Biography

Jared Stewart (M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, ASA) was named the 2011 Educator of the Year by the National Association of Private Special Education Centers, the 2018 Presenter of the Year by the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, and the 2020 Hero for Autism by the Autism Resources of Utah County organization. He currently works as Program Director for Provo Utah's ScenicView Academy (a transitional school for neurodiverse adults targeting functional independence) where he teaches his students to recognize and embrace the strengths of their diagnoses. He is an adjunct professor at Utah Valley University, where he helps run their annual Conference on Autism and assists with the Melisa Nellesen Center's Passages Program as a life-skills instructor and curriculum developer. In 2016 he was appointed by the governor to the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council and currently serves as the Council Chair. Jared has spent almost two decades working with autistic adolescents and adults, and has shared his views on the techniques and mindsets that lead to improved outcomes for these individuals with many local and national audiences. His passion for the subject arises from personal experience: he has numerous family members on the Spectrum, and he was diagnosed with autism himself as an adult. In his rare free moments, Jared enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with his wife and three children; and adheres to the belief that there is untapped greatness in everyone, regardless of their so-called "disabilities".