Matthew Kenslow
Matthew Kenslow has grown up with a form of autism that was once referred to 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 people with autism interpret things differently from the rest of the world. He feels he has been blessed with the gifts to juggle, play piano and recall facts about the American presidents, geography, science, and mathematics. He is the author of the books "Juggling the Issues" and "Unstoppable." He has been featured in Newsweek, Spectrum News, ABC7 Los Angeles, Insider, Digital Journal, and many more. Told through a series of stories about his personal experiences, he sheds light on the ways in which certain challenges have impacted his everyday life, taking readers inside what it’s truly like for someone living with the disability. His book has made an inspiring difference to several people worldwide - both for the neurodivergent and the neurotypical. His 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.
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 later became a social media influencer, amassing over 55,000 followers on TikTok, 80,000 subscribers on YouTube, and 1,000,000 followers on Instagram, where he is verified. 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 teacher. Recently, he earned a full math credential after student teaching Enhanced Mathematics at his former middle school, Ensign Intermediate School. Currently, he is going for a Master of Arts degree in Education at Vanguard University and is an employed substitute teacher for NMUSD, often being called by students as “the best sub” and begged by them to come back the next day or to sub for their class soon.