I'm giving props for giving me a chance trying to put more neurodivergent and autistic people onto their board and moving along with times. So I got that internship. win for me come spring of 2025. I'd be open to any autism organization. I'm just a guy who believes in this cause.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Like, if I'm under stress, I mean, a good stress coping mechanism I use is putting on a song and zoning out. One new song I discovered recently, actually, today to be exact, that came out today at the time of this recording, is Temporary by Eminem on his new album.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Well, like I said, eventually, I want to run for political office. At first, I thought I wanted to run for president immediately and be the first neurodivergent president in U.S. history. But I think I got to get some political experience first. So I think I want to start small, go towards a position like commissioner or senator or that kind of thing. And in the sense of sort...
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
I definitely want to continue the stuff I'm doing now, appearing on these platforms, telling my story, giving speeches, planning these events. I got junior year of college coming up in August. I'm hoping to get another Dean's List, two more technically. one for each semester to even me out to six.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
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,
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
And in the sense of long-term when it comes to college, if I can get eight consecutive dean's lists for all four years of college, that would be awesome.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
I think I've grown past them. I handle crowded spaces extremely well. In fact, I love going to clubs and events and things like that whenever I have time.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Hmm. As a matter of fact, I do. For some reason, I hate peanut butter and nuts and breakfast cereals and stuff like that. And I think it's definitely because texture, because it's weird. I used to love peanut butter when I was younger. I would have it on pancakes. I would have it on pretty much anything. Then one day, I just pretty much stopped loving that.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Oh, and mac and cheese, Kraft mac and cheese, to be exact. I just can't tolerate that.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
No, not at all. Unless you count itsy sweaters, which all people probably despise. I don't have any texture issues when it comes to clothes.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
I have four jobs I'm working right now this summer. And whenever I'm on a task, I'm super hyper-focused and I get the job done. That's honestly why I'm such a great worker and a great student. Because once I'm I start studying or working on a class project or working on a job. I'm extremely focused.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
In fact, focusing on academics in this college is one of the reasons why I don't socialize as much as I'd like to. Because a lot of the students in college waste away their parents' tuition money and their student loans and what have you to go out and party and vape and smoke and do all that. And I'm not into that.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
I'm a guy who thinks rules should be followed and people should focus on their academics, which I think is also part of autism for me. So I'm incredibly focused on my academics.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Hmm. Well, I have my parents. They've been my biggest supporters even when I didn't deserve it. And I'm extremely grateful for them. And I also have accommodations I get from my university, testing accommodations to be exact, which is simply a quiet space to do the testing or the examination or whatever and extended time on said test.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
Yes, sir. I have one older sister and four younger siblings. Okay.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
With my big sister, it's complicated. When I'm getting too mad, our relationship is a love-hate dynamic, if you will. But with my younger siblings, I'm super sweet to them. Most big brothers or big sisters would be mean to their siblings, but I'm not like that at all. I'm extremely nice, extremely compassionate, and I think our bond is super strong.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
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.
Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Kadin McElwain: Conquering Autism Through Family Support, Advocacy, and Digital Storytelling – An Inspiring Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
The dynamic's definitely good there. I interact well with my siblings, as I said, and I'm in their lives. There was one semester in college where I didn't call my family at all because I was going through a tough time transitioning into a new school, because I actually transferred from another college to the current college I'm going to now.