About Me
My name is Carter Michael Parker. Thank you for visiting my website! I am a 20-year-old student, father, husband, teacher assistant, and martial artist. I currently attend Hofstra University as a member of the Rabinowitz Honors College, and I'm pursuing a bachelor's degree in Psychology, with minors in Exercise Science and Writing Studies. I've made the Provost's List two (out of two) times so far and have a 4.0 GPA. My life's passion is to create solutions for high-functioning autistic children, and to fix the culture of pathologization that unfairly hinders them. I currently work at ACDS in Plainview, the same school my late mom worked at. This job has me working with special needs pre-schoolers, many of whom will grow into the aforementioned type of children, and all of whom I love and adore! In my spare time, I like to play video games, lift weights, read books, and spend time with my family. I'm always looking for new opportunities and challenges.
I was born in 2005 and grew up in Roslyn, New York. I was placed into a special education program around fifth grade. I had no academic or learning difficulties; in fact, I was rather bored at school. I matured faster than other kids and didn't get along with them. It's normal for kids not to like each other sometimes; but, because of my diagnosis, it was decided that I'd be a better fit in a class with children who were severely mentally handicapped. I already felt bored around my regular peers. Now, I was truly not being educated at all. I acted out in response, which led the principal of the school to start harassing me in ways that I would characterize as juvenile. Ultimately, I "eloped from school grounds" (or, in other words, simply walked home). The principal noticed 15 minutes later that I was missing and got into his personal vehicle to hunt me down. He never found me, but I've always wondered: why would an adult think it's okay to push a child like that and then personally chase him?
Unfortunately, experiences like this are not uncommon for high-functioning autistics. Educators don't know how to handle our unique qualities. A big reason for this is that the label of "autism" is so broad that it's completely meaningless; we shouldn't be under it at all. "Autism" means that we're behavioral, neurotic, and therefore, wrong about everything. We never have valid concerns, just dysregulation. "Autism" brings speech problems to mind, and our speech is slightly different, so we probably don't even know what the words we use mean. But in reality, high-functioning autistic kids can develop faster than regular kids. By age 11, I was mentally similar to a typical 18-year-old (but of course, my development also stagnated earlier, or else I would be a genius by now!). We are "gifted kids," but our antisocial qualities prevent us from taking full advantage of that. Instead, many of us feel trapped; it's as if we're adults being bossed around by tyrants, not children being nurtured. This is a unique problem that requires a unique solution. Current psychiatry falls completely flat.
I spent my high school years in Roslyn's Hilltop Academy (which my mom always said that I was only accepted into to avoid a lawsuit!). The Hilltop program is an innovative and acceptable solution; it treats its children with individuality and gives them a level of respect that's more appropriate for adults. With that respect comes autonomy and responsibility. The problem with Hilltop is that it doesn't go far enough. It only accepts around 20 children, mostly from the Roslyn area. Every school, public or private, should be like Hilltop or have a similar program. I believe that some underlying assumptions about autism (and perhaps even mental illness in general) will need to be questioned before we can ever accomplish this; but it ought to be done!
In the meanwhile, I am a full-time student and pre-school TA. I am looking to work and research in the field of psychology so that I can help fix what isn't working. I'm taking a minor in Writing Studies because rhetoric is important for having our voices be heard. I've always been a gifted writer, but I also know what it's like to struggle to get your words out. I was also one of the winners of my school's Fall 2024 Essay Contest. (No AI was used in writing this About section!). I'm taking a minor in Exercise Science because I believe that physical discipline is necessary for mental discipline; this is also why I do martial arts. Learning how to fight has rebuilt my confidence from ground zero, and it's something that every adolescent or teenager should try. In short: I do a little bit of everything! I currently have a 4.0 GPA, but I expect it to drop as my newborn takes up more of my time. I pride myself on being ambitious.
The work I do at ACDS is the second-most important thing in my life (after my own family). I work with a variety of kids, some of whom are the same way that I was and most of whom are a little more disadvantaged. Each and every child, no matter how smart or curious or funny or reclusive, is capable of amazing things. They are each individuals with their own wants, needs, and tolerances. Managing a class full of them requires me to look past their classifications and see the actual humans; something that many educators struggle, or aren't adequately trained how, to do. A combative child one day may suddenly show interest in participating, and it's up to their teachers to make sure they don't regret it (i.e by not pushing them away). The nicest kid you know might one day start having meltdowns, and it's up to you to decide if something is bothering them or if they just want attention. These are delicate choices, and they require the same discernment that must become commonplace in all of psychiatry. My work has taught me, among many other things, that putting kids in boxes just doesn't work. It's also taught me to have faith in humanity.
If you're interested in my ideas or you have any opportunities for me, shoot me an email! I'm always looking for experience or to connect with like-minded people. As a young and new father, I'm pretty busy, but I'm always moving!
