Tuesday, December 30, 2014
YOUNGSTOWN
Jackie Tarr wasn’t 100 percent sure about sending her son to Youngstown State University this fall to study multimedia journalism and volunteer as a coach for the YSU football team.
Brandon Baber, her son, has both autism and a seizure disorder.
“He started college out slow, taking only one class,” Tarr said. “He’s making a lot of friends — it’s been a good opportunity for him.”
He also has had a smooth transition to his first semester. He attributes most of that to support from the YSU football team. Members of the team considered Baber part of the family this fall. Coaches nicknamed him “B-man,” and football players all took Baber under their wings.
Eric Wolford, the former head football coach, said he’s always been passionate about helping autistic kids. He said he and his wife started the No Stone Unturned foundation for people with disabilities.
“I have a passion for helping all young people — especially special-needs kids,” Wolford said. “I really wanted to give [Baber] an identity his first semester at college by being a volunteer coach on the team. Just because a person has autism doesn’t mean they should be written off. That’s why I helped Baber.”
Ron Stoops, assistant football coach, said he was Baber’s former history teacher at Boardman High School. He said he invited Baber to help with YSU football practices the end of this summer.
“[Baber] really liked being a volunteer coach. So we all just rolled with it,” Stoops said. “He now has this group that he can be socially connected with.”
Baber’s transition is not the norm.
Read more about the matter in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.