What does it mean to face the world every single day, knowing it was not designed for you; how you process information, take in your environment, or cope with the demands of a society too face paced for you to keep up with. How is it possible to have a disability and not be in a wheelchair, to have a college degree but get turned down by every job interview, or to be able to compose an original musical but not be able to perform math above a six-grade level. In this program, presenters Rob and Adam Rosen are proud to discuss the joys and struggles of being neurodivergent and what it takes to step out of an out-of-step life.

Adam Rosen

Adam Rosen is a St. Louis-based composer, performer, and published author. His essay, “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Faygelah” was published in the 2004 anthology Mentsh: On Being Jewish and Queer. Adam’s first professionally produced show, Asperger’s: A High-Functioning Musical debuted to critical acclaim at the 2013 St. Lou Fringe Festival. Adam was diagnosed with high-functioning autism (level one) at thirty-seven years old. In 2017 Adam co-organized the first Community Autism Expo in the history of the St. Louis County Library. He was most recently interviewed for the 2020 anthology, Our Autistic Lives the first anthology devoted exclusively to the lives of autistic adults across the life span.

Rob Rosen

Rob is a graduate of Missouri Baptist University with a degree in Ministry and Leadership. He was diagnosed with ‘educational autism’ at the age of sixteen. In the last three years, Rob met the love of his life, got married, and with the love and support from his his family, bought a house together with his husband. In the future Rob wants to use his degree to help the LGBTQ community understand the needs of those who are neurodivergent.