New memoir chronicles Beacon alumnus' path to advocacy and self-discovery.
By Gabrielle Russon
Beacon College alumnus Alexander Blankenship shares his life story in an upcoming memoir that chronicles his disabilities, faith and journey toward self-acceptance.
“I know what it feels like to be misunderstood, underestimated, or told you don’t belong,” Blankenship wrote. “I also know what it means to overcome, and to do it by faith.”
“Faith and Learning Differently: Bridging the Gap Between My Faith, Family & Learning Disabilities” will be released Oct. 1 and will be available through major online retailers.
Blankenship, 49, a 2011 Beacon College graduate, hopes his story will encourage others living with learning disabilities or facing significant challenges. Blankenship weaves information about learning disabilities with personal reflections on his family history, educational journey and growth as a self-advocate. For Blankenship, the words swirled together on the page when he tried to read. Math homework made him break down and cry. Street signs confused him.
“Small talk and body language? Those didn’t come naturally. I had to study them the way others study algebra,” Blankenship wrote. Understanding spoken conversations presented challenges, too. “Sometimes, I hear every word someone says — but it takes my brain a few seconds to make sense of it. It’s like buffering in real life,” wrote Blankenship, who was also diagnosed with DiGeorge Syndrome, a rare genetic condition.
Throughout the book, Blankenship, with an optimistic tone, emphasizes that his disabilities didn’t hold him back. He developed strategies to help him, used technology to make life easier and was grateful for his support system along the way. Blankenship now sees himself as an advocate for people with disabilities.
“Real change comes from ongoing advocacy—both self-advocacy and collective action,” he wrote. “It means knowing your rights, demanding reasonable accommodations, and challenging discriminatory attitudes wherever they appear.” The memoir also recounts a pivotal chapter in Blankenship’s life: enrolling at Beacon College after years of perseverance.
Blankenship graduated from high school with a special diploma that did not meet Beacon’s admission requirements. Determined to attend Beacon, he later earned a standard high school diploma by completing an online program over three years.
At Beacon, Blankenship developed lasting friendships and found professors who understood his learning differences. He also served as a resident advisor, helping fellow students navigate campus life. Beacon College professor Jamie Fleming remembers Blankenship as a hardworking, engaged and upbeat student.
“My years at Beacon were not free from struggle, but they were filled with moments of discovery, connection, and growth. The challenges I faced did not defeat me — instead, they forged resilience, empathy, and a commitment to never stop advocating for myself or others,” wrote Blankenship, who studied computer information systems. “In the end, Beacon College showed me and those I served that a fulfilling life is not about fitting in, but about finding a place where you are celebrated for exactly who you are.”
During his senior year, Blankenship experienced an epiphany. While working on homework, he realized he wanted to write a book about his life someday. Fleming said he can’t wait to read it. “It has been years in the making,” he said.
Completing the memoir has taken on deeper significance in recent years. Blankenship’s father, Wayne, who is featured prominently in the memoir, now lives with dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Blankenship plans to read his memoir out loud to his father to share his work.
His mother, Sia Blankenship, has watched her son go from struggling to communicate to becoming a published author. Her assessment is simple: “It’s a miracle.”