I’ve worn many hats over the years — professor, writer, blogger. Every career change involves a new conference, each with its own norms and bad dinner offerings. Over the years, I accumulated a conference uniform with comfortable, yet stylish shoes. I always get a blow-out the day before, so I don’t have to deal with my unpredictable curls. I keep hydrated and have a protein bar waiting back in the hotel room. Because I have the shelf life of a tuna fish sandwich at conferences, I do an Irish Good-bye at all conferences after two days.
Earlier this week, I attended a conference for education consultants. While I’m not a traditional college counselor who ghostwrites essays for Ivy League-bound students, I do teach families with autistic kids about college disability services and about specific programs that might be best tailored to their kids’ needs. There were plenty of alternative colleges and speakers at the conferences who specialized in my niche. I mostly stayed in my lane in the conference, attending sessions about twice exceptional kids and kids with POTS.
The big luncheon session included two speakers who spoke to the general audience about themes that kept coming up in side conversations during my two-day stay. One speaker talked about the high level of anxiety among students. She emphasized that excellence is stressing out kids. Young people are miserable in their perfection. The other speaker talked about the impact of AI on the job market and college majors. These topics have been much discussed here and elsewhere.
Sometimes the most interesting conversations happened after a drink with colleagues.
I compared notes with other consultants about the awkwardness when we have to break the news to parents that their child’s report card of A’s is meaningless. The families will probably need a $5,000 private evaluation, which will find that their child reads at a third-grade level and won’t pass the community college entrance exams.
It’s widely accepted that student quality is down, mental health issues are increasing, colleges are closing, and COVID made everything worse. So, the questions are about how parents, colleges, and consultants can help kids with this grim reality. Some had ideas, but most didn’t.
Despite the apocalyptic aura, it was a lovely conference with kind people. I met up with old friends and made new ones.
The Day Job
I recently started a new private consulting company. I built a whole company in a month — business cards, webinars, flyers, conference, exhibits, clients, two websites, social media, QuickBooks, EIN, URL, Canva flyers, email address, MailChimp newsletter, Hubspot, blog, Facebook, Instagram, and more.
I’m almost done with the foundational stuff, and now I’m focusing on helping my clients.
Dude, I rule. And so much of what I do is because of blogging. I can write fast and am super comfortable with technology. Check out one of my new autism tools — ABA Options. I made that with AI. Nice, right?
The New York Times ABA Article
The New York Times has a viral article on the ABA industry. I need a day to respond to it. I promise something soon. It’s some right and some wrong.
Everybody Needs a Doctor
Zarna Garg came up on my Instagram feed about a year ago, during some late-night doomscrolling. Her schtick is that she’s a pushy, New York-area Indian who is obsessed with getting her children into good colleges and careers. Love her.
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