Zev Glassenberg is set to be the first person with Asperger’s syndrome to compete on the CBS reality show The Amazing Race.

The show, which is in its 15^th season, will follow Glassenberg, 26, pictured left, and his teammate Justin Kanew, 30, as they race against 11 other teams on a journey through eight countries in just 21 days. The winning team receives a $1 million prize.

Ahead of the show’s premiere September 27, Glassenberg spoke with Disability Scoop.

Disability Scoop: How did you decide to apply for The Amazing Race?

Zev Glassenberg: I’d been wanting to apply for the last seven seasons or so and then I finally asked my future teammate (his friend, Justin Kanew). I said, alright I’m going to set this up and we’re going to go and do it and we’re going to get on the race and that’s what we did. It was a dream of mine to go on the show and I did it. It’s one of my favorite shows and I thought it would be a really, really cool experience.

Disability Scoop: What about the show appealed to you?

Zev Glassenberg: It’s basically a scavenger hunt around the world and I like to do scavenger hunts, so why not do one around the world?

Disability Scoop: Had you ever done anything like this before?

Zev Glassenberg: No.

Disability Scoop: Your teammate Justin, was he in on this from the get-go too?

Zev Glassenberg: This was my thing. This is what I wanted to do. I needed a partner and he’s the one I chose. He had never seen the show.

Disability Scoop: What’s your relationship like with Justin?

Zev Glassenberg: He’s one of my very, very good friends. We met at a sports camp in Massachusetts in 2003 where we taught football together. We’re pretty much alike. He’s a little bit older than I am but we both have the same common interests – sports and hanging out and just having a good time.

Disability Scoop: When were you diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome?

Zev Glassenberg: I’ve had it since I was 11. It really doesn’t mean much to my life. It’s just something I do and I guess I live with it. I don’t really spend too much of my life on that — it’s just something that’s there.

Disability Scoop: For a lot of people with Asperger’s the social aspects of being on a show like The Amazing Race would be difficult. Was that ever a concern for you?

Zev Glassenberg: It was a little overwhelming because I knew I’d be going to different places and traveling the world, but I knew I’d have my friend there with me.

Disability Scoop: Is there anything about having Asperger’s that would make you more or less likely to succeed in a competition like The Amazing Race?

Zev Glassenberg: No, I thought we had as good a shot as anybody to win the race. I just wanted to go and be myself and do my thing.

Disability Scoop: Before you were chosen to be on The Amazing Race, what was your life like?

Zev Glassenberg: I live with an older couple and their daughter (in Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and I had a job. But I got let go in January. I didn’t really look for a job too much because I knew I was going to be picked for the race. I hired a trainer. I knew I needed to be in good shape to run the race. I just wanted to have more stamina and get a little stronger.

Disability Scoop: What did your family and friends say when they found out you were going to be on the show?

Zev Glassenberg: They were really, really excited. Well, I knew I was going to get on the show when I applied because I wanted to go and be on the show. So when you put those things out there and they had never had a contestant like me, I knew I had a good chance to be on it. So I was feeling confident.

Disability Scoop: Did you talk about the fact that you have Asperger’s on your application?

Zev Glassenberg: Yes, that was one of the main things we talked about. We just said, I have Asperger’s and I guess they looked into it and thought it would be a good thing to have somebody who has Asperger’s on the show. I brought something different. Basically I was the special kid this season because last year there was Luke (who is deaf) and this year there’s me.

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