A Business of His Own
July 26, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
At 5 years old, Matthew Morreale had tantrums so bad that his mother, Marthe Morreale, did not take him out in public.
At 24 years old, Matthew Morreale operates a 1-man shredding business.
The July 25th Orange County Register has the full story and I’ve a new thought of a job option for Charlie (perhaps not being able to read too well can be a potential, a bit of, an asset?).
I had a student that I am convinced will be doing just that when she gets older.
Thanks for sharing this. These stories always give so much hope! Casey wants to be an announcer! We’ll see how that goes!
Yeah! Good news for a change.
I had a student that would have been PERFECT for that but the administration refused to allow it because the paper was confidential. He couldn’t indentify letters, never mind read. I was so pissed.
@Robin: Same here on all counts, though she could verbally spell her name, but I think my current principal would allow it. Fortunately, the teachers at the middle school that I mostly feed into already had a “print shop” mini-business going. I gave my student my junk mail and old papers that prior teachers in my classroom had left.
Considering that his little business is successful, I don’t see why he won’t have enough money put away to pay for his own aide when his mom can’t help him anymore. That’s if he still needs it–he seems pretty independent now, and who knows how much he’ll learn as time goes on?
I don’t like the assumption that we are no more than “a tax burden”, though; it was like the article was saying that this guy is the exception to the rule. He’s not; from the autistics I’ve met and read about, he seems about average.
Not being fully independent in your twenties isn’t so unusual anyhow. Lots of autistics who will end up as well-paid professionals still live with their parents at that age; there’s just more to learn and it takes longer to do it. Heck, there’s NT kids who stay with their parents just because it makes sense financially… and if they’re doing something productive while they live there, I don’t see anything wrong with that.
Now that is cool.
In the back of a manga I love, they had a story about an autistic man who had a very good job and was a working adult. His mother had to write it for him, but he had a job, and that is cool
I have Aspergers.
As a child I spoke rapidly and in a monotone. This was viewed as a problem. I went to speech therapy and then voice lessons.
Guess what I do for a living now?
I am an auctioneer.
A good one-I specialize in liens and forced sale which required me to essentially become a paralegal.
Play to your strengths.
~Sarah
Being able to pay for one’s own aide—-that would be something.
Wow. Thank you so much for sharing this story.
This was a great, uplifting story for a Sunday morning of playing catch-up. There’s always so much sad news – it’s nice to see something smile-worthy.
“His brochure promises that he’ll “shred the competition.”"
I love that he has a sense of humor!
He also makes a statement about the noise, he can handle it because he is making money from it! My son also can handle some noisy situations if he loves what is going on!
Thanks for such an uplifting story!
Sarah, very cool job you have as an auctioneer! Thanks for sharing!
I think K might be a Stunt Guy in Hollywood. He has no fear and loves to climb up high, jump off things, etc.
Here’s an article from Sunderland (UK) about autistic students who run Kustom Made at the Tyne and Wear Autistic Society. They sell table place cards, thank you cards, wedding favour textile bags, greeting cards, garden ornaments and jewellery (made by students at the Tyne and Wear Autistic Society (TAWAS) Thornbeck College.
And from the St. Paul Pioneer Press, an article on autistic students working in document imaging.