Jack Orpen
Jack was nominated by his friend James's mother, Katie Leonard
What makes Jack Xtraordinary to you?
Jack is a true and loyal friend to our son James. From an early age, Jack showed a genuine interest in getting to know James and in understanding his strengths, along with his challenges.
Jack has never seen any barriers to including James in activities he is planning with other friends. And if there is a potential for a tricky situation, Jack brainstorms solutions and shares his plans with us ahead of time. This is a rare quality in someone his age. Because Jack is such a champion of inclusion, James’ first year in high school has been incredibly meaningful with an ever-widening social circle and lots of opportunities for extracurricular involvement (including but not limited to Best Buddies and Unified Sports).
The respect with which Jack treats James serves as a powerful example of real friendship and has a ripple effect among their peers, encouraging others to do their part to make sure students with disabilities feel like they belong. Jack is a treasure to our family.
Special Facts
- He plays hockey and golf.
- His brain is like an encyclopedia for sports trivia.
- He makes excellent guacamole.
How has the NFXF helped you?
Our family follows the NFXF closely and is grateful to have such detailed information that we can share with everyone who interacts with our son. It’s not always easy to understand the unique interaction and communication styles of individuals with FXS, so being able to refer someone to the NFXF website or social media accounts is immensely helpful.