SELF ADVOCATES
MEET ALEX DERON BY ALEX DERON
M
y name is Alex Deron and I live in Carmel, IN, with my parents. I currently work at Danny Boys in Carmel as a server and perform other tasks as needed. I also do DJ events, mostly on a volunteer basis, going by the name of DJ Echo. I enjoy getting myself out there as much as possible and my hopes are that someday I will have a career as a DJ or something else to do with music. I am very passionate about music and currently take guitar, piano, and music production lessons. I have also produced my music on YouTube, Amazon Music, and Spotify and am looking for new avenues to express myself musically. In addition to my music endeavors, I also like to bike, hike, listen to music, watch movies, and go out to eat and/or drink coffee while socializing with friends. I’m also into classic cars, classic rock, and all genres of video games. I have faced many challenges throughout the years but am doing better than I ever have over the past six months. I am on the autism spectrum, and I struggle with mood instability, so I have social difficulties, mostly with boundaries and understanding how to talk and interact with people. I sometimes shut down and avoid going out in the community due to social fears, even when I really want to. I’ve also had difficulties with anger, impulse control, and managing my emotions. During my school years, I struggled with friendships and getting along with teachers which led to a placement in an alternative school in middle school. I was able to attend high school in a regular setting, but I still had lots of behavior issues and was in trouble quite a bit. My selfconfidence has also been an issue my entire life and I have a lot of fears in general. I always felt like a loner and that few people truly understood me. My life has steadily gotten better since I left high school. One of the reasons I am currently doing so well is that I started working at Danny Boys about six months ago and I love the people there and the work I get to do. I also DJ there once per week and the feedback I get from people on my DJ skills has boosted my self-esteem. The staff at Danny Boys understand my autism, never judge me, and are always trying to understand me better and help me succeed. Other reasons for my behavioral and emotional improvements come from learning to play multiple instruments and taking DJ and production lessons at Bach to Rock over the past 4 years. Due to my
32
January 2024
training there, I have been able to obtain some DJ engagements and I really love performing for others. I’m rarely ever depressed now, which has been a huge problem in the past, and I have more confidence than ever because I am doing exactly what I want to do in life. I used to engage in destructive patterns of behavior but now I’m controlling my emotions and anger better, have stopped engaging in negative thinking as much, and my relationships with family members and friends are much improved. Many resources and support from others have helped me with my progress. In addition to the people at Bach to Rock and Danny Boys, my parents, friends, and behavior consultant have helped me grow. My behavior consultant has been especially helpful in working on social relationships and managing my anxiety and anger. I also am now more attentive to my health, as I bike, walk, and work out daily. I recently started going to church on a regular basis and the people there have been supportive of me in many ways, including my spiritual growth. It has opened me up to more social opportunities, which is what I probably need more than anything else. I am also lucky that my parents provide me with many resources that others might not have. They give me my privacy and are currently working on my own area in the house, which will even include a kitchenette and bathroom, so it will be like living in an apartment. Due to feeling better about myself, I have
