19-year-old autistic teen’s LinkedIn message to a future employer is suddenly going viral

For a person suffering from autism, life is not the same as it is for others. It feels like a foreign landscape, and even though they have some brilliant abilities, it can be difficult for them to survive and make a place for themselves in the world. Realizing that it'd be a struggle for him to find jobs, Ryan Lowry, an autistic guy from Leesburg, shared a handwritten note on LinkedIn, addressed to his future employer. In the letter, he listed why he could make a great contribution to the organization despite his condition. At the time of writing the letter, dated February 27, 2021, he was only 19 years old. As of May 15, 2026, his post has over 179,000 likes. 

'I promise if you hire me...'

After introducing himself — his name, age, and place of residence — Ryan mentioned that he was autistic and continued to spell out the various traits, talents, and abilities he possesses. "I also have a unique sense of humor, am gifted at math, really good with technology, and a really quick learner," he wrote, adding that he was interested in a job in animation or in IT. He clarified that he doesn’t learn as other people do and that he would need a mentor, but once someone taught him, he would grasp it quickly. "I promise that if you hire me and teach me, you will be glad that you did," Ryan added. Moreover, the then-teenager assured that he would show up at work every day and follow every little instruction. 

The overwhelming reaction

Ryan's letter went viral on LinkedIn, and he received immense love and support from people online. Overwhelmed by the reaction, his parents, Tracy and Rob Lowry, told PEOPLE, "We lay in bed at night, and I cried reading stories of other people." Moreover, his father confirmed that Ryan received many job offers following his post, but they wanted to take some time to come to a decision. 

Ryan's current LinkedIn update says he works in Customer Service at the Harris Teeter Supermarkets. Before this, he worked as a barista in a local coffee shop while pursuing his studies in Virginia, which allowed him to learn on-the-job training. "It restores your faith in humanity a little bit after all the crap we've all had to deal with in the last year or two," said Rob. "So it's been uplifting to say the least and gives us a lot of hope that he can get to a place that we want him to be, and he wants to be." Interestingly, after Ryan's post went viral, he was offered a special scholarship for an animation program by Exceptional Minds, as revealed on NBC News. 

Employment struggles

Research published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders revealed that while most autistic individuals possess essential skills and a desire to work, they usually struggle for employment. Only 15 to 23 percent of autistic individuals in the US are employed, according to the report, while others remain unemployed or underemployed. Like Ryan, who earlier worked as a barista, the study also indicated that 67% of autistic individuals participated in at least one work experience between the ages of 18 and 23, as compared to 86% of non-autistic individuals. In paid and competitive employment, only 50% of autistic participants landed jobs as compared to 78% of non-autistic participants.

'True role model'

Among thousands of people who chimed in with supportive comments on Ryan's letter, David Postel shared, "Well done, Ryan! My son is 10 years old and is on the spectrum. It's young people like you who are blazing the trails that will hopefully make it a bit easier for his generation, so thank you. True role model." Similarly, Robert Fetterman remarked, "I wish I were hiring in his sector. What an opportunity to hire someone who could be a game-changer. Best of luck, Ryan!”

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