Andrew was diagnosed with autism when he was in the fourth grade. He graduated high school in 2015 and joined the Transitions program to receive support for navigating post-secondary life through internships, mentoring and classes in various independent living, academic and career skills. In the fall of 2015, he enrolled at Fulton-Montgomery Community College to study Liberal Arts while exploring career options.
In July of 2016, Andrew’s instructors at Transitions overheard him singing in the hallways between classes. Flame was holding auditions for new members at the time, and the instructors encouraged him to try out for the band. He did, and has sung backup for Flame ever since. Being part of the band has made Andrew a whole new person. Before, he was shy and quiet. Now, he is a charismatic and confident performer. He loves singing in front of people and making them happy. Being part of the band has given him opportunities he never would have imagined, such as traveling to Italy to perform at the 19th International Festival of Different Abilities.
Thanks to Flame and Transitions, Andrew has flourished so much after high school that in 2018, he received a Yes I Can Award from the Council for Exceptional Children in the Transition category. He was one of only 12 young people across the world to win one of these awards.
Thanks to Flame and Transitions, life for Andrew has been filled with growth, success and adventure. He can’t wait to see what new doors the band will open for him next.
