I am a few minutes late and the students are already knee deep in ideas. H offers up a Kodak instant pix idea for football games. A discussion about prices, t-shirt designs, blogs, websites and social media ensues as candy is passed around to bolster the kinetic energy flowing like a crackling windstorm.
Ideas bounce around and morph and grow as everyone is starting to find their voices. It’s a swirling hot mess of collaboration that finally funnels into tangible ideas that we will develop and refine.
And then…we need to pause to talk about …seizures. We talk about how not every seizure is a 911 event. As we talk, it becomes less scary. I make a note to send around an educational video about what to do if someone is having a seizure.
Quick as a flash, they’re off with ideas again and that’s when J starts with a low giggle.
J’s wheelchair is at the end of the long rectangular table. The way-too-small table is covered with product prototypes, button designs, and candy wrappers.
The giggle rises to a laugh. What the heck?
J is in an intensely focused staring contest with R who is at the opposite end of the table. They both start laughing at the same time, which gets me laughing and now we’re all laughing.
It reminds me of why we started this club in the first place. Every.single.person.adds.value. I truly enjoy this tribe and am honored to be a part of it.
We are growing and growing and I can’t wait to see where we go.
Our mission is for high school students both with and without disabilities to collaborate on Shark Tank type business ideas with the goal that students will graduate with a business. 90% of adults with autism are unemployed. That is crazy when we believe the purpose of life is to live a life of purpose. We can do so much better for our fellow human beings.
We would love YOUR ideas! Check out our website and come join us at our next meeting:
CONARD HIGH SCHOOL 11/15 and 11/29 after school in room 181
HALL HIGH SCHOOL 11/20 after school in room B14