By 
When Matthew Kenslow first stepped into the public eye, he challenged the conventional narrative surrounding autism by reframing it not as a deficit, but as a cognitive “enhancer” that granted him a deeper sense of empathy and worldview.
Since then, the passionate Newport-Mesa educator has channelled his experiences into a powerful advocacy movement, amassing over 1 million Instagram followers and releasing two celebrated non-fiction books that chronicled his journey through bullying, student teaching, and credentialing. Kenslow’s relentless determination has proven that a diagnosis does not define one’s boundaries, making him a vital, refreshing voice for both neurodivergent and neurotypical communities alike.
Now, Kenslow is charting a brand-new creative path with his third book, The Tireless Advocate, marking his first major foray into the world of fiction. Sparked by an undeniable creative urge in late 2025 that he could no longer ignore, Kenslow chose the medium of fiction to break free from the rigid chronology of traditional autobiography.
By creating the avatar of Zachary Corwin — whose life mirrors Kenslow’s real experiences — he unlocked a cathartic sense of creative liberty. This shift allowed him to consolidate timelines, heighten the emotional truth of his journey, and lean heavily into storytelling and dialogue to vividly expose the social hurdles, bullying, and profound isolation he had to overcome, offering readers his most intimate and raw exploration of neurodivergent resilience to date.
The Tireless Advocate: An Epic Journey of One Autistic Who Refused to Surrender is out now and available from Amazon.co.uk here.
Top 10 Films: What inspired you to move into fiction for your third book, and when did the idea first take shape?
Matthew Kenslow: I chose fiction this time because my first two books are nonfiction.
I was toying with the idea of writing a third book in summer 2025. That December, something inside me told me to write a fictional account. At first, in all candour, I tried dismissing the feelings, but the more I tried, the stronger they were. I couldn’t stop thinking about it — at work, in my neighbourhood walks, and at night. Finally, by New Year’s Eve, I began writing it.
T10F: What possibilities did fiction open up for you that non-fiction couldn’t, especially when exploring the emotional truth of your journey?
MK: Fictionalising my life’s story gave me the liberty to change the chronology a little, consolidate stories, add details for clarity, and remove details for brevity. It also allowed me to be creative, which is what I always loved about creative writing.
Zachary, the main character in The Tireless Advocate, has similar experiences to mine.
T10F: What challenges did you face in writing a fictionalised version of your life, and how did you work through them?
MK: I honestly didn’t run into much challenges writing fiction, especially when compared to writing nonfiction. When writing nonfiction, I had to stick to rigid chronology and make sure all the facts were straight and verifiable.
T10F: How did the writing process for The Tireless Advocate compare to your previous books, both creatively and personally?
MK: It was a catharsis, as creative writing usually is for me. It is a relief getting stories out of my mind and heart. For the most part, the chronology of The Tireless Advocate is similar to real life. It strongly compares to my second book, Unstoppable, the most. About 95% of Zachary Corwin’s life happened to me in real life. Writing was relatively easy and faster since I used my real-life experiences as a framework. The Tireless Advocate focuses more on the issues I faced, especially the social issues, whereas Unstoppable focuses more on what it was like getting a teaching credential. The Tireless Advocate provided a lot more stories (in story and dialogue form), whereas Unstoppable highlighted a few special stories that occurred.
T10F: What do you hope readers take away from this story about resilience, identity, and the impact one person can have on others?
MK: I hope readers will be encouraged, strengthened, and motivated, having read a story about an autistic individual who never gave up, even though so many odds were against him. Despite being bullied and underestimated, he continued to fight and overcame the struggles, all while encouraging and teaching tens of thousands of people at the same time.
I also hope that neurotypical readers will gain more awareness, insight, and understanding about what we go through. As a result, I hope it’ll spread more acceptance and inclusion in society.
Read more about Matthew Kenslow
Interview: Matthew Kenslow On Being Empowered By Autism & The Pursuit Of Dreams In Spite Of Life’s Obstacles
Matthew Kenslow on Instagram
In his inspirational new book, Unstoppable, substitute teacher and influencer Matthew Kenslow paints an intimate portrait of a life with autism and how disability should not stop anyone from pursuing their dreams.
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