Meet Mike DiMauro | Autism Self Advocate & Avid Traveler

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mike DiMauro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I feel that the most important factor of my success is that you have to get out there and meet the people of the community and form partnerships that can grow and expand the brand. Every single person has a dream in life, but the problem is, how are they going to do to make sure it is done successfully that can make you feel proud of your accomplishments? I feel that everyone should go out there and explore the world to make their dream come true and if you need help along the way, then try to ask for help and get those partners who have the same passion as you that are willing to support your mission!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an adult with autism. I didn’t get my autism diagnosis until I was 22 years old. Most people would get their diagnosis when they are younger. The challenges that I had to deal with growing up was hard to deal with since there was always that missing piece of the puzzle for my life. I have always wondered about why did I do things differently than everyone else, why I went to different schools than the other neighborhood kids growing up, trying to figure out if I had a very small family or a very large family. I know that growing up might be hard but when the pieces fell into place, then I was becoming a little more knowledgeable about my life. I use this in my daily life because I feel that it is important to know that the puzzle will not always be completed but in order to get it done, you need to get out there and get it done. I am trying to do a mission and that mission is to visit all 50 states. I know that it may be a generic mission, but I added a personal touch to that. I am an UberEats driver and I am trying to become the first UberEats driver with autism to complete deliveries in all 50 states. I am at 26 states plus DC. I would like to complete my goal within the next two years. I feel that it is important for me to go out there and share my passion with everyone because I know that if you put your mind to it, you can get anything done in the world. Any advice I can say that is if something doesn’t work out the way it is, then try to make it better with the resources that you have or move onto the next chapter of the life.

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?
Since I live in Orlando, of course I have to recommend them to go and check out the theme parks! The theme parks are Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal Orlando resort. I would also recommend my guests to check out the city of Orlando as well. Now, if they came to visit my hometown of Agawam, Massachusetts, it would be a different story. When people think of Massachusetts, most people think of Boston. However, Agawam is two hours from Boston and would barely go to Boston. Anyways, there is plenty to do in Western Massachusetts. In Western Massachusetts, you have Six Flags New England, Eastern States Exposition (The Big E), Basketball Hall of Fame, Dr Seuss museum, Yankee Candle and other great attractions of Western Massachusetts.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I feel that there are a lot of people who should receive the credit. I would like to first give credit to my camping club, Pioneer Valley Chapter 8 of the North American Family Campers Association. The reason why is that they are a great group of friends that are a second family to me. I grew up in the camping club and my family has been members since 1963 and helping out with the annual Springfield RV Camping & Outdoor Show since 1964. They have helped me connect with nature and make lasting friendships that I will always cherish for the rest of my life. Second credit that I would like to give to is Autism Speaks and all of the people that I have worked with in the autism community. I feel that they deserve the credit as well because I have networked and worked with so many people around the country and learned how I could make my life with autism better to live with. “If you have met one person with autism, you met one person with autism.” Dr Stephen Shore is credited with that quote and I believe him in that quote. Everyone on the autism spectrum is different but I know that we all need the resources and tools to succeed in the world. The last group of people that I would like to give credit to is my family. If it was not for my family’s support, I don’t know where I would be today. My parents are the ones that should get most of the credit in that group. They raised me to be a wonderful man that tries to help everyone and try to treat everyone with the respect that they deserve. If it wasn’t for my parents, then I would not have the passion that I do to travel and enjoy this country. My mother is my favorite person in the world and I try not to get her upset or angry with anything that I do, but she is behind me 100% giving me the advice and support that I need when the opportunity arises. I feel so close to my mom that I want her to be happy for me and the achievements that I have accomplished in the world.

Website: LinkTree.com/mikedimauro

Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/miked31784

Facebook: Facebook.com/miked31784

Youtube: YouTube.com/miked31784

Image Credits
All photos are mine and only include me.