Author · Speaker · Autism advocate
Tyler McNamer was diagnosed with autism at age 2 and was non-verbal until age 6. Today he is the author of two books about growing up autistic, a keynote speaker, and the founder of AutismWorks, which he runs with his dad, Jody McNamer.
“I know what it’s like to be trapped inside myself.”
I was diagnosed with autism at age 2. I communicated with a series of frustrated noises and physically “acting out”. I started forming words at age 6; I was not able to speak in full sentences until I was 12.
Professionals told me I would not live independently. Those limiting beliefs affected me deeply. Thankfully with help of my parents, mentors, therapists, and friends, I now have the ability to live on my own.
I have chosen to accept my label of autism, not as a disability, but as an extraordinary ability. I actually call it awesome’ism.
Your child with autism has a tremendous gift to give. They need your help to use those gifts to build a life they love.
Tyler
Tyler McNamer, author of Population ONE and Becoming ONE. From his letters to readers.
Tyler was diagnosed with autism at age 2. He grew up in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when autism support was limited in many places, so his family and his teachers were his main help. Before he had words, Tyler says, he “communicated with a series of frustrated noises and physically ‘acting out.’”
“I know what it’s like to be trapped inside myself.”
Tyler was non-verbal until age 6, when he started forming his first words. He could not speak in full sentences until he was 12. “With a lot of help from my teachers,” he says, “I now have the ability to speak.”
Even today, Tyler says, getting words in the right order and reading facial expressions can still be hard. That is why he speaks up for children who cannot yet.
“I stand for those who do not have a literal voice. I know what it’s like to not be able to speak.”
At school, Tyler was placed in “special” classes. “They told me that I should not expect to reach my goals,” he remembers. He was bullied, picked on and called names.
His IEP meetings mattered. Jody sat in those meetings. Tyler lived them. Those years are a big part of why Tyler and Jody now help other families prepare for theirs.
While he was still in high school, Tyler wrote his first book, Population ONE: Autism, Adversity, and the Will to Succeed. It came out in 2013 from Aviva Publishing: about 50 short chapters on bullying, school, family, friendship, dating, loneliness and depression, told from the inside. It became an Amazon #1 best seller in its category.
Tyler’s second book, Becoming ONE: Autism, Adolescence, and the Transition to Adulthood, picks up where the first one ended: graduating, keeping a job, relationships, depression, and finding a place in the world. His first jobs were as a maintenance worker at a bookstore and making fudge boxes at a candy store.
“I’m not an autistic writer; I’m just a writer who has autism.”
“Professionals told me I would not live independently. Those limiting beliefs affected me deeply. Thankfully with help of my parents, mentors, therapists, and friends, I now have the ability to live on my own.”
— Tyler McNamer, Becoming ONE
Tyler’s first paid talk was at Kopachuck Middle School, and it ended in a standing ovation. He has been speaking for more than ten years since, to middle and high schools, colleges, teachers, parents, tribes and companies.
“If you can do public speaking, you can do anything!”
Also featured in The Mini Page (“Meet Tyler McNamer”) · GoodNews (“Local Author Redefines Freedom”)
Over 190,000 copies sold.
After his first book, Tyler met thousands of people affected by autism. He saw that when families shared their stories, things started to change for them. So he built AutismWorks, and runs it with his dad, Jody McNamer. Its mission: to transform disability into “unique ability” by giving families, teachers and autistic people the tools that make autism more workable.
“He does not speak about autism from a distance. He speaks from the inside out.”
“Slow progress is still progress.”
“The best kind of freedom is the freedom to do good.”
“Jobs are for everyone. Not everyone can do everything, but I do think that there are adjustments in making jobs more workable for the employee.”
“Once I learned how to master the hug with others by social cues, I felt like I had won the day!”
Quick answers about Tyler McNamer.
Yes. Tyler was diagnosed with autism at age 2 and was non-verbal until age 6. He speaks and writes about autism from his own life, as an autistic adult.
Two: Population ONE: Autism, Adversity, and the Will to Succeed (2013), written while he was in high school, and Becoming ONE: Autism, Adolescence, and the Transition to Adulthood. Together they have sold over 190,000 copies.
Jody McNamer is Tyler’s dad. He sat in Tyler’s IEP meetings, and today he runs AutismWorks with Tyler.
Yes. Tyler gives keynotes for schools, conferences, colleges, parent groups and workplaces. See the speaking page to ask about a date.
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