Tomatoes and Peppers

A metaphorical story that explores the relationship between children with differences of all types, and the world around them. The book examines how the attitudes, opinions and assumptions of others, based on differences both seen and unseen, can become the real challenge that children face. Born at 28 weeks; having had close to 30 surgeries; 19 of those neurosurgeries; 5 of those last summer alone; and having been diagnosed with learning differences at 40; Matt understands what it's like to move through a normative world in an atypical way. Matt hopes this book will serve as a bridge of understanding between those who struggle and the world around them.

A metaphorical story that explores the relationship between children with differences of all types, and the world around them. The book examines how the attitudes, opinions and assumptions of others, based on differences both seen and unseen, can become the real challenge that children face. Born at 28 weeks; having had close to 30 surgeries; 19 of those neurosurgeries; 5 of those last summer alone; and having been diagnosed with learning differences at 40; Matt understands what it's like to move through a normative world in an atypical way. Matt hopes this book will serve as a bridge of understanding between those who struggle and the world around them.

Matt has been a nanny, a professional fundraiser, a para educator in a public school and is now a master's level mental health counselor. He has lived all over the country, traveled all over the world, and now resides in his hometown of Barre, Vermont. Matt is always trying to find new and different ways to build relationships and support people that are struggling, including the children he worked with in his time as a para educator and now his clients as a community based mental health counselor for a local agency. Matt seems to know everyone and is great about keeping in touch with friends from high school, college, his masters' program and his days as a traveling fundraiser. He lives by the philosophy that life is all about the relationships we create whether it's personal or professional. Born at 28 weeks; having had close to 30 surgeries; 19 of those neurosurgeries; 5 of those last summer alone; and having been diagnosed with learning differences at 40; Matt understands what it's like to move through a normative world in an atypical way. Matt hopes this book will serve as a bridge of understanding between those who struggle and the world around them. Matt loves to cook and bake in his free time, and is famous for sharing mouthwatering recipes and has long held a fascination with quirky architecture.