About the Founder

A Hundred Lives in 38 Years

I’m Jason, and at 38, I often feel like I’ve lived a hundred different lives already. Living with autism, ADHD, CPTSD, several physical health conditions, and as part of the LGBTQ+ community has meant that my life has rarely followed a straightforward path.

To borrow the words of a character I identify with — Amelia Shepherd in Grey’s Anatomy:

“You look at me and see a person your age, and you think she will be fun, she is someone I can relate to, but I am a hundred years older than you, and I am tired.”

That’s often how I feel. I’ve been through challenges that broke me more than once, and I’ve carried hurts that shaped my nervous system and my world view. I won’t go into all of those details here — this is not the place. But I am writing a book about my experiences, where I’ll share openly about the things I’ve faced and what I’ve learned from them. When it’s ready, 50% of profits will go directly to Living Reasons to support its work. (If that sparks your curiosity, keep an eye out for updates — a little plug for my future self-published book!)

Lessons From a Life Less Straightforward

Through all of this, I’ve collected lessons that shaped the idea for Living Reasons.

🎓 “Education isn’t built for difference.”

🏛️ “Systems often harm the people they’re meant to protect.”

❤️ “Relationships can both break us and heal us.”

👔 “Workplaces need true equity, not slogans.”

🏥 “Healthcare should listen before it labels.”

And perhaps the biggest lesson: if you want things to change, you have to start building the change yourself.

Why Living Reasons?

Ten years ago, I started planning Living Reasons in my head. Back then, it was just a dream, a scribbled plan I carried around in my mind. Life got in the way, as it often does. More struggles, more lessons. In hindsight, I think I needed that decade of lived experience to believe fully that this vision could work.

Now, it’s time. I can’t do it alone — I don’t want to. I need an army of people who see the same unfairness I see, who believe that life doesn’t have to be this hard, and who want to build something better together.

The idea is simple, but powerful: we are all Living Reasons. Each of us is here for a reason. Each of us has a voice and a perspective worth hearing. Together, those voices can challenge outdated systems, expose injustice, and prove that a fairer, kinder, more sustainable society is possible.

A Chosen Community

I don’t believe in being limited by where we’re born, what boxes society puts us in, or the identities other people use to define us. Living Reasons is not about a prescribed community. It’s about a chosen community — a gathering of people who believe in change, equity, and kindness.

We accept difference. We see limitations as opportunities. We use our experiences, not to divide us, but to help us build better solutions that work for everyone.

Looking Forward Together

Living Reasons was named with purpose. The name itself is a reminder: we are all living beings, and we all have a reason to be here. Whether you are a volunteer, a supporter, a service user, or just someone watching from the side-lines, you are a living reason for change.

I wish I had started this a decade ago, but perhaps it had to wait until now — until the idea, and I, had enough time to grow. What I know for certain is this: I don’t want to build Living Reasons as a solo mission. I want to build it with you.

So, if you’ve ever felt like the world wasn’t built for you, if you’ve ever looked at society and thought this could be better, you belong here. Together, we can take all our struggles, strengths, and lessons and turn them into something revolutionary.

Because we are not broken. Society is. And together, we can change that.