Featured Individual: Meet Miles

THE 13-YEAR-OLD ENTREPRENEUR!

PHOTOS BY KENDRA ROGERS

Miles is a dynamic young man and the proud owner of Infinity Vintage, a thriving Facebook Marketplace store with nearly 200 successful sales. Currently attending middle school at a hybrid campus of a virtual academy, Miles brings a unique and creative energy to everything he does.

A lifelong Michigander, Miles is the middle kid in a diverse blended family with two older half-siblings in their twenties and a younger brother who is four. Jessica, Miles’ mom, and a Michigan native, and his dad, Tony, who moved to Michigan from Puerto Rico at the age of six, share over 35 years of combined experience working in higher education. Their shared vision as a family is to create a future of self-determination that is supportive and inclusive for Miles and others facing similar journeys.

Despite the challenges of navigating a world not readily accessible for those living with ASD + ADHD, Miles has become an advocate for neurodiversity. Recently chosen for the YEAH program through the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council (https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/ keep-mi-healthy/mentalhealth/ developmentaldisability), he is learning to give speeches and champion the needs of youth similar to him.

Miles’s parents were advocates for inclusive education from the beginning, insisting on his integration with nondisabled peers since kindergarten.

Both Jessica and Tony believed fostering an accepting world meant allowing neurotypical individuals to learn alongside Miles. Having come of age in the 80s, a time when children in special education were seldom visible, they understood the necessity of neurotypical kids, parents, teachers, and the entire community being able to see Miles through his lifecycle in order to break down stereotypes and promote a more inclusive world. The journey, however, hasn’t been easy, as schools are still evolving to support neuroinclusivity, and the advocacy never sleeps. Inspired by years spent at the IEP table, this fall Jessica decided to pursue a graduate degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling and disability studies to prepare for Miles’ transition into adulthood.

Beyond school, it doesn’t go unnoticed that sometimes people have a fixed mindset on how a person “should” talk or act, and neurodivergent people are always seen for the gifts they bring. Due to his different way of speaking and thinking, Miles is often misunderstood, overlooked, or dismissed for what he is trying to convey- or worse, looked at strangely. He is underestimated too. Teen years have been tougher due to the usual social hurdles of middle school. The pandemic also put him considerably behind in reading comprehension, receptive language, and social skills, so he must work through this every day. Despite the obstacles, Miles has forged meaningful connections and friendships over the years. His relationships with those who love him stand as a testament to the fact that finding your tribe is essential! Everyone should be afforded the opportunity for happiness and success. Inspired by Frida Kahlo’s sentiment of finding someone “who looks at you like maybe you are magic, #RuMi stands as a testament to the fact that neurodivergent individuals find love just like everyone else and should be afforded every opportunity for happiness and success.

Navigating the hurdles of adolescence and the impact of the pandemic on his education was challenging for Miles. But with his small business, he found his groove. He first embarked on his entrepreneurial journey during the lockdown, inspired by seeing something his mother sold as a “porch pick up”. From that moment on, he was drawn to selling things to support his DVD and toy-collecting hobbies. After he sold one thing, he was unstoppable. Three years later, he is a successful seller on Facebook and has made almost 200 sales. “We were excited to see his passion grow in this arena as it has really increased his financial literacy”, shares Tony. Today, with a keen eye for what “sells well,” he loves visiting thrift stores and garage sales in search of items to “flip.” He keeps his own inventory and tracking system of sales and packages every item he sells. This year he even took on his first consignment client. Miles’s small business has been a transformative experience. With his unique communication style, he often faces challenges connecting with adults and peers alike who are easily confused by idiosyncratic and echolalic speech (repeating what’s heard). Those who take the extra moments to lean in and connect what he is saying to the gestalt (whole language) that he acquired it from are truly the lucky ones who have made a lifelong loyal friend! What started as selling a few personal items to bust pandemic boredom evolved into a passion that significantly boosted his confidence and gave him a career dream to open his own in-person thrift store someday. His favorite thing is slipping in a “bonus” item with his shipped sales. “I like the smiles,” he says.

Outside of his business, his other special interests include mapping on Google Earth, swimming, thrifting, traveling to beloved spots, and engaging in his newly appointed role in special needs advocacy. The family cherishes holidays and traditions, prioritizing togetherness through family vacations. Reflecting on a cherished family memory at Disney World, Jessica recalls the joy of seeing Miles light up at characters he adored from his favorite DVD collections.

Through the years, Miles and his family found early intervention support through various community resources. Completing thousands of hours of Occupational, Speech, and other therapies, Miles has grown immensely since he was diagnosed at age 3. Some of the resources he and his family found support with include: Oakland University ABA Center led by the amazing Dr. Jessica Korneder (https://oakland.edu/center-forautism/), Easter Seals Michigan (https://www.easterseals.com/MORC/), particularly Kathie Klingensmith and Pam Morgan, who facilitated his PLAY project sessions and helped Miles to expand his limited speech; Healing Complex Kids (https:// healingcomplexkids.org/) which has provided resources and events to support parents navigating complex diagnoses; Olga Voight from Crittenton Rehabilitation Services (https://www.crittentonsocal. org/mental-health-services/ ) and Monica Marciniak from Halpin and Associates (https://www.saltherapy-us.com/) have been a significant part of Miles’ speech journey and finally Liz Shupra from Como Pediatric (http://www.comopedspeech. com/) who has been a key player in helping Miles to grow and thrive by addressing his sensory integration needs through OT. All of these professionals have loved and pushed Miles in different ways and his parents feel deeply indebted to them. “Their warmth, dedication, and true passion for this work shine through in everything they do,” explains Jessica.

As there is no parenting rule book for ASD or ADHD, Jessica and Tony encourage parents navigating these disabilities to follow their child’s lead and embrace neuroaffirming approaches for therapy, teaching, and parenting. They emphasize the importance of building their child’s confidence early on and nurturing his unique interests. Children wired differently like Miles need people who are patient and willing to think outside the neurotypical box. Finding like-minded parents is a great way to build stamina and resilience through the early years of post-diagnosis.

For parents seeking a support community, Jessica urges parents to try to find a community online, if not in person. A few moms in her county started a Facebook group when Miles was small, and it has been a life-saving support tribe for all of them.

If you don’t like Facebook, try following Instagram hashtags on the topic of your child’s condition.

Please check out Miles’s FB Marketplace Store: Infinity Vintage. Your support will make his day and go a long way to support his aspiration to thrive independently in adulthood. He LOVES to “make a sale” https://www.facebook.com/ marketplace/profile/38510578

“THEIR WARMTH, DEDICATION, AND TRUE PASSION FOR THIS WORK SHINE THROUGH IN EVERYTHING THEY DO,”

—JESSICA.