Chris Cleveland, Lived Experience Advocate
Faculty: Gina Pola-Money
I'm an autistic adult who is currently working on completing his Master's of Education degree as well as a Job Transitions Certificate for neurodivergent youth. When I'm not involved with that, I'm a professional mentor for autistic youth where I'll be on my seventh school year when I return to the Grand County School District, this year. I'm currently in a seasonal job as a custodian at the pool which I've worked before but when I'm not doing that, I'm a private tutor for one client, a self-employed Level 2 Usui Reiki healer, and I'm a martial artist among others. I have training in several forms including Bojutsu (bo staff work), Kenjutsu (samurai sword combat), Tai Chi, Isshin-Ryu Karate, Qigong, and more.
I'm also dating a mother of three, the eldest of which is 7, the middle child is 6, and the youngest is 4.5 years old and I live in a subsidized apartment. I've accomplished this all where I grew up (and still live) in lovely Moab, Utah.
In the past, I've worked with the Madison House Autism Foundation to try to introduce Neuroinclusive Housing in Moab, I've been a busser, a dishwasher, a caregiver for the elderly/disabled, and I even survived on donating plasma in undergrad. On the side, I enjoy Star Wars and even have an extensive enough lightsaber collection wherein I've used my lightsabers to practice my weapons forms with exception to the bullwhip. Included is a lightsaber spear which helps me practice Bojutsu, a lightsaber scabbard that helps me practice Kenjutsu, two smaller lightsabers for practicing the kama (miniature scythes), and as of writing this I began to take up calligraphy as well. Oh, and I have a purple lightsaber with a tassel attached for Tai Chi sword practice.