Name: Pierre

Age: 20

Lives in: Victoria, BC with his mother, younger sister and pet cat.

Likes: Music, game shows and baseball.
Education and experience Grade 12 education excelling in math, art and music. Cashier at local grocery store for past 2 years. 8 years of piano lessons. About to start first year of college in computer animation program.
Roles and responsibilities Lives at home, responsible for basic chores around the house and taking care of his cat, Felix. Works 12 hrs/wk at grocery store. Weekly piano lessons, practices 30-45 mins/day.
Goals Wants to complete a computer animation program and pursue a career as an animator. Also wants to save up money from his part-time job to purchase a new high powered computer.
Technical skills Gifted visual artist. Competent with multiple digital drawing, video and audio editing programs. 
Learner profile Diagnosed with autism as a child. Visual and auditory learner. Excellent memory and attention to detail. Likes music, art, math and working with computers and technology. Often finds creative “outside the box” solutions to problems. Tends to obsess over topics of interest and has trouble focusing on topics that are not of interest. Has difficulty recognizing some social cues or grasping jokes or sarcasm in conversation. Makes little or no eye-contact in conversation which can be perceived as rude or not listening to those who do not know him well. Can be easily distracted by extraneous sounds in the room. Was supported by an educational assistant in public school, his family is looking into learning support options for him as he starts college.
Personality traits Serious but friendly demeanor. Well liked by classmates and has a small group of close friends. Close relationship with his mother and grandparents. Introverted, likes to spend spare time alone practicing piano, drawing, watching TV and playing computer games.
Obstacles Can be easily distracted in loud or unstructured learning environments. Can be thrown off by unexpected changes in routine and needs time to refocus and reset between activities. Is used to being supported by an EA to help structure his learning and may not have the same level of support in college. Has difficulty maintaining focus through long lectures, especially without visual aids.