Meet George D. Williams: Autism Author and Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with George D. Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi George D., putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
After finishing graduate school, I moved across country at age 25. I had worked full time (graveyard shift) while working on my masters degree. I needed a change of scenery and wanted a fresh start. I left Richmond, Virginia and moved to Denver, CO. I lived at the YMCA for the first 6 months after coming to Colorado. I didn’t have any job prospects or know anyone at the time, but decided to follow my heart, I didn’t want to live with the regret of not trying and have it hanging over my head for the rest of my life. I grew so much as a result of that experience. Things did work out and I think of that single decision quite often when faced with challenges today. The greatest personal lesson for me is we must take action when opportunities come our way. Life doesn’t offer us a guarantee and trusting our instincts is vital to success. Most important, we are all stronger than we think and we will only know what we are capable of by moving beyond what is comfortable and familiar.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My brand is “The Adult Autism Expert.” I started writing when our son was diagnosed with autism and having difficulties in a regular classroom. Like many autistic kids, he was reading above grade level, but struggled with communication and socialization. After much discussion, my wife and I decided home schooling was best for him. We concluded I was best suited to teach him from home. It turned out that I learned so much about autism and developed a close bond with my son as a bonus. I started writing freelance articles for small business owners wanting to market themselves, but didn’t know how. I still remember my first writing project was a series of articles for a real estate investor for $60 a week. This gave me the inspiration to pursue writing my first book. While homeschooling my son, I realized there was very little literature on autistic teens and adults on the spectrum. I fully support early therapeutic intervention and getting children support as early as possible. However, I was concerned about long term issues such as employment, housing, health care, and relationships for adults on the spectrum. My writing and speaking is growing as the young adult autistic population is growing by approximately 50,000 per year in the United States alone. Moreover, the trend is playing out in every developed country worldwide. Recognition in an emerging field has not always been easy, but consistent effort is beginning to pay off. I have been invited as a guess speaker to a global mental health conference in Toronto, Canada in May 2021 to address mental health concerns within the autism community. Speakers are encouraged to offer a virtual presentation. I’m optimistic about the future for my son and other autistic adults as the world becomes more tolerant and opportunities increase for all people.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a bit of a history buff, so a trip to the Museum of Nature and Science would be a must. I would also visit downtown to view the sports arenas and visit the art district. Rocky Mountain National Park would be an all day event. Food would be something casual and convenient. Visiting Boulder is would high on my list simply because of the spectacular views and unique feel of the town.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To my loving wife Sharron for believing in my dream to be an author and entrepreneur. From the day we first met, she has been a source of encouragement and strength. Meeting her was worth moving across the country! She has always been my biggest fan and still offers her unwavering support. Thank you.

Website: http://adultautism2.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gfinancesmatter
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-williams
Twitter: https://twitter.com@Gwriter3
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adultautismexpert
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists?nv=1