By: Maria Williams
According to Statista, the rate of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rose from 6.7 per 1,000 in 2000 to 27.6 per 1,000 in 2020. Similarly, 1 in 9 U.S. children have been diagnosed with ADHD, as of 2022. These statistics reflect not just a rise in diagnosis but an urgent call for more effective interventions, especially because traditional treatments and strategies often fall short.
Action Pact Coaching was founded by a seasoned educator, empathetic maverick, and dynamic coach – Jared Kallen. He addresses learning differences with unorthodox methods, redefining what it means to coach young people with neurodiverse backgrounds. This aligns with the recent rise of neurodevelopmental disorders rising sharply in the U.S., where the need for innovative coaching approaches has never been greater. With a background in psychology and years of experience working with neurodiverse kids both in schools and privately, Jared founded Action Pact Coaching to implement his unique strategies.
A longtime contributing member to renowned nonprofits, such as The Learning Disabilities Association of Montgomery County (LDAMC) and The Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), Jared’s journey into coaching began with a personal mission: to address the needs of neurodiverse individuals facing challenges in conventional settings. “I wanted to create a space where these young people could thrive, not just survive,” explains Kallen.
Establishing trust is the first step. Many of Jared’s clients experience repeated failure, so Jared must build a comfortable rapport from the outset, aiming that his clients are fully invested in the process before building pathways to success and breaking the pattern of feeling like they have failed. Jared is an exuberant, comedic, and optimistic character who leverages his unique traits to get the desired outcomes.
The next step is moving the client into more complex work, helping them become more familiar with success. Drawing from his own recovery journey and extensive professional background in education and business, Jared deploys a coaching framework that integrates diverse methodologies – from behavioral strategies to cognitive and emotional support. This multifaceted approach aims to address not just the existing issues but also the underlying factors that often contribute to them. When all else fails, he draws on techniques that have been effective in many cases, such as the use of behavioral rewards. “Whatever moves the bus forward!” Jared says with a smile, displaying his commitment to trying anything to ensure the young person feels seen, heard, and understood.
One key element of Jared’s coaching methodology is the integration of family members into the education process. He understands that, for young people to thrive, the whole family must be involved, and unhealthy family dynamics need to be acknowledged, comprehended, and repaired. “In most families, these patterns have been going on for years. Everyone is blaming one another and getting nowhere fast. But for a neurodivergent client to succeed, it’s not about what has happened, it’s about where we go from here,” he explains. “Parents and guardians play an essential role in the development of neurodiverse youth, and that means that they need to understand the do’s and don’ts.” He integrates parents into the coaching process from the outset, conducting initial sessions with family members to set clear expectations, followed by detailed reviews after each session. This family inclusion and transparency aims that everyone shares the same goals.
Unlike most coaching services, Action Pact maintains daily contact with clients, using the platforms that young people know best. Through text messaging, video chats, social media, and other regular check-ins, Jared offers a level of accountability and engagement that goes beyond ‘conventional’ weekly sessions. As Jared says, “If you get in a jam, just pop me a call.” This constant communication helps build the necessary rapport to keep clients on track between formal sessions.
Jared’s commitment to young people goes beyond mere coaching; he views it as an opportunity to transform lives. He shares success stories of young people who have flourished under his guidance, including one teenager who gained the confidence to pursue higher education after years of feeling sidelined. “Seeing these youngsters achieve their goals is what drives me. There is a ripple effect that turns what used to be a negative into a positive for their families and communities.”
Describing himself as a ‘mini-detective,’ Jared dives into each child’s situation with an open mind, without assumptions, and armed with determination, dissecting patterns and identifying the subtle dynamics that may be hindering progress. He cajoles just enough to foster growth, often through humor, and challenges children – always from a place of empathy and understanding – making his coaching stand out. “I’m not here to tell kids what to do or to provide cookie-cutter solutions,” Jared asserts. “My role is to challenge, to guide, and to empower. Anyone familiar with neurodivergence knows that one chief trait of this population is defiance. Through a co-created plan, I get young people to commit to more yeses than nos.”
With his holistic approach, Jared focuses on addressing virtually every aspect of the young person’s life, providing executive functioning techniques that relate to better academic performance, along with the social and emotional aspects of his clients. Jared also often communicates with teachers, tutors, and therapists to ensure continuity. His goal is not merely to support kids, but to elevate them.
As Action Pact Coaching continues to grow, Jared envisions expanding his coaching model to train other coaches in his distinctive methodology, thereby amplifying his impact on the neurodiverse community. “My goal is to break out of the current landscape, which has so few solutions for neurodiverse individuals, and empower others to understand and connect with the wonderful members of this community.”
By establishing trust, increasing familiarity with success, bringing family members, therapists, teachers, and others into the process, using humor and ever more challenging tasks, Jared creates a system that values empathy as much as results, proving that a different kind of coaching can make all the difference. His work at Action Pact Coaching is more than just a program – it’s a movement toward a future where neurodiverse individuals are fully supported while their potential is celebrated.
No one is saying this process is easy, but Jared addresses challenging human conditions in novel and innovative ways. As Jared often says, “If nothing changes, then nothing changes.”
Published by: Nelly Chavez
