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Illustration by Mark Harris / Source: Tempest McDonald
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When autistic kids grow up, Chapter 2: “You need to go to college”
With just a high school equivalency degree and struggling as a single mother, Tempest McDonald is forced to shift her priorities.
By
Brady Huggett
11 June 2026 | 1 min read
In Chapter 2 of “When autistic kids grow up,” after her stint as a semi-professional pool player and the birth of her son, Tempest McDonald goes west to start her belated journey through higher education.
Listen to other chapters and read the transcript.
High school: While on a psychedelic journey in her teenage years, Tempest McDonald realized she needed mentors.
All images courtesy of Tempest McDonald
Paired up: After moving to California to attend Citrus College, McDonald met Fikriye Ozmerall (front), an artist.
In it together: McDonald’s son, Avis, was born in Atlanta; she dedicated her Ph.D. thesis to him.
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