By Isabella Zarate
Jordan Roberts is known for a lot of things. In the eyes of his mom, Katrina, he is kind, loyal, silly, strong, and has a great belly laugh.
Jordan was born with a bilateral cleft palate and lip, as well as autism, thus making communication a bit of an obstacle for him.
Now, at 24 Jordan and those around him recognize his differences, but acknowledge that different does not mean less.
In opposition, when Jordan was younger, Katrina recalls instances of children and parents treating Jordan differently.
One moment in particular resonates with Katrina.
She and Jordan, along with a number of other parents and children were on Jordan’s third-grade field trip to Chicago. An instant arose where Jordan was unable to communicate his feelings and instead expressed fear.
“It was very eye opening,” Katrina shared. “Kids treated Jordan as if he was not a real person.”
Katrina explained how the rest of the trip the other students, and parents alike, offered continuous glares and judgment, others even refused to acknowledge Katrina and her son.
Returning home, Katrina was in utter dismay having witnessed how others treated her son because of his differences.
“It started that day,” Katrina said.
“If they just knew Jordan, if they just took the time to get to know him,” she thought, maybe they would not have treated him like that.
Years passed, and Katrina continued to witness the space others left between themselves and her child. While Jordan did grow up and more people began to acknowledge him, Katrina felt he was never really included, and that was something she had hoped no child with special needs would have to experience.
“It just felt like God put it on my heart [that] someday I would write the book.”
That someday came. This past January after having surgery, Katrina found herself with some time off. In about a week the book was done.
“If you Knew Jordan” is a three part childrens book highlighting the idea of “different, but not less.”
“Jordan himself wrote an introduction to it,” Katrina noted.
The book explores the idea that everybody has something that makes them special, something that makes them like everybody else, and something that makes them different.
And as for the bigger picture, “our main goal for the book is a movement.”
“A movement of deeper inclusion,” Katrina added.
Proceeds for the book go towards Katrina’s non-profit, Family First Advocacy, a program geared towards helping students succeed in the education system despite any differences or challenges that might face.
As for Jordan, if you want to get to know him, he and Katrina will be doing a book signing on July 23rd at Whisk in Mahomet from 9-11 a.m.
And if you want to purchase the book, it can be found on Amazon.
