I’m Jon, and This Is My Story Exploring Life, Music, and What It Means to Live Fully
Jon Keith Evans spent 47 years asking why things that seemed effortless for others felt impossibly difficult for him. He graduated high school with 21 college credits already earned, then struggled for 8½ years across four universities to complete his undergraduate degree. He mastered technical writing and earned professional certificate, yet faced repeated job losses despite strong performance reviews.
The pattern was consistent: initial success, followed by unexplained friction, then termination or transfer. His technical skills were never questioned. His dedication was evident. Yet something always seemed to go wrong.
In 2001, after years of seeking answers through psychologists, vocational counselors, and medical specialists, Jon received a diagnosis that finally made sense of his experiences: Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism that remained largely unknown during his childhood and early adulthood.
Education Against the Odds
Jon’s academic journey began with promise. Through Cathedral High School’s advanced programs, he entered college with a substantial head start. But what should have been a four-year degree stretched to 8½ years across four institutions: Loyola University, DePaul University, University of Detroit, and finally Roosevelt University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of General Studies in 1982, followed by earning his Post-Baccalaureate degree in 1996.
Later, Jon earned a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Technical and Professional Communications from the Illinois Institute of Technology—a program he completed successfully while working full-time as a telephone operator for Illinois Bell.
Career
Jon’s work history demonstrates both his capabilities and the obstacles created by undiagnosed autism:
- Illinois Bell/Ameritech (1987-1996): Nearly a decade as a Directory Assistance Operator, where his speaking voice and detailed work style led to conflicts despite customer service commendations.
- Internal Revenue Service (1983-1984): Temporary position where he excelled at data processing but struggled with unspoken social expectations.
- Underwriters Laboratories (2000-2001): Technical Correspondent role where his attention to detail was valued, but operational errors related to information processing disorder led to performance concerns—and eventually, the evaluation that revealed his autism.
Throughout these positions, Jon received praise for technical accuracy, research skills, and dedication. Yet unexplained difficulties with workplace dynamics repeatedly derailed his career trajectory.
The Search for Answers
Jon’s quest to understand his difficulties began in earnest in 1990, when he saw a television news segment about Hyperlexia. He recognized himself in the description and began seeking evaluations.
The process took over a decade and involved:
- Sleep disorder studies at Northwestern and University of Chicago
- Neuropsychological evaluations
- Speech pathology assessments revealing Functional Hypertensive Dysphonia
- Multiple psychological evaluations that suggested depression or personality issues
In 2000, after a near-termination at Underwriters Laboratories, Jon made a decision to seek medical evaluation. This led him to several neurologists at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The first of which asked a question before. ‘Have you considered the possibility that you might be Autistic?
Further evaluation confirmed a diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder part of the autism spectrum, along with confirmation of Hyperlexia and Information Processing Disorder.
Life After Diagnosis
The diagnosis brought relief, validation, and practical challenges. Jon applied for Social Security Disability benefits—a process that required three appeals and an administrative hearing before approval in 2002.
Today, Jon writes about his experiences with clarity and purpose. His memoir, The Glass Monolith, provides a detailed account of living with undiagnosed autism through childhood, education, career struggles, and eventual diagnosis. The book has found readers among adults seeking late diagnosis, families trying to understand autism in loved ones, and professionals working with neurodiverse populations.
Beyond the Book
Jon maintains several interests that have provided structure and comfort throughout his life:
Music: A lifelong passion for smooth jazz, particularly artists like Ramsey Lewis, Earl Klugh, and Sadao Watanabe. Jon approaches music criticism with the same analytical precision he brought to technical writing.
Automotive Culture: An appreciation for sports compact cars, particularly British and Japanese models. This interest connects to his broader fascination with engineering and technical design.
Travel: Despite financial constraints, Jon attended the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the 1994 World Cup Soccer in Chicago, and the 1994 World Cup Basketball in Toronto—experiences he pursued through careful research and planning.
Current Work
Jon has been working as a security guard for a small firm. Jon also worked for St. Augustine College in Chicago on a project that resulted in the development of a one-day Technical Writing course for the school.