In March 2003, Miller was introduced to Jeff Hancock, a one-on-one therapist for people with autism, and things started to feel a little more manageable.
Hancock was hired to be John’s companion. The two would go people-watching at the mall in Stuart, Florida, on the weekends. Hancock chatted throughout their excursions, even though John couldn’t talk back.
Their relationship evolved when Hancock introduced John to the Special Olympics in Martin County. Hancock, a longtime volunteer for the organization, and Miller decided John should get involved in sports after they saw a rare sight: Whenever John was running or being active, he was smiling.
Up until that point, Miller said, it was virtually impossible to get John involved with sports because of his condition.
–
John ended up winning the gold medal for the 800.
Sports completely changed John, and Miller said that is because of Hancock. “A person with a disability can feel hopeless and isolated, and I think that can happen to parents, too. Jeff probably saw that with us,” Miller said, thinking back to when Hancock first met their family.
“John was never expected to be an athlete,” Miller said. “But if John could speak, he would say his coach always expected it.”
