Tuesday, June 30 at 7:00 PM Eastern
What does it take to visit all 50 U.S. states?
For our next Hear From Each Other event, AOG Communications Lead Janette Rosenbaum will share the story of a goal that took years to accomplish: visiting every state in the country.
Janette is a late-diagnosed Autistic person whose life has included earning a master’s degree, traveling across four continents, and building an impressive professional career. In 2023, they completed a goal they inherited from their grandmother and pursued for many years: experiencing all 50 states.
Along the way, they encountered unexpected challenges: changing plans, natural disasters, a global pandemic, and more than a few situations that tested their determination. They will share stories from the road, lessons learned, and reflections on what happens when an Autistic person commits to a goal that spans decades.
If you’ve ever wondered what America looks like beyond your own corner of it, Janette has some thoughts. After spending years traveling across the country, they came away with a deeper appreciation for just how different the places, cultures, and communities that make up the United States really are.
And while they’re saving most of the best stories for the presentation itself, they did offer a few hints.
For example, after visiting all 50 states, they still occasionally mix up geography. They once had to publicly admit on social media that Iowa and Nebraska are, in fact, different states.
They also discovered that when they travel, people often assume they work wherever they happen to be. More on that during the presentation!
Beyond their travels, Janette serves as AOG’s Communications Lead. They first connected with AOG through the Autistic Leaders Program and later joined the team through Your Job, Your Way.
What stands out most to them about AOG is its commitment to flexibility and person-centered support.
“AOG really does let you do the job your way,” Janette explains. “When AOG says the job is flexible, it genuinely means we will accommodate whatever else is going on in your life.”
Most importantly, Janette hopes attendees leave the presentation with a simple but powerful message:
Autistic people are allowed to have goals. Big, ambitious ones. And we can achieve them.
Janette will be sharing some of their favorite lesser-known destinations and experiences from around the country, along with lessons they learned about persistence, adapting to setbacks, and pursuing ambitious goals one step at a time.
If you’d like to hear stories of perseverance, travel, unexpected adventures, near-disasters, hidden destinations, and what it takes to accomplish a lifelong dream, join us on June 30.
We hope to see you there.
Hear From Each Other
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
7:00 PM Eastern
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After you sign up, download the calendar invite.
