Unbelievable. Those are the type of results one may get when taking one student’s well designed program and styling it according to their special interest. As was seen in my previous post, a young boy with High Functioning Autism named Jordan was able to take that next step with the tremendous work of his teachers and some Seahawks seasoning. Little did anyone know, this was just the beginning. What would happen next would truly be, unbelievable.
At least that was the single word running through the mind of every member of Team Jordan when his school was selected to have a member of the Seattle Seahawks visit as part of the NFL Play 60 program. There are just a few of us who actually get to meet our heroes in life. Jordan’s hero was coming to his school. And in this case, it was none other than All-pro safety Earl Thomas.
On the day of the big event, Jordan was all smiles. An assembly with a real life Seahawk! Playing football out on the playground for a full hour with a bunch of peers and a real Seahawk! The visit was special enough but it got even better for Jordan. Several staff members told Earl about Jordan and his unique learning area and suggested he check it out. Even the principal egged on Earl, “No really, you have to see this.” So just before the football star departed, Jordan escorted Earl into his classroom.
Jordan just wanted to talk shop and predicted a big win for the Seahawks against the Atlanta Falcons the following Sunday. Earl replied, “I think you and Sherman would get along great.” Walking up to Jordan’s desk, Earl’s eyes lit up. Staff members were in tears as Earl took in Jordan’s Seahawks-inspired learning area. The reinforcement board shaped like a football field created by yours truly, Earl signed it. It was a moment that no staff member or Jordan would ever forget, and it was not until later that the group realized that for Earl too the moment was unbelievable.
That realization came in form of a phone call weeks later to the school from the Seattle Seahawks. Earl was so touched by what he saw in Jordan’s program that he wanted Jordan, his family and a few friends to be his guests for the Monday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints. Truly unbelievable! Every staff member – including myself – began to ask, “Does Jordan consider me to be a good friend?”
Despite the cold and the noise, it was a night for the ages for both the Seahawks and Jordan. He was on the field as the players ran out, and then watch his heroes dismantle the Saints from a safe distance. When asked the next day at school what the best part was about the whole experience he said, “I got to see the Hawk!” Unbelievable!
When we seek out ways to celebrate those who are a little different, we find that not only those individuals feel more welcome, but the community in general grows to have a larger appreciation and understanding of who we are all are. This impact is felt within the community of a classroom, a school, even an entire city. And while everyone can help in growing communities that are accepting, it is those in positions of leadership – whether it be a teacher, a principal or even All-pro safety Earl Thomas – who have the biggest impact. It is those in positions of leadership who need to step up.
Which is why on April 2nd, World Autism Day, Earl Tweeted and Facebooked out this:
Absolutely unbelievable.