By Erik Harris
JEFFERSON COUNTY — Basketball coaches from Hewitt-Trussville, Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley participated in a statewide event last week by replacing their usual game attire with special autism awareness T-shirts.
The first Shooting 2 Change event was led by Spanish Fort boys coach Dru Powell, whose 2-year-old son was recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Powell got help from fellow coach Patrick Davis from Thompson High School, Project Outreach Gulf Coast and the Alabama High School Athletic Association to launch the non-fundraising event.
Approximately 800 shirts were distributed to players, coaches and fans across the state.
Hewitt-Trussville boys coach Mike Dutton, who has taught numerous students affected by this disease over the course of his 46-year career, sported his shirt last Tuesday night at Spain Park.
“I’ve coached or taught young men and women that have had this and all I did was put on a shirt, but we sure are in favor of anything we can do to help in that fight and that battle,” Dutton said.
Dutton hopes his participation will help open the community’s eyes to a disease that he’s seen too much of.
“It sure doesn’t take much effort to put a shirt on and after having taught some folks that have had to deal with this their whole life and their families have had to deal with it, we’re just glad to help out,” Dutton said.
Pinson Valley girls coach Kristan Cromer has been exposed to the disease from professional and personal levels. She has seen more than one autistic student come through her English class and she was glad to wear the shirt on Friday night against Clay-Chalkville.
“For me it’s really personal because not only do I want to draw awareness to this disease that’s kind of blown up recently, because I teach kids with autism so I’m really in tune with it, but like I said, for me it’s really personal,” Cromer said.