About Neal

Neal Katz, 29 years old, loves to walk, listen to music, go to the beach, hang out with friends, go to the store and eat chocolate. Although non-speaking in the traditional sense, Neal is a multimodality communicator, using his iPad, iPhone, some sign language and a few words to communicate.  He lives independently part time with a roommate and with support. He enjoys being responsible for his own wellbeing as well as the care of his apartment. Neal works as an organic gardener as part of the Shemesh Farms program at the Shalom Institute, in Malibu, a program which he inspired,  and he also works at the Farms grocery store on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, California. Neal sees himself as an Emissary for Autism. He inspired the award-winning social skills, expressive and performing arts program, The Miracle Project and is featured in the HBO Emmy-winning film, Autism: The Musical and in Autism: The Sequel, premiering on HBO in April 2020. 

Neal is a semi-professional model being featured in Kate Winslet’s book The Golden Hat. Neal makes presentations across the US using his iPad to speak. He has presented twice at the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day in 2013 and in 2019. Neal was a panelist at the FRED Conference  in Los Angeles in 2014 and received an award in 2018 at the national Autism Society of America Conference in  Washington D.C. through the Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation and presents at faith-based and other non for profit  organizations across LA. 

Neal has walked many red carpets with celebrities such as Jack Black, Stephen Stills, Conan OBrian,  former Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti, to name a few.  He used his iPad  to present on stage with Crosby, Stills and Nash at the Autism Speaks, “Light Up the Blues”event at the Ace Theater and Neal inspired the Autism Speaks’ YouTube claymation sensation, “My Name is Neal,” which was shown at the Pantages Theater April 2015.   Neal enjoys the entertainment industry having been in several films through UCLA and other documentaries.  He even had a walk on part on the hit Netflix show Atypical Season 3!  Neal’s journey from Russia to the US is chronicled in his mom, Elaine Hall’s award winning memoir, Now I See the Moon. 

Neal is grateful to his family, and all of his coaches who have helped him to live the life he was meant to live.