RACINE — A Green Bay Packers staffer and former NFL player shared his story with and answered questions from Racine Unified School District deaf and hard of hearing students.
Ryan Patterson
Derrick Coleman spoke Wednesday to students at Gifford K-8 School and Horlick High School.
Coleman, the Packers assistant to the director of player engagement, talked about self-advocacy and self-improvement while an interpreter translated his words into sign language.
Coleman, a former NFL fullback who lost his hearing when he was 3 years old, wears hearing aids and reads lips.
Coleman shared some of his personal story and told deaf and hard of hearing students not to let challenges stop them or use hearing as an excuse.
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“When you really, really, really, really want something, you’re going to find a way to get it done,” Coleman said. “We all are going to have problems and we’re all going to have things that we need to overcome. Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean that we got to stop. It just means that we keep on going.”
Coleman
Derrick Coleman, Green Bay Packers assistant to the director of player engagement, talked about self-advocacy and self-improvement to deaf and hard of hearing students. Ryan Patterson
Coleman also answered questions from students before taking photos and signing autographs.
Most of the questions focused on his football career.
He was a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks and the first legally deaf offensive NFL player.
As a kid, Coleman was restless and energetic, which is why his parents encouraged him to play sports.
Coleman began competing in football in seventh grade and said he enjoyed it because it was a way to hit people without getting in trouble. He also loved the camaraderie of working with teammates to achieve a common goal.
Coleman played college football at UCLA. In addition to Seattle, he played for the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals in the NFL.
Derrick Coleman
Derrick Coleman talks to students at Gifford K-8 School. Coleman shared some of his personal story and told deaf and hard of hearing students not to let challenges stop them and not to use hearing as an excuse. Ryan Patterson
One student asked how he feels about himself, and Coleman said he feels “great” because he is unique.
“There’s only one me,” Coleman said. “There’s only one you. There’s nobody else in the world that’s like you.”
He told students about the importance of having their own goals and not comparing themselves to others.
“Be the best version that you can be,” Coleman said. “This is your life we’re talking about. … How do you want to live it?”
Coleman has made mistakes and said no one is perfect, but the key is to grow and learn from errors.
Matt Palma, education consultant with the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, part of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, spoke about the importance of deaf and hard of hearing people speaking up for themselves, such as asking for a video in class to include closed captioning.
“It’s always important to advocate for yourself and to speak up,” said Palma, who uses hearing aids.
Matt Palma
Matt Palma, education consultant with the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, part of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, spoke about the importance of deaf and hard of hearing people speaking up for themselves, such as asking for a video in class to include closed captioning. Ryan Patterson
Coleman agreed and said if students do not advocate for themselves, no one will.
“If you don’t say something, nobody’s ever going to know,” Coleman said. “Over time, it becomes second nature.”
Coleman was a shy kid but gradually became used to explaining his hearing situation. By being proactive and addressing small issues with teachers and coaches, they did not become larger problems.
“Take care of the little things before they become big things,” he said.
D'ior Segura
D'ior Segura, right, takes a photo with Derrick Coleman at Gifford K-8 School, 8332 Northwestern Ave. Ryan Patterson
At Gifford, Coleman had students introduce themselves to the people next to them.
He told them to always talk to people with hearing aids because they have something in common.
“That confidence in knowing that there’s somebody else that’s also similar and like you is powerful,” Coleman said.
Coleman was the only person with hearing loss at his high school, and there weren’t any deaf or hard of hearing programs, so he often felt left out.
Laurence Miller
Laurence Miller, left, was one of several people who took photographs and received autographs from Derrick Coleman on Wednesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive. Ryan Patterson
A Spanish class was very difficult, since Coleman already struggled with English.
Some people, including his teacher, told him he would never pass the Spanish course.
However, that motivated him to work harder and improve.
“The best thing that I did was tell them, ‘Watch me,’” Coleman said. “Nobody is going to tell me I can’t do something besides myself.”
Eight photos of Derrick Coleman at RUSD
A Green Bay Packers coach and former NFL player shared his story with and answered questions Wednesday from deaf and hard of hearing students.
Laurence Miller
Laurence Miller, left, was one of several people who took photographs and received autographs from Derrick Coleman on Wednesday at Horlick Hig…
Derrick Coleman
Derrick Coleman talks to students at Gifford K-8 School. Coleman shared some of his personal story and told deaf and hard of hearing students …
Derrick Coleman
Derrick Coleman told students about the importance of having their own goals and not comparing themselves to others.
D'ior Segura
D'ior Segura, right, takes a photo with Derrick Coleman at Gifford K-8 School, 8332 Northwestern Ave.
Derrick Coleman
Derrick Coleman was a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks and the first legally deaf offensive NFL player.
Matt Palma
Matt Palma, education consultant with the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, part of the Wisconsin Depar…
Derrick Coleman, Green Bay Packers assistant to the director of player engagement, talked about self-advocacy and self-improvement to deaf and…
Derrick Coleman poster
Derrick Coleman is one of several deaf and hard of hearing people on a poster in a classroom at Gifford K-8 School.
Ryan Patterson
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