2004 Get the WORD Out! Contest Winner: Ages 10-13

Derrick Roberts, 13

Acceptance, Tolerance, & Respect

I'm Derrick Roberts and I'm 13 years old and in the 7th grade. My friends take my seizures seriously and help me by telling my teachers. My teachers help me stay calm, let me lay down if I need to and I retake my tests and do homework late if necessary because of seizures.

People are nice to me when I have trouble. The group of basketball boys I helped manage 1st year would stand up for me when the class bully picked fights with me. The boys would in groups of 2 tell him if you pick on Derrick or fight with him, you are answering to us. They were there for me.

Respect to me means helping me, not laughing at me, just being there for me. My teachers, my classmates, my friends, the special Olympic kids, my family, my classmate’s parents, and my friend’s parents, the staff at my school are all very respectful, tolerant and accept me as Derrick.

I love life,

Derrick Roberts