About
Derek Volk
Derek Volk is the author of the internationally acclaimed Amazon best seller, Chasing the Rabbit: A Dad’s Life Raising a Son on the Spectrum. Derek is a Maine businessman, supporter of Autism awareness, volunteer and philanthropist who, along with his family, was recently named the 2015 Spurwink “Humanitarian of the Year.” He is currently the president and co-owner of Volk Packaging Corporation, a third generation, family owned, corrugated box manufacturer in Biddeford, Maine. Derek actively participates on the Maine Business Leadership Network (BLN), a national organization that focuses on connecting employers with potential employees who have disabilities. His own company currently employs those who are deaf, blind and on the autism spectrum.
A speech communications major at the University of Maine at Orono, Derek has always been comfortable speaking to an audience. Since 2012, Derek has hosted a Saturday morning radio talk show on WLOB 1310AM and 100.5FM in Portland, Maine. His show can be heard online at www.derekvolkshow.com and through podcasts available on iTunes and Stitcher.
Derek has been happily married to his high school sweetheart, Amy Volk, for 27 years. State Senator Amy Volk is currently serving her third term in the Maine Legislature. Amy and Derek are the proud parents of four children. Their son, Dylan, is 25-years-old and the inspiration behind Chasing the Rabbit. They also have three daughters, Mariah (22), Lilly (18) and Serena (12). Mariah is credited for her efforts typing the book, which was originally dictated by Derek into a digital recorder. She learned a lot about her big brother in the process.
Chasing the Rabbit is Derek’s first experience as an author. Initially, he began to pen a business book, but his life experiences prompted him to put down the business outline and start work documenting his life as a father instead.
Dylan Volk
After years of what his parents called “the diagnosis of the month club,” Dylan was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of eight. Life has always been challenging for Dylan. When he was little, he struggled with how to learn the rules and follow directions that often did not make sense to him. As he got older, he was challenged, especially socially, by a world that often seemed to go too fast for him to keep up. Even today, Dylan works hard to figure out what he needs to do in order to get through each day as a 26-year-old adult in a very fast-paced society.
Dylan graduated from Scarborough High School in 2010. Dylan is currently pursuing his goal of earning a living making people laugh. He currently lives in Austin, Texas where he has produced a series of satirical videos for his YouTube channel, Dielawn Comedy. He has created a significant following with almost 50,000 views to his YouTube videos, over 550 subscribers and almost 15,000 followers on Instagram. Be sure to subscribe to his YouTube Channel. Dylan has also been a regular on SiriusXM’s Dirty Pop hosted by Lance Bass on Radio Andy Channel 102. He also has his own radio show, “Ridin with Dielawn” which can be heard every week in Maine on WLOB 1310AM and streams or can be heard any time on his website, www.ridinwithdielawn.com. You can also subscribe to his Ridin with Dielawn podcast on ITunes and Stitcher.
You can watch his videos by searching Dielawn Comedy or at
Dielawn Comedy | Resources | Chasing The Rabbit Group Discussion Guide
Dylan has really been enjoying his experiences speaking about his life and the book and his presentations have been extremely well received. He hopes his work helping his father write “Chasing the Rabbit: A Dad’s Life Raising a Son on the Autism Spectrum” will help families as they navigate through the difficulties of living life on the spectrum.