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John Elder Robison

A Free Range Aspergian

Author, photographer, machine aficionado

Speaker to groups

Curriculum VitaeSummer 2009

Pedigree 

I am the son of the late John G Robison and Margaret Robison.  My father was Head of the Philosophy Department at the University of Massachusetts.  My mother is an artist and writer. 

 

I have a younger brother that our parents named Chris.  I didn’t like that name so I named him Varmint.  When he got bigger, he didn’t like being Varmint, so he changed his name again, to Augusten Burroughs.  He is also a writer.

 

As my brother points out, we are both 16th grandchildren of James II, King of Scotland.  We are also distant cousins of Reuben Burroughs, the first person to rob a train single handed in the State of Alabama.

 

In 1997, at age 40, I learned that I have Asperger’s Syndrome, a high functioning form of autism.  In addition to having Asperger’s, I also have a wife, an ex-wife, a kid, a dog, a house, a business, several cars and a motorcycle.

 Education 

The basics . . .

• The Mulberry Tree Nursery School, Philadelphia, PA – graduated with honors
• Shutesbury Elementary School, Shutesbury, MA – won six of seven academic awards including Math and English.  Also won school eating championship with six plates of spaghetti consumed in one lunch sitting.
• Amherst Regional High School, Amherst, MA – straight Fs, ceased to attend, 1974.  No noteworthy accomplishments.
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA – while I never graced its halls as a “real” student, the University was good enough to allow me unlimited use of its mechanical and electrical engineering labs, the Research Computing Center, and the Engineering library facilities.  And that’s where I learned some of the stuff I didn’t learn in elementary school.

 

And most recently . . .

• Monarch School, Houston, TX – honorary diploma, summer 2008

  

Through it all, I remain for the most part self taught.  I am proficient at reading, writing, basic mathematics, puzzles, audio electronics, automotive engineering, pattern interpretation, property management, personal financial planning, pet catching, photography, operation of farm and construction machinery, public speaking, and eating. 

You may note my exceptional strength in tasks beginning with the letter P, and I am often credited with P attributes.  Given the twenty six letters of the alphabet, no one knows why P in particular would be drawn to me, or I to it.

Work Experience 

I began as a rock’n’roll outlaw . . .

• Road crew, FAT and other New England acts
• Designed and installed many nightclub sound and light systems
• Designed sound effects for Britannia Row Audio, Pink Floyd’s sound company
• Designed many other custom audio systems for live performance, studio recording, and even surveillance
• Designed numerous special effects for Ace Frehley and KISS

 

And then, I went legit . . .

• Staff Engineer, Milton Bradley Electronics
• Manager of Advance Development, Simplex Time Recorder
• Director of Engineering, Isoreg Corporation
• General Manager, Power Systems, Candela Laser

 

But I couldn’t take corporate life, so I went out on my own . . .

• Founder, J E Robison Service Co – Bosch Car Service for Western Massachusetts
  Specialists in Rolls Royce, Bentley, Land Rover, BMW, and Mercedes
• John Robison Photography – performance images – music, theater, and the circus
• John Elder Robison – book author and inspirational speaker

 

I was outed – as an Aspergian – in my brother’s 2002 memoir Running With Scissors.  Since that time, I have become progressively more visible through my writing and speaking.  With the publication of Look Me in the Eye, I have become known as an expert on living with Asperger’s Syndrome, and I’ve found a new calling as an inspirational speaker and an advocate for people with neurological differences.

 

I have been told I have an unusual power of self reflection, which may be why I never use hotel mirrors while traveling. 

 Publications 

 

Look Me in the Eye – my memoir of growing up and learning about Asperger’s - was published by Crown in September 2007.  It was an instant NY Times bestseller and a People Magazine Critic’s Choice.  It was named one of the top books of the year by Amazon, and was a finalist for the Books for a Better Life award.   Look Me in the Eye has over 500,000 copies in print and is sold in over 20 foreign editions, including USA, Canada, Australia, England, Germany, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, China, Japan, and Malaysia.

 

Geeks Rule – the sequel to LMITE – will be published soon

 

My automotive articles and essays have been published online and in various automotive magazines.  I have an active blog and Internet presence, at www.johnrobison.com

 

Some of my recent media appearances

• CBS Sunday Morning, memory and memoir, July 2008
• YOU the Owners Manual – interview – April 2008
• Rocky Mountain Public Television – special – December 2007
• WOR radio with Donna Hanover – radio interview – November 2007
• Public Radio – To The Best of Our Knowledge – November 2007
• Weekend Today – October 2007
• CBS News interview – September 2007
• National Public Radio – Diane Rehm – September 2007
• People Magazine – book review and story – September 2007
• The Times of London Magazine – feature story, August 2007

 

And some recent speaking engagements 

• Asperger Association of New England
• American Psychological Association annual convention
• Wisconsin Dept of Public Instruction
• Illinois Superintendents of Schools
• University School of Milwaukee
• Monarch School, Houston, TX
• River Street School, Hartford, CT
• White Brook School, Easthampton, MA
• Lighthouse Academy, Groton, CT
• Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, MA
• High Road School, Wallingford, CT
• Lincoln Sudbury Regional School, Sudbury, MA
• Noble and Greenough Academy, MA
• Massachusetts Medical Society conference
• Albertina Kerr Centers of Oregon
• Cutchins Centers for Children
• Bradley Hospital, Speaking of Kids, Providence
• Sewall Child Development Center, Denver
• Education Svc Center, Texas Region 19 autism conference
• Wellesley College
• University of Colorado at Boulder
• Metlife Financial Planners, Albany, NY
• University of Massachusetts at Amherst
• Essex Community College
• Defiance College
• SUNY Potsdam
• Worcester State College
• MIT Brain Science
• Mount Sinai School of Medicine Seaver Autism Conference
• University of Missouri Med School – Thompson Autism Center
• Tufts Med School/Baystate Health Child Psychiatry conference
• Society of Credit Union Executives, Cancun, Mexico

 Research and Teaching Interests 

• I am involved in several autism studies with Dr. Alvaro Pascual-Leone of Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School.  The work involves the use of TMS - high power magnetic fields and electromagnetic induction to study and alter thought processes.

You can see how this TMS has changed me in this series of video clips: http://jerobison.blogspot.com/2008/06/challenge-and-opportunity-of-autism.html

 

• I also volunteer as a spokesperson for the graduate autism program at Elms College in Chicopee, MA
• I’ve worked with several people to produce teaching and study guides for my book, for college, middle, and high school use.

   Societies and Affiliations 

Former member . . .

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers – IEEE

Lions Club of Granby, MA

 

Current member . . . .

Professional Photographers of America – PPA – member

National Press Photographers Association – NPPA - member

Rolls Royce Owner’s Club – Technical Expert, modern cars

Land Rover Club – Technical Consultant

Court Club – University of Massachusetts Athletics

 Contacts 

Me, at work:                John Elder Robison

                                    J E Robison Service Co

                                    347 Page Boulevard

                                    Springfield, MA 01104

                                    (413) 785 1665

 

Literary agent:             Christopher Schelling

                                    Ralph M Vicinanza, Ltd.

                                    303 West 18th St.

                                    New York, NY 10011

                                    (212) 924 7090

 

Speaker’s Agent:         Sally Itterly

                                    The Lavin Agency

                                    222 Third St, Suite 1130

                                    Cambridge, MA 02142

                                    (800) 225 7875