Anybody have any great OJ Brigance photos?

**Mashed Potatoes** · 02-17-2012 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by The Rick

That's amazing dude - good stuff. So glad to hear good people like you using stories like this to inspire our youth. You deserve a lot of credit here, IMO.

Thanks dude, it wasn't a planned move. We have a boy in our class with a visible physical disability who clearly has created an aggressive shield to send the message to others in school and in his neighborhood that yea I might look weak, but I'm not to be ****ed with. He's had many emotional angry outbursts throughout the year, and after his most recent one my coteacher and I scrapped our lesson and had everyone sit in a circle to talk about this until we'd worked it out. It turned into quite an emotional and transformative conversation, where everyone admitted they didn't like being made fun of ("packed on") by others for their various perceived flaws; being overweight, having a gap tooth, big ears, very dark skinned...etc., and worked out some beef that had been brewing for awhile.

One boy who is typically the loudest and most challenging student calmly and maturely explained to the boy with the disability how he used to be made fun of all the time for his mother being so young. Eventually he learned that he couldn't stop the insults from coming, but he could change how he reacted to them. He collected all of the jokes, and used them to become a funnier person himself. From there I made the point that what some people see as a disability can actually be turned into a strength, and from there thought of and talked about OJ Brigance touching more lives with ALS than he ever would've with football. Showed them a video, and then they asked for a picture, and then I went to google images, then came here, then sent some emails to the recommended peoples, and heard back.

OJ's coming next Thursday, I'll let yall know how it goes! Thanks everyone.

**The Rick** · 02-17-2012 01:14 AM

Originally Posted by Mashed Potatoes

Thanks dude, it wasn't a planned move. We have a boy in our class with a visible physical disability who clearly has created an aggressive shield to send the message to others in school and in his neighborhood that yea I might look weak, but I'm not to be ****ed with. He's had many emotional angry outbursts throughout the year, and after his most recent one my coteacher and I scrapped our lesson and had everyone sit in a circle to talk about this until we'd worked it out. It turned into quite an emotional and transformative conversation, where everyone admitted they didn't like being made fun of ("packed on") by others for their various perceived flaws; being overweight, having a gap tooth, big ears, very dark skinned...etc., and worked out some beef that had been brewing for awhile.

One boy who is typically the loudest and most challenging student calmly and maturely explained to the boy with the disability how he used to be made fun of all the time for his mother being so young. Eventually he learned that he couldn't stop the insults from coming, but he could change how he reacted to them. He collected all of the jokes, and used them to become a funnier person himself. From there I made the point that what some people see as a disability can actually be turned into a strength, and from there thought of and talked about OJ Brigance touching more lives with ALS than he ever would've with football. Showed them a video, and then they asked for a picture, and then I went to google images, then came here, then sent some emails to the recommended peoples, and heard back.

OJ's coming next Thursday, I'll let yall know how it goes! Thanks everyone.

That's great. This is the type of thing I wish would happen more often in classrooms across the country. This is the type of thing that can have a huge impact in a young person's life. Lessons learned, that unfortunately, aren't guaranteed to be taught by parents these days.

My youngest Brother has Cerebral Palsy. He's all there mentally, and quite witty quick. He can't control his upper body, but can walk. Without control of his upper body he has a very bad speech impediment, but you can understand him if you're listening carefully. He plays video games with his feet, gets really good grades, but is at the age where he is struggling emotionally because he's more aware than ever of why everyone always stares at him as he walks down the hall.

He's becoming more and more aware of his shell, and the limits it has placed on him, and the prejudice it has placed upon other folks who don't really know him. Most assume he's mentally challenged, he's not. Most assume you can't have a normal conversation and joke with him... not true, he'll own your ass. Most assume he doesn't have plans and is just happy getting by, again, not true. He's very motivated.

In any event, I too have shared the story of OJ Brigance with Aaron, and he has found it very inspirational. He realizes that you have to do the best with the hand your dealt, and control your emotions and outlook in life, not let how other people view you become your reality. Aaron inspires me more and more every day with his courage and sticktuitiveness. He is resilient, and won't let societies expectations of him get in the way of accomplishing his goals.

I didn't mean to make this about Aaron, or me, but I can relate to the type of impact you are having in these kids lives, and I really appreciate it. Keep us posted on how this goes.