Business Student Defies Expectations After Autism Diagnosis
By Rybeccah Jahraus
Adam Heppner didn’t speak his first words until he was 3 1/2 years old. He was diagnosed with autism at 18 months, and doctors were unsure of what his functioning level would be as an adult.
But on May 16, Heppner will walk the commencement stage at Cal State San Marcos, the proud recipient of a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
“I owe my family my life for the work they put in to help me become who I am today,” Heppner said.
Heppner, who also was diagnosed with ADHD, said middle school and high school were a time of discovery – learning how he functions best and how to navigate the world around him.
Certain sounds that most people naturally tune out can be overwhelming, and he's particularly sensitive to specific foods and textures. Condiments like ketchup and ranch dressing cause him to gag and make himself vomit.
Through the Individualized Education Program in middle school and high school, Heppner had classes with peers who also were on the spectrum. Though attending speech therapy wasn’t always easy, he said it helped change his perspective.
“It really made me stop caring about what people think,” he said. “I’m going in there and still socializing with people when I come out, and I’m still just like everybody else.”
Learning social cues was one of the biggest challenges for Heppner.
“I’d be in public and there’d be a larger set lady and out loud I’d be like, ‘Oh my gosh, that lady’s butt is huge,’ ” Heppner said.
While he can laugh about incidents like that now, he didn’t understand at the time how his words might be construed.
Heppner’s mom quit her full-time office job to educate herself on Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, and other family members also pitched in to support Heppner. His mom helped him to recognize and understand behavior through using picture association and studying patterns. Eye contact, listening and comprehension are skills that Heppner had to learn.
“Eventually I just kind of overcame the hurdle,” he said. “Now I’m running the race.”
As Heppner got older, he found himself becoming more independent and confident. He attended Mt. San Jacinto College before transferring to CSUSM, drawn to its location and strong business program.
Heppner has known since he was 12 years old that he wanted to pursue business. He still remembers telling his dad about Nintendo and Electronic Arts’ new game drops, encouraging his dad to invest.
“He made money off it,” Heppner said. “I’ve always loved the aspect of business.”
Heppner felt at home at CSUSM through Campus Recreation activities and the College of Business Administration. He also credits professors like Olaf Hansen, Jeffrey Kohles, Mark Monahan, Shane Thompson and Michael Winter for helping to make his time at CSUSM memorable.
“They’re here to teach, to actually help people,” he said. “That’s the best kind of professor you could have.”
Heppner has been working at Costco while attending school, and he’s looking toward getting his MBA at CSUSM Temecula.
While having autism and ADHD have caused challenges, Heppner hopes that he can use his experiences to be a voice for others with similar struggles.
“They have to have hope,” Heppner said. “That’s my goal – telling my story and inspiring people in general.”
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