Andrew Arboe: Autistic Self-Advocate and Speaker
Andrew Arboe: Autistic Self Advocate and Speaker is a brand created by Andrew Arboe himself to serve schools, providers and autism/disability organizations. As a freelance brand, his main services include public speaking, contracting, and information referral for families. His public speaking service is well known as Andrew presented to organizations like Autism Connections (Keynote speaker for their 2023 conference), Arc of Massachusetts, and Association of Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE). His topics are focused on autism in major areas like special education, transportation, transitioning to adulthood, and employment. Each topic is based on personal experiences growing up and the professional life he developed over time.
A secondary service Andrew does is his contracting service. Contracting can consist of providing consultations to organization with their autism project, blog writing, video projects, and research projects. Some examples include Andrew’s work with Anderson Center for Autism, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Southern Connecticut State University.
A third service Andrew does is his services with individuals who are learning to drive. His services include being a content creator on driving topics with creating handouts and infographics. His public speaking and contracting roles are in effect with his driving work. Andrew offers virtual consultations for individuals and families on establishing driver routines. Not only Andrew has those services, but his website also contains the advocacy work he has done on autism and learning how to drive. Learning to drive with limited resources inspired Andrew to pursue projects on making driving a legitimate topic to discuss for individuals transitioning into adult life. He ran several programs, including founding and running Driving with Autism for 2022. Finally, his page includes the massive Autism and Driving Resource Database. This database covers all 50 states of driving schools, adaptive programs and other resources that relate to learning how to drive. Andrew wants families and individuals to know that there is something out there and they are not alone.
Professionally, Andrew has a background consisting of public school, private school, nonprofits, and online programs. Andrew is also certified through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards’ Autism Certification since August 14th, 2023. His current workplaces include FOCUS Center for Autism, Anderson Center for Autism, and the Children Hospital of Philadelphia. Andrew serves on the boards of Neurodiversity Employment Network and Disability Rights Connecticut. Andrew graduated from Manchester Community College with an associate degree as a Disability Specialist and Charter Oak State College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology