Autism Advocate: Jordyn Pallett

Autism Advocate: Jordyn Pallett, 15, Mono. Photo by Pete Paterson.

Jordyn Pallett believes in working playfully so little problems disappear. It’s an especially inspirational perspective coming from a teenager who communicates by pointing to letters on a transparent alphabet sheet to spell out his thoughts. Jordyn has a form of non-speaking autism, along with other health issues. As a blogger (“Jordyn’s Rocky Journey”) and autism conference panellist, Jordyn challenges the assumption that people like him don’t understand language because they don’t speak.

What does he want people to know? “I like to educate people about how I’m a normal teen trapped in an exhausted and uncontrollable body,” he taps out, adding he especially hopes he helps parents of kids like him to understand “maybe a little more and have more patience and compassion for their kids and for themselves.”

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Jordyn suggest being a “nice, loving person” has inspired him to look at any situation as an opportunity. “I have a laundry list of challenges and if I focused on what I can’t do, I would be one miserable teen.”

Up next is working on three books for 2019 – a memoir, a book on love and an anthology of poems. He also hopes to do presentations in schools and at autism conferences – with the help of his mother Kelli Pallett, who is her son’s tireless champion. “Nothing in my life happens without her working really passionately,” he says.

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