Career Roadmap
Ryan's work combines: Education, Entrepreneurship, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Lower Merion
Bachelor's Degree
Organizational Communication, General
Temple University
Graduate Degree
Clinical/Medical Social Work
Bryn Mawr College
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Rehabilitation Counselors:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Organizational Communication, General
Graduate Degree: Clinical/Medical Social Work
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Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
When I was in school, there was almost NO awareness of autism or Asperger's Syndrome.
2.
My first job was working at a school for kids who had behavioral issues.
3.
My son has social learning issues, so I had firsthand exposure to some of those difficulties.
4.
I started working mostly with kids who had autism or Asperger's Syndrome.
5.
I founded my own education center that teaches kids and adults social thinking skills.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
Don't you want to be a doctor or lawyer and make more money?
How I responded:
In the culture I grew up in there was often a push to pursue a career that would yield the most income. It took me a while to find a career that was fulfilling to me, people always asked why didn't I want to be a doctor or a lawyer. I don't know that I ever fully "overcame" that noise; I was always second-guessing myself, until I finally realized that I've found a career that I love and that I'm good at, and nothing else matters.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
My mother had multiple sclerosis when I was growing up. I learned at a young age that something unique about me was that I was very comfortable around people who had disabilities.
Dealing with my son's social learning issues inspired me to go from working with students with behavioral issues to working with students mostly dealing with autism and Asperger's Syndrome, and building a program that I have found to be effective.