Dallen Quaife – A Story by Dallen’s Friend Jessie Reggelsen
"When I first met Dallen, I was never aware of all the potential that he himself held inside. It seems to me that when he was at school he was holding back from working to the best of his ability, but not because he chose not to, but because he was held back by his EAs."
- Jessie Reggelsen
This all became clear to me when I actually took the time out of my day to go see him in his own home where he is most comfortable, just like every other teenager. At home he is the craziest kid you will ever meet, from the second he wakes up till the second he falls asleep all seven TVs in the house are on playing on the same sports channels and he is running from room to room flicking through all the different games playing.
He is one of the most talented hockey, baseball, and basketball players I have ever seen. If there aren’t any good sports playing on the television Dallen is outside playing them; rain or shine it doesn’t matter he will get up and give it his all and if he’s not watching the sports channel or outside playing them, he’s rocking his hockey stick out in the living room. He is also so dedicated about everything he loves; not just sports but also his family, all the great friends he has in his life, and everything the people around him have done to make his education provider realize his amazing and fantastic abilities.
Just this past year and couple months Dallen has changed greatly and of course it’s for the better. He is much more sociable at school, and has his own facebook account with over 300 friends. He doesn’t hold back anymore and isn’t afraid to show himself for who he really is, an amazing and inspiring kid. During school when lunch time rolls around he no longer spends his time with his EA but instead spends it with a variety of different friends. The school used to hoard over Dallen as he was a “liability” to them, but soon they realized with the help of his amazing mother, Aimee and great friends that he is more than that. He is just a kid living his life day by day to the fullest.
There are still people out there who haven’t opened their eyes to the great possibilities and experiences you can receive by being friends with someone who has a disability. I am just glad I am fortunate enough to be one who has. Just because a person has a disability does not mean they are incapable. Aimee decided it would be a great idea to give voice to the students from our High School who were friends with Dallen and open the eyes of many more people for them to realize. With her simple yet complex thought of showing people her son for who he is inside, and not just what people label him to be so far, has already gone so far. They have traveled to Whistler to present and did quite an amazing job. Aimee has also been asked to attend a conference next month in Alberta to present once again. She has also been contacted by many committees and organizations that want her to come and share her son’s story. Soon enough we all hope for this documentary to go world wide, and to change the outlook that many people have on others. We’re all equal, but we’re not all the same. Difference is something that should be embraced not disgraced.