Jonah Francis - 2024 Empowering Young Voices Award

Jonah’s brother, Brock age 13, has a rare gene mutation KCNT1. KCNT1 caused Brock to have multiple disabilities; epilepsy, autism, cortical vision impairment, ADHD. Brock is on the medical Ketogenic diet to control seizures and Brock uses AAC, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) to communicate.
Jonah is 14 months younger than Brock and has always been a standout brother. Brock is part time homeschooled and spends a short amount of time at school with Jonah (they are in the same grade) for therapies, some specials such as PE, lunch, recess and a few other times of the day. Jonah spoke to his classmates about Brock’s abilities and how Brock learns. Brock is successfully attending a school with his typical peers because of Jonah.
Jonah has been an advocate for his brother since the beginning. Jonah recently said “Mom, I noticed that a friend didn’t know how to talk to Brock or interact with him”. I replied with “it’s difficult for people to sometimes understand that people have different abilities”. Jonah gave me a serious look and said “I will have to teach them then”. And all I could think was “Jonah, you already do, you are changing the world for your brother and you don’t even know it”.

Jonah has learned to communicate with his brother and teach others how to communicate and accept Brock for his different abilities. Jonah goes on bike rides with his brother and takes Brock with him when he goes on short adventures with their friends. While on a short excursion to the dry creek with friends from the neighborhood , Jonah said to me “Mom, Brock doesn’t want you to follow him around all the time, let me and the other kids take care of him”. Wow! I agreed and watched from afar at that point. I then cried and realized that my hopes for Brock were coming true….all because of Jonah.