[Nfbc-info] Young Adult from Pennsylvania with DeafBlindness to appear on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"

[nancy Lynn]

I wanted to share the following info:
Greetings Everyone,

Sharing some exciting news! On Monday, October 24, Marvin Pearson, a senior
who participated in last year’s Interdisciplinary Transition Team Initiative
(ITTI) work, will appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.  Marvin was a driving
force in his transition planning and has been a role model for other
deaf-blind youth in PA.  Below is a write-up which was posted to Facebook.
Tune into Ellen on Monday to cheer Marvin on as he shares his story.

Sue Ann

Sue Ann Houser, M.A., RID Ed. K-12 | Educational Consultant
Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN)
Pennsylvania Deaf-blind Project

The mission of the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network
(PaTTAN) is to support the efforts and initiatives of the Bureau of Special
Education, and to build the capacity of local educational agencies to serve
students who receive special education services.


Pottstown's Pearson to appear on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"

Marvin Pearson, who plays football for Pottstown High School despite being
totally blind and deaf, will appear on the "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" next
week.

The show will air Monday at 3 p.m. on Philadelphia's NBC10.

The senior running back flew to Los Angeles Wednesday to tape the show
today.

Pearson, who can hear only with the help of a cochlear implant, attended the
Overbrook School for the Blind the last three years, but wanted to return to
the Pottstown for his senior year.

"Marvin has been with us since elementary school," said district director of
communications John Armato. "He took it upon himself to personally advocate
coming back to Pottstown."

Pearson, who participated in sports in middle school in Pottstown and at
Overbrook, played for the high school for the first time in a home game
against Methacton Sept. 17 and took snaps on a running play and a two-point
conversion attempt.

Two weeks later, he ran 68 yards for a touchdown against Pottsgrove and
added a two-point conversion run.

Saturday at Upper Merion, he again took a snap and ran for two points.

"He's just a teammate; he's one of the guys," Trojans coach Gary Rhodenbaugh
said after the Pottsgrove game. "He participates in drills. He's also very
interested in the Xs and the Os. For our team, it's been an experience for
them. To see his love for the game and his commitment is great. Marvin's
into football. He loves football."

Pearson plans to wrestle later this year and run for the track team in the
spring.
Dennis Weller