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MATT HARMETZ
Public Speaker
Professional speaker on the topic of autism and neurodiversity.
speaks to corporations, universities, parents and many more on autism
My goal is to educate people on autism and – most importantly – to give hope to those that feel othered because of their differences.
my story
Don't let anyone say you're dumb
Do not allow a standardized test at a young age to define you. I scored 100 on the IQ test I was given at the age of five. Doctors told my parents to keep their academic expectations at the lowest possible level. Yet I ended up graduating from Berkeley with a 3.9 GPA in Asian History and Literature. Anything is possible!
We're all good at something
In addition to autism, I suffer from dyspraxia. This means that I have horrendous fine and gross motor skills. I tried sport after sport and failed miserably again and again. Then I found swimming. I became one of the fastest swimmers in California while in Middle School. I eventually turned my swimsuit in for a pen and a microphone.
You can learn anything
I used to take everything at face value. If I read in a novel that the sun shone brightly, that meant it was hot outside. It took me a long time to understand that the shining sun really meant things were brightening. The hardest things to master, such as symbolism, can be learned, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
