Born with cerebral palsy, she has risen above challenges all her life and inspired countless people; friends, family, even total strangers along the way.
On this episode of the Supercast, we invite you to listen closely as Oquirrh Hills Middle School Para-Educator Aubrey Allen talks about earning a bachelors and master’s degree in recreational therapy, leading her to a career in the classroom and as a Unified Sports coach. Amber doesn’t let her disorder, which impacts movement, muscle tone, and speech, get in the way of making her dreams come true, and in the process, supporting others with special needs around her.
Listen to Aubrey’s powerful message or read along with subtitles in the transcript below.
Kathy Taylor:
Aubrey is amazing. She is helping us with warm-ups. She’s helping us design activities to do during our practice time, but not just for sports, because she helps with academics.
Aubrey Allen:
Students are the best part of my job.
Anthony Godfrey:
The students are always the best part of our job.
Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I’m your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. Born with cerebral palsy, she has risen above challenges all her life and inspired countless people, friends, family, and even total strangers along the way. On this episode of the Supercast, we invite you to listen closely as Oquirrh Hills Middle School para-educator, Aubrey Allen, talks about earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in recreational therapy, leading her to a career as a classroom aide and as a Unified Sports coach. Aubrey doesn’t let her disorder, which impacts movement, muscle tone, and speech, get in the way of making her dreams come true and, in the process, supporting others with special needs around her. You won’t want to miss Aubrey’s powerful message. Subtitles and a transcript for this podcast are available on our website.
Anthony Godfrey:
We are here at Oquirrh Hills Middle School talking with Aubrey Allen. Aubrey, thank you for taking time to talk with us.
Aubrey Allen:
Thank you so much. I’m excited.
Anthony Godfrey:
I’m really happy to meet you and talk with you. I think I’ve met you before, but it’s been a little while since we’ve talked.
Aubrey Allen:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about your job here at Oquirrh Hills Middle School.
Aubrey Allen:
I am a para-educator and one of our special educators. I’m here at Oquirrh Hills, and I love it.
Anthony Godfrey:
You love being the aide here in the class, the para-professional.
Aubrey Allen:
Yeah. Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
What do you love most about this job?
Aubrey Allen:
I love being able to work with and support the kids. The students are definitely the best part of my job.
Anthony Godfrey:
The students are always the best part of our jobs.
Aubrey Allen:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
That’s wonderful. Who’s your favorite student? I’m just kidding. I’m not making you say or answer that question. Now you are a highly qualified individual. Tell me about your degrees and the work that you do outside of Oquirrh Hills.
Aubrey Allen:
Yeah, though I have a bachelor’s degree in math, my master’s degree is recreational therapy, and now I’m a certified recreational therapist. I also manage a nonprofit called Adaptive Arena, and we offer free adaptive sports and activities for people of all abilities. I love working there, too.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now I understand that you also are an advocate for those with disabilities on social media.
Aubrey Allen:
Yeah, yeah. I started a social media platform for the video about my day-to-day life just to try to make others aware of what life can be like having a disability.
Anthony Godfrey:
For those listening, tell them about your disability.
Aubrey Allen:
I have cerebral palsy, and I have a moderate case of it. It affects the way I talk. The end is just how my body moves and how my muscles work.
Anthony Godfrey:
I’ve heard you’re a big inspiration to those around you here at the school. What do you think about that?
Aubrey Allen:
I just try to be positive and uplift everyone. I think having my disability has given me a lot of pushback. There are a lot of things in life that are challenging for everyone, and you can either let them know who you are or try your best to write about your challenges and just be happy and positive.
Anthony Godfrey:
You’re a great example of rising above your challenges, and I’m sure that your students really look to you for that positivity. I’ve only met you a couple of times, but you’ve been extremely positive. You light up, you’re so friendly both times, and you really stand out that way. So I appreciate the positivity and the positivity you’re bringing into the lives of the students and the people you work with.
Aubrey Allen:
That means so much to me. I really do try my best to overcome my challenges.
Anthony Godfrey:
So tell me more about what happens at the Adaptive Arena.
Aubrey Allen:
Yeah, it’s more like a rec center for people with disabilities. We offer different activities. We have a job program and a wheelchair basketball program, and the good thing about us is we let everyone play. So if somebody in a wheelchair has a brother who is not in a wheelchair, we put the brother in a wheelchair, too, and now they can play wheelchair basketball, or whatever together, and families really like that because typically kids with disabilities can’t play on the same team as their siblings otherwise. So I just love that we can do well with different types of families and kids with disabilities.
Anthony Godfrey:
So it really is inclusive. Anyone can participate.
Aubrey Allen:
Yeah. Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
And if you are playing with others who are in a wheelchair and you don’t need a wheelchair, you’re going to get a wheelchair.
Aubrey Allen:
Yes, yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
That seems fair. Now what is your favorite sport? I won’t make you tell me who your favorite student is, but what’s your favorite sport?
Aubrey Allen:
I think my favorite is wheelchair basketball because everyone gets so into it.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, it’s fast-paced.
Aubrey Allen:
Yeah, we do wheelchair basketball every Saturday morning, and we just have a blast.
Anthony Godfrey:
So it’s your favorite and everyone else’s also.
Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us when we come back. More with Aubrey Allen and her colleagues.
Male Voice:
Never miss an episode of the Supercast by liking and subscribing on your favorite podcasting platform. Find transcripts for this episode and others at supercast.jordandistrict.org.
Female Voice:
They are out on the job in the rain, sleet, snow, ice, and in the sunshine, as Jordan School District students navigate their way to and from school every day. We are truly grateful for our city crossing guards, always vigilant and looking out for students to ensure everyone’s safety. Because they work so hard protecting our kids, let’s give those crossing guards a hand. If you’re driving near or around schools, slow down, pay attention, watch for students and staff, and follow instructions from the school crossing guards and know our cities are always looking to hire crossing guards. If you like kids and need some flexible hours, contact your local city and apply to be a crossing guard today. Together, let’s make this a safe and successful school year.
Anthony Godfrey:
What advice do you have for folks about how to make sure that people with disabilities in their lives feel included and noticed and a part of things?
Aubrey Allen:
Yes, that’s a great question. I remember when I was growing up and it was so easy to feel invisible because I had a disability. The people that stood out to me the most and that had the most impact on my life are the people who treated me like they were just anybody else and not only that, but they were comfortable talking to me and asking what I needed and if they should be aware of anything. So I think that is very important. Individual people do know that people with disabilities, the office staff, know they just want to be treated and included like everyone else.
Anthony Godfrey:
I love that. Just treat them like you treat everyone else. And I love that you said the people that have had an impact on your life are the ones who said, “How can I help you?” And just treated you like everyone else, asked you questions, and talked with you.
Aubrey Allen:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
Let’s talk with some of the folks that you work with. Introduce yourself.
Kathy Taylor:
Hi, I’m Kathy Taylor and I am the teacher of the classroom that Aubrey is working in right now and we love Aubrey. She brings so much to our class.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me what it’s like getting to work with Aubrey day in and day out.
Kathy Taylor:
Well, she’s always positive.
Anthony Godfrey:
That’s obvious. That’s obvious.
Kathy Taylor:
Even when sometimes it doesn’t feel like it’s a positive day. Some days are up and some days are down, but Aubrey is always up. Aubrey’s expertise with the recreational therapy has been great. We are a Unified Sports school meaning . . .
Anthony Godfrey:
You’re a premier Unified Sports school. You’re an award-winning Unified Sports school. Talk about that.
Kathy Taylor:
So Unified Sports is a program with Special Olympics where we are participating in team sports with our students that have disabilities and with their peers. Peers and our students with disabilities all play on the same team. And for us, that’s a huge deal because a lot of times our students are not on teams. Or parents, they go and watch a lot of sibling games, or they watch a lot of their friends play sports. But a lot of our kids don’t play sports on their own. So this gives them the opportunity to be on a team, to get that camaraderie, feel like what competition is like, feel experience at the tournament. And Aubrey has brought so much to that. She is our coach basically. I don’t know if you’ve gone through all the trainings yet. I’m still working on those, too. But our official coaches, hands down Aubrey is amazing in that capacity with the sports. She is helping us with warm-ups. She’s helping us design activities to do during our practice times that will help us work on specific skills. And she’s able to adapt things for the kids that aren’t able to do what everybody else does, and they can still interact with their peers. So it’s been amazing having Aubrey, but not just for sports because she helps with academics. She goes to classes with kids. She helps us with their personal care. She does it all. She does it all, and she does it with grace, and she does it with humor, and she is a pleasure to work with.
Anthony Godfrey:
I would think it’s pretty hard to be negative around Aubrey or be down on yourself. She doesn’t let that happen. The incandescence keeps everyone from getting off the path, I guess.
Kathy Taylor:
She’s very positive and the kids have responded really well to her. They really enjoy her.
Anthony Godfrey:
Let’s talk with the principal. Introduce yourself and tell us about Aubrey. You contacted me and let me know that we really ought to come talk with her.
Lisa Jackson:
I did. I did. I’m Lisa Jackson, Oquirrh Hills principal. When we interviewed Aubrey, after Aubrey left the room, we all looked at each other and said, “How can we make this work because she needs to be part of our team here at Oquirrh Hills.” When we called for her references at the Adaptive Arena, they said the same thing, “She’s amazing. Everything she does. She’s just highly qualified. She’s kind. She’s motivated.” I interact with Aubrey in the halls a lot because she’s walking these kids to and from class, and she understands what they need. She’s receptive to their needs. And I think the coolest thing about it is just having our kiddos who do have disabilities, who have some struggles, being able to see just what they can accomplish in life and how successful they can be. And I think seeing Aubrey every day and seeing how successful she is just gives them motivation to follow in her footsteps and do some of the things she’s done.
Anthony Godfrey:
You’re not very convincing when you say you can’t do it and Aubrey’s in the room and she’s bringing the energy and demonstrating that “yes, you can. You absolutely can.”
Lisa Jackson:
You can do it with a smile.
Anthony Godfrey:
Right.
Lisa Jackson:
Right. It might be hard, but you can do it. I think she also inspires all of the kids, though. Like, I feel like they didn’t necessarily know, even our peer tutors didn’t know what to expect when you meet Aubrey and you’re not sure, you’ve never met Aubrey before. You’re not sure. A lot of people don’t have experience with somebody that has cerebral palsy. And so it’s been great. I think it’s an inspiration to them, too, because you’re knowledgeable. You’re educated. You’re well spoken. And when you say they need to do something, you mean business. So, like, it’s, you know, there’s a level of respect that Aubrey has earned among all the kids and the adults, really.
Anthony Godfrey:
I’m inspired hearing about what you do and meeting you again. What do you like to do when you’re not at the Adaptive Arena or here at school?
Aubrey Allen:
Oh, man. I spent a lot of time with my family. I have two younger brothers who I helped raise because there’s a big age gap between them. There are things that my family and I work out every day. So I’m added to my life. I feel like and then I like to hike and bike and just be outside.
Anthony Godfrey:
You’re very active sounds like.
Aubrey Allen:
Yeah.
Anthony Godrey:
I sit in a lot of meetings. I do email. But, you know, I try to get as much pleasure from that as I can.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it’s a real pleasure meeting you. Thank you for everything you’re doing, for inspiring me, the people that you work with and the students that you serve. You’re awesome. Thank you.
Aubrey Allen:
Thank you for your time and opportunity.
Anthony Godfrey:
Thank you. And thank you both for talking with us.
Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, “Education is the most important thing you will do today!” We’ll see you out there.
