Meet Mikey

Welcome to Team Mikey Man!

Mikey is a beautiful 19-year-old young man who happens to have autism and is nonverbal. But if you know Mikey, you know that he has never needed words to show his love for life—or to create deep and beautiful connections with the people around him.

Mikey communicates in his own way. Through his infectious smile. Through a look that tells you exactly what he wants. Through a gesture asking for endless tickles. Through the pure joy on his face when he is surrounded by the people he loves.

That is what makes Mikey uniquely, wonderfully Mikey.

Some of his favorite things are dancing to Jennifer Lopez, jumping and being pushed through the pool, swinging oh so high, taking long walks (with the occasional unexpected sprint!), being outside with the sun on his face, and giving endless kisses and asking for endless tickles from his favorite people.

Our NSSA Story

Mikey started at NSSA when he was just 5 years old. He was the sweetest little boy with the biggest smile—and when he got really excited, sometimes that excitement came out as biting.

And his teachers loved him through it.

Over the past 14 years, there have been incredible highs and some very difficult lows. There were times when Mikey engaged in self-injurious behaviors because he couldn't tell us that his head hurt, his stomach hurt, or that he simply needed pressure on his head to help him feel better.

His teachers didn't just see a behavior that needed to stop.

They saw Mikey.

They worked to understand what he was trying to communicate. With patience, compassion, consistency, and so much love, they taught him how to request the head pressure he needed instead of hurting himself.

When he was younger and bit a teacher out of excitement, they didn't stop loving him. They didn't stop seeing the sweet, innocent little boy behind the behavior. They continued to greet him with love.

Over the years, I have met some of the most incredible angels at NSSA—teachers who have put themselves in harm's way to protect my child when he was dysregulated; teachers who looked beyond behaviors and saw his innocence; teachers who took the time to discover the silly, funny, affectionate, loving boy underneath it all.

They got to know Mikey without him ever having to say a word.

And in 14 years at NSSA, Mikey has built something beautiful.

He has built a team.

He has built friendships.

He has built a family of people who genuinely love him for exactly who he is. Even teachers who haven't worked directly with him in years still light up when they see him. He leaves an impression on people—and I think that's because Mikey has a way of reminding us that connection doesn't always require words.

I am so incredibly proud of my boy.

I'm proud of how hard he works every single day to navigate a world that wasn't necessarily built for him. I'm proud of the way he has learned to express his wants and needs. I'm proud of the friendships he has created. And I'm especially proud of his ability to find so much happiness and joy in his life.

I often think about what it would feel like to live in a world where I couldn't use my voice to tell someone what I needed, what hurt, what I loved, or how I was feeling.

And yet, Mikey wakes up smiling.

In 14 years at NSSA, there has never been a day when he didn't want to go to school.

Think about how special a place has to be for that to be true.

Mikey is my inspiration, and I hope that by getting to know a little bit about him, he can be yours too.

When you donate to Team Mikey Man, you aren't simply supporting our 5K team. You are supporting the school that has loved, taught, protected, encouraged, and believed in Mikey for most of his life. You are helping NSSA continue to provide that same love and support to Mikey, his beautiful friends, and the families who depend on this incredible community.

Whether you donate, join Team Mikey Man, walk or run beside us, or simply share our page, you are becoming part of Mikey's team too.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting Team Mikey Man and NSSA. ?

Let's run for Mikey.
Let's run for his friends.
Let's run for the teachers who see beyond words and behaviors.
And let's run for a place that has given our family so much to be grateful for.

GO TEAM MIKEY MAN!