Andrew Easton (00:00.169)
it feels like such a big like build up but it's not of the it just now we're officially so recording. So here we go.

All right, like to welcome everybody back for another episode of the Good Life EDU podcast. And we are so grateful through this platform to have the opportunity to highlight the upcoming Nebraska MTSS summit that's gonna take place in October here in our state. and so expect a number of episodes to be coming up that will preview that event. And we're incredibly grateful today and really excited too to have.

Ben Hartramph, along with Sandy and Dan Hart Ramp as well, joining us for today's podcast. As Ben is going to be keynoting at that event and bringing some some Benergy to Nebraska to share with our educators here in October. and so with that said, welcome first of all to the podcast. It's great to have you here.

Ben Dan Sandy (00:44.216)
Hello.

Ben Dan Sandy (01:03.394)
Thanks for having us. Thanks having us.

Andrew Easton (01:05.171)
Yeah, looking forward to it. And so I'm gonna start things off and sort of be vulnerable for a moment and admit that I I don't always know exactly how people have their preferences for speaking through, whether autism, having autism, being autistic, and I I might not be alone in that. and so I would say for folks listening in, if I screw up a little bit of grace, it'd be great. And Ben, how is it that you

would prefer me to try to reference that today, I think as a way to to model being sensitive.

Ben Dan Sandy (01:38.862)
I would say it it doesn't really matter. You could say whatever you want to say. I'm not offended in any way. Yeah. We we've we've learned that with Ben is just no preference, which I appreciate. I feel like in today's world, like you can step on toes so easily. Ben's never cared. Nope.

Andrew Easton (01:55.16)
Well well thank you, Ben. And and again, thanks for those listening in that that give grace with that too. And so we're gonna tell the story of yeah, of Ben and his having autism and kind of his experience and story and road to going out and advocating for raising autism awareness. and so we're gonna start with Sandy and see if we can get a little bit of Ben's backstory all the way back to when as a parent

you first became aware that yeah that Ben is autistic.

Ben Dan Sandy (02:28.182)
Yeah, thanks. So Ben was actually born on my birthday. so that was a gift and a surprise. And he's the youngest of three boys. So you can imagine our house was pretty busy and pretty crazy with three very active boys all under the age of six. but his development just seemed to be a little bit lagging. He was really late walking, he finally did it, but the speech just didn't come as we expected. and then the pediatricians were like, it's fine, he's the third boy, they talk late, they walk late. So they just kind of blew off all those concerns.

And so finally a wonderful speech therapist told me about our intermediate unit, which is our local organization that does early intervention. And they came out and evaluated them. And I was stunned to find it wasn't just speech delay. So he had gross motor delay, fine motor delay. And I was like, my gosh, I felt so horrible that I had missed all of these things. but I was kind of focusing in on one.

So we finally took, you know, forever to get the diagnosis. And then that was really hard because I figured I must have done something. So as moms, we kind of go in that direction, like I I must have done something during my pregnancy or during the delivery. and that's just a lot of wasted energy. So I always try to encourage parents that you know, don't go there because nothing you did caused it, you couldn't have prevented it. And now just take that energy that you need to kind of help them move forward. So the rest of Ben's story is really about the amazing professionals.

all along the way that helped us figure out what to do next. Cause every time we came up against a roadblock, God would just kind of plop the next person in and like, all right, here's the next twelve steps of the direction that you need to go. And just forever grateful for those professionals.

Andrew Easton (04:03.927)
And that's great to hear. We my organization here in Nebraska supports our service agencies statewide. That's what our ESUs stand for, our intermediate service agencies here in our state. So Ben, can you maybe hearken back to some of those individuals that did help you that were kind of foundational in your yeah, growing in your ability to get to where you're a public speaker today, right? Everything from what we just heard to now going out and and presenting all over the country.

Ben Dan Sandy (04:33.186)
Yeah, so I after being on the Ellen show, because I wanted to get on Ellen to talk about autism and mom's like, I don't think it's gonna happen and I got on a school reached down and they said, Come share your story. I said, Okay. So I got I shared the story and I loved it ever since. And I said to my family, I said, Well, I really wanna do this full time and now we're like, I don't know, I don't know. And then we did it and now I've done six hundred locations.

schools, companies, organizations. And I'm very excited to come to Nebraska. You're you all should come to Nebraska. It's gonna be an amazing presentation. It's gonna be the best one ever. Yeah, and I think part of that is he doesn't really remember those formative early years where we were struggling and not knowing where to go next and really was the early intervention teachers. When he was two and a half I had to go with him to school and that was just so cool because I got to watch how they handled things and I would try to do the same things at home.

And then when he was three he was able to go by himself on a bus, which I could have never done with my firstborn, but by the time you have your third, have a great day. but so grateful because they just continue to work with him and work with him and speech therapists, reading therapists, just so many people, occupational physical therapy that's what do you remember from Miss Paula then? I remember the the the the animal game. I I remember it. I remember we putting my hands in there.

Yeah. And then she went, And who was Miss Paula? Miss Paula was my speech therapist. She taught me how to talk and now today I could talk and talk and there's no off button on me. And I just want to give a shout out to Easter Seals. Easter Seals was a great program that helped me become who I am today. Yes, they were early intervention and then Miss Paula was through CHOP, right? Yeah. So George's Hospital in Philadelphia. without them I would not be here. And then I think Miss Nicole would probably be the next professional. And what did she do? So

When I was in school, the school gave up on me and they said, You're probably never gonna read or write. And Nicole, Mr. Cole taught me how to read and write. And there was a school out in Philadelphia called the Talk School. And they taught me they had this method called the DuBard method. And it's three schools in the United States that have it. And it's in s it's in University of Mississippi. And I've earned that program and it really helped me learn how to read.

Ben Dan Sandy (06:48.363)
And mom did endless hours of practice with me. She even installed a chalkboard in our dining room. In our din I remember all the dust eating dinner. I'm like, Doesn't everybody have a chalkboard in their dining room? But she helped me become who I am today because of that. And I'm so thankful you had that chalkboard in there. Yeah, if you do get the chance to come to the presentation, you'll see we've we pulled out a home video we have of Ben practicing with mom. So you get to see them both in the dining room with the chalkboard if you come.

Andrew Easton (07:16.021)
Well, I'll tell you as as a a lifelong educator and the son of educators for that matter and grandson as well. yes, the hope the support from family at home goes a long way into addition to the things that we're able to do with our our therapists and and specialists and and those things. And it does take a team effort. it sounds like that was a a pretty pretty fun experience with that ch that chalkboard there.

Ben Dan Sandy (07:40.197)
Ha ha ha.

Andrew Easton (07:42.119)
And and so so yeah, you referenced it a minute ago, Ben. So there there came a point then that you you asked or or requested or got in touch with someone with the the Ellen DeGeneres show, correct? And and so maybe giving a little bit more into the like a little more build up I guess to that as far as the backstory.

Ben Dan Sandy (07:59.532)
Yeah, so I was working at Dorney Park at the time and I met this family that her she couldn't get on the Bay Coaster, so I took her on the Wild Mouse and I told her my dream is to meet Ellen and just be like Ellen and and give back to everybody. And she loved that so much. She goes, I'm gonna write every day to make sure you get on the show. And she did, right? She did. Because when he woke up and said I'd like to be on the Ellen show, I just in my wildest imagination couldn't really

figure out why that would happen. Like you know, we're just the heart ramps from Lansdale. and so I'm like, all right, well Ben, you know, have at that I just didn't ever think it would happen. But Sue just kept writing and writing and he had a whole bunch of other people. And it took three years, right, before it finally occurred. Yeah. So I always tell people, like when we do like a parent presentation or get the chance, like me and mom get the chance to talk because Ben doesn't share this too much in his presentation. But Ben never internalizes failure.

Right. So if he makes mistake or if he gets a no to something, he just moves on to the next thing. And Ellen is a good example of that where truly for three years, that's all he talked about. He's like, I want to get on Ellen. I wanna get on Ellen. And like year one, I was like, Yeah, dude, let's do it. Like, let's tweet, like, let's reach out. And then year two, like we're me and mom are talking and we're like, All right, let's start prepping for disappointment. Like we don't think it's gonna happen.

And then year three, I was like, Ben, stop saying Ellen's name. I don't want to hear her name anymore. Like I'm done talking about her. but that was the year that it happened that the producer reached out and and got it on the show. And so I always try to tell people that like I think sometimes we are our own worst enemies, you know? And so we're maybe two steps away from accomplishing the goal, but we stop ourselves because we've been trying for so long and it hasn't happened. So when I was ready to give up is the year that it happened for Ben.

So like had he listened to me, right, he probably wouldn't have gone on the show. and I think if the Eagles didn't win the Super Bowl and I haven't done that stuff, I don't think I would have gotten on that show carrying the trophy. And that day we were coming back from the amusement park and I saw the mascot Tweety Bird because of Warner Brothers that said, Can you call Ellen? And we went and we got a phone call from a producer that day that's at Burnbank on the way home. And I was like, This is crazy.

Andrew Easton (10:15.966)
That's incredible. So so now that you you opened that door, I guess, to talking about the Philadelphia Eagles, but but I I before we make that pivot though, I do want to highlight I think the two points that you're bringing up. They're one, the perseverance to to follow a dream in this sense, and then also that sometimes it that that agency that you have or even the it's that it's in that pursuit of a dream realized that causes you then to

aim aim higher or in different directions or in in a broader sense to recognize doors can be open, right? And so it sounds like that was maybe the Philadelphia Eagles experience ahead of the Allen one. but but can you speak to your experience with the Eagles?

Ben Dan Sandy (10:48.043)
Yeah.

Ben Dan Sandy (10:56.449)
Mm.

Ben Dan Sandy (11:00.491)
Yeah, so I I was I won Homecoming King at my high school and after winning Homecoming King, the Eagles I did a research study of Chop and one day the Eagles reached out to Chop and they said, We wanna do a story on somebody. Who can we do it on? They said, you we gotta do you gotta do Ben Hartraft, you gotta do this story. So they so me and mom were volunteering at Wicked Financial Field for the Eagles Huddle Up for Autism Day when they have moon bounces and carnival games and families with special needs come out.

And they hang out at the field. And this producer comes up to me and they go, I wrote a we woke up and I wanted to meet with Ben today. My mom said, No, you didn't. And they said, Yeah, we did. I wonder we woke up and I wanted to meet with Ben today. And they actually did. And they actually filmed a documentary and they filmed six months of it. They came to my school, they interviewed my principal. They interviewed people at the school. and then it we went to training camp and then that turned into the Eagles winning the Super Bowl.

Carrying the trophy for the Eagles and then getting on the LN show. Yeah. So back to where the I lost my train of thought. Yeah, I was gonna I was gonna tease, you know, Ben went to training camp at special tickets, met all the players. He gave them Benergy, and that's why they won. You know? Then so I I remember what I was gonna say. So, you know, the whole thing where I talked about just feeling terrible about the diagnosis. I finally decided that research was kind of the answer to that, the antithesis to try and give back.

Andrew Easton (12:16.214)
Ha ha ha.

Ben Dan Sandy (12:29.067)
And so Ben was all about that. So he loved doing research studies. You know, he had all kinds of different fun things that he got to do. We did about nine different ones through the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. And because of that volunteerism in that way, that's how Chop said, okay, when the Eagles said, Who should we talk to? They're like, you gotta talk to Ben. So all of those pieces kind of in the background led to that to that next piece. Yeah. People ask all the time, like, how did you get on Ellen? And Ben will say, I reached out.

And that's partly true. Like that woman did send a bunch of letters and we did tweet a bunch, but really Ben's already like active presence in his community is ultimately what Ellen talked about on the show. Right. So I tell Ben all the time, I'm like, you can write a hundred letters to Ellen and say, get me on her TV show. But if you have nothing to talk about, she's not bringing you on the TV show. Right. And so she knew Ben. She knew, like, okay, this guy's been reaching out.

But also look at all this stuff he's doing. He's volunteering for Children's Hospital. He's helped with the Eagles. He's fundraising for Eagles Autism. So like all of those things is what they ended up talking about. So I try to tell people all the time, like, you you gotta be involved. You gotta do stuff. You gotta help out, volunteer, be around. Yeah. and those are the kind of things that that will end up getting you, you know, those places. Another thing is I really am just so thankful for everybody. you know, I after being on LN.

Like a couple of people with autism reached down and said, We wanna meet you. We met a family from Donnie Park. Dad Dad actually went to Ellen with me. Mom couldn't go 'cause of her knee surgery.

But it was amazing.

Andrew Easton (14:03.072)
That's awesome. Well, I I'm gonna do a quick aside and say that if Ben, if you're the reason that Philadelphia won, look out when you come to Nebraska because our Huskers have been really struggling for years and they might we might need some energy in Lincoln, buddy.

Ben Dan Sandy (14:09.229)
There you go, there you go. Maybe I'll invite the coach. Maybe the coach and the team come hear my presentation. There you go.

Andrew Easton (14:19.964)
There you go. I I might ask him to be there if that's the case. But but but you know you you you touched upon it there then too, Ben, is that it w and and well and so did so did you as well, Dan. The it it seems sometimes too that there's like a

a center like a a momentum that that comes with, you know, like one we were alluded to a minute ago, but like one thing to the leads to the next thing, but it's it's in how you carry yourself and it's in between times and how you show up when you get those opportunities. And it sounds like Ben you've done nothing but lean in and advocate in a way that other people have appreciated, as you mentioned with other folks with autism reaching out to you and and wanting to connect.

Ben Dan Sandy (14:57.815)
Mm-hmm.

Andrew Easton (15:01.306)
I'll tell a very brief aside. I was a classroom teacher up until 2020 and kind of unceremoniously left via the pandemic as a remote teacher, which was interesting. But I had a a a student that I got to know really well that last semester that had autism and we went into pandemic. It was a tough transition time for him as a senior graduating. there's enough transition going on anyway. and it was really cool we did a project where he felt inclined, well,

Ben Dan Sandy (15:10.191)
gosh.

Andrew Easton (15:31.019)
First of all, he was looking for a book to read and he selected The Reason I Jump. I'm not sure if you're familiar with that book. okay, Sand yeah, Sandy, there's there connection. It it was really he read through it and then we got into some like virtual conversations about how he was different from the protagonist with autism there, but also similarities and felt some connection through that, which was pretty cool. and then he built out this whole page.

Ben Dan Sandy (15:36.557)
Yeah, I've read that one. Yep.

Ben Dan Sandy (15:49.033)
Yeah.

Andrew Easton (15:54.263)
as a project that brought awareness to autism and people with autism and celebrities that had that were autistic. And we reached out to the author, and it was really fun to watch him like grow as an advocate at 18. and so I what has that meant for you? I was Ben, to have the opportunities that you have now to be that person that others look to, to connect with, and and see as yes, your story, but also how you show up and the things you've done.

Ben Dan Sandy (16:06.733)
Mm-hmm.

Ben Dan Sandy (16:20.341)
Okay.

So my senior year of high school, I did a video for Autism Week and I reached out to all celebrities. I even and I got a couple back. I got like the news, I got like William Daniels from seventeen seventy six. Hob Grow Trotters, and Eagles players. Some of the Eagles players, yeah. And so how did you like that that impacted you? It impacted me a lot because I knew I can advocate for other people.

And I think also what you said exactly with your student is finding their passions, right? So Ben just loves actually he loves CEOs, like that's his favorite thing. He loves to research the companies and he likes to ask for headshots of like random companies. It's just we have a wall full of CEOs, not like music is, you know, specialist or whatever. But like those are the passions. He loves making connections. So your student found a way to do that. And every person with autism has a niche, like something that they really love. And so that really is an avenue in

For education, for you know, motivation and for pursuit. And I love like talking to CEOs. I've written letters. I've one time I've written a letter to I don't know if you've seen the TV show Undercover Boss. His name is Joel Miami. He was on undercover boss for Rover Coaster Company, because I like roller coasters. Wrote to him and said, Thank you for being on the show. He writes back to me. He wrote back to every single r person. And that's what

That's what I love about that. I love just like connecting with CEOs. I love calling companies and say, Hey, can I come meet your CEO? I think though to the the question about like Ben connecting with younger people now that he's kind of further down the line is something that we didn't anticipate with the company, but has happened quite a bit with public speaking. we spoke at a school district

Ben Dan Sandy (18:15.321)
And the superintendent sent us an email that he had received from a mom. So principal got it from a mom and then the principal sent it the superintendent. And basically she had said that, she's like, I don't know who brought Ben in and who organized that, but I just wanted to thank them for doing that because my son has autism and he's been diagnosed for a couple of years, but we didn't know how to tell him. And so they didn't know how to start that conversation. And then he came home from school that day and was like, Mom, this really cool guy came in with autism and he talked about this, that, and this and that.

And so she said that gave her the chance to say, Well, actually you also have autism. so like something they've been putting off for years, they were finally able to do, you know, because Ben came in. And we had you know, there was no way we could pr anticipate something like that happening from the public speaking. but it's been really cool to see that kind of that positive impact, you know, Ben has had on on on younger students and and people.

But there's another story about that too. So I I wanted to get in that school district for years and I w I said, Damn, I'm gonna go to a football game. He goes, I don't think you should go. And I went to a football game and I got into I met a woman who does transportation and I got into their IU and this guy was walking by and I said, you gotta come hear my presentation. I have to go to a meeting. Just skip your meeting. So he skips his meeting and he got me into his other IUs that cross the state. Is that the same football game you met the the

superintendent. That's another football game. Okay. So the other football game. That's like you're the superintendent. And then we went to Cracker Barrel he got me into his elementary school. So when we first started the company, Ben was doing a lot of cold calling, like, hey, let me come talk to your school. And they're like, hey, thanks for calling. but now it's really amazing 'cause the word of mouth is really spreading and the message i it's just so well received by neurotypical as well as the neurodiverse.

because the message is really about just being that one person that can make a difference in somebody else's life. I mean, and we all can do that.

Andrew Easton (20:12.842)
Yeah, and can you I can't even imagine and I think about this in education often. the ripple effect that you don't ever even see, right? The inspiration that Ben has been to individuals that maybe you'll never know about or hear from, but that they carried that as a part of their story, in the progression towards their goals, dreams and which sometimes can lead you to California. Is that right, Ben? I guess if I'm gonna do a quick transition there to what

Ben Dan Sandy (20:33.719)
Yeah.

Ben Dan Sandy (20:37.323)
Yeah. yeah. I just wanted to say one more thing about the family. I was at a hotel and I saw them and I said, my gosh. you're the one who we sent the message to. Yeah. I saw him at the in Pittsburgh for the Masons Conference. You told us that. I think I did tell you that. I don't remember you telling me that. That's cool though. Yeah. That's great. Yeah. So California started 'cause Ben just wants to travel.

All the time. And I'm gonna let Dan tell because he tells the story down and he kind of throws me under the bus a little too. Yeah, so I'm always thinking long term, right? I'm thinking, what's Ben's life look like when our parents aren't around? a lot of siblings think that way, and so Ben loves planning, plans all the time, and mom was getting a bit exhausted with all the trips Ben wanted to do.

Go Tennessee. I want to go to Florida. Nebraska. Go to Nebraska. and I said, Mom, I think some of that is because Ben's gone on vacation, but he's never had to do any of the planning. So let's make him do the hard work. Like, let's make him call, you know, the hotels, like book the airfare. so I I pitched it to Ben. I was like, Hey, look, like, we're gonna give you a budget, like, here's what you can spend, like.

You got to book your trip. He's like, got it, no problem. I'm going to LA. And I was like, Hmm, I should I should have said like tri state area for the first time. Cause me and mom definitely argued as to whether or not he could go to LA by himself. but what I said to them, I was like, Look, Ben loves theme parks. They're not my favorite thing. I said, When you guys are gone, I'm not gonna be planning his vacations for him. So, like, let's let's h help him develop that skill.

So that he has the freedom to do those things. And I booked everything. And then a week before I was going to work. And I'm like, I want to go to this farmers market. I crashed my car. And you're going to hear this in the presentation, but I the car was totaled. I needed a new car. And I was like, so I got a ticket to go to the prices right. And Ben gets on the prices right, but maybe we'll keep it a surprise.

Ben Dan Sandy (22:54.477)
So gotta come to his presentation to find out what happens. but ultimately Ben did. He went by himself. we I was kind of on call that week for problems if there was any. and I think one of the funnier stories is Ben called me and he was kind of like getting frustrated because he couldn't find the bus he was looking for. Imagine he was like getting close to meltdown stage, and then he went, there's a bus, I found it, and then hung up.

And I was like, Okay, cool, problem solved. We're we're we're good. We're doing good.

Andrew Easton (23:29.142)
And yeah, and I think that's a pretty tip. I can think the very first trip that I took by myself, I ended up needing to call home. I g arrived at the hotel and the reservation wasn't there and I got kinda stuck for a minute. So it's always good to yeah, yeah, to to have great people in your life that can support you as you work it through the challenges of being in a new space. But good for taking that on.

Ben Dan Sandy (23:39.723)
Yeah.

Ben Dan Sandy (23:47.266)
Yeah. I always tell people to in families, like is because if you're listening this right now and you have a kid on spectrum, sometimes they're like, My child could never do that, right? My child could never we try to tell people, Ben, that was all done in stages, right? So th this trip was not Ben's first time on an airplane. It was not Ben's first time on a bus. It was not Ben's first time in a hotel, right? He had done all of those things in smaller settings, like with us. Yes. Right. So we had gone on trips together.

He'd been in a hotel before. So it would be totally crazy if you were just like, go on this trip and you've never been on a plane, you've never been on a bus, you've never been in a hotel. Yeah, very yeah. Very much like crazy. so do it in stages, right? Do it in small steps. Any big thing can be broken down into small steps.

Andrew Easton (24:38.422)
What would you say then, Ben, is your a a current aspiration you have that you're considering living out next, besides coming to Nebraska, of course?

Ben Dan Sandy (24:46.145)
Yeah, yeah. next big goal. Next big goal is the independent living. Yeah. I'm very excited about that. we're doing housing for adults with autism. We have three core values: independence, stability, and support. Independence for me to live, queen, and cook and live independently. My goal was to live in my own apartment and not with my mom and dad anymore. And actually have my own space and I have my own friends over. stability with your wonderful.

Donations. We are going provide subsidized rent for individuals to stay there for a very long time. We needed to raise a down payment of $170, $170,000 by November 9th. And we provide support through expectation and guidelines. If you were interested in donating, go to Benchy OneFoundation.org. donate today. And we just need some money to buy that property. And I'm hoping to get on some TV shows like Jennifer Hudson, Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Kenball to talk about this project.

I think Jimmy Kimball would be great talk about the project. Or Mark Ruber. Come on, Mark. I know you can help. So there's some Benergy Live for you. you can see where it comes from. but ultimately, yeah, I mean, that was great. I'm not even gonna try to pitch it better than Ben did. But our goal is to help adults. and we're starting small because I'm all about starting small, like I said, big projects break down small. Yep. but I think it's something that can be scaled and and and be done well. So we're starting local.

But have given them their own place to be independent and then helping learn those independent skills in home. That's the goal. And I think getting on the news and talking about it on national news would be amazing. We'll take money from anybody. Anyone who wants to give us money, we'll take it. Today's show. Come on. I know you're hearing it.

Andrew Easton (26:28.617)
well, I don't want to pretend to have one thousandth of the a audience that a number of those platforms do. But if you're listening into this, in the show notes, we'll have a link there so that you can go and connect with the foundation because I Ben, I would anticipate too as this dream becomes a reality and I expect it to. It seems like you're a guy that gets things done just w you know, have to get to November before that takes its launch into the next phase.

Ben Dan Sandy (26:33.761)
Yeah.

Ben Dan Sandy (26:40.278)
Yeah, that'd be great.

Andrew Easton (26:55.887)
it sounds like that would also provide an opportunity to build community in addition to a lifestyle and and and affordable housing and those things. And and there's something that's really cool about that as an aspiration as well, amongst the obvious that larger initiative here. So with that being said, I I don't want to take too much away. so that like you said, check out the keynote when we comes to October.

Ben Dan Sandy (27:01.367)
Yeah.

Ben Dan Sandy (27:20.875)
Yeah. Woohoo! Everybody come. You come to other states, bring out their friends from other state. Flying from other states.

Andrew Easton (27:29.867)
and if I'll say this too, and if folks are looking it would the foundation page be the best for all information for Ben or is that

Ben Dan Sandy (27:36.62)
Yeah, so we have two websites. Benergy One dot com is all the public speaking stuff. And then the foundation is just Benergy One Foundation dot org. Both websites have links to the other though. So you can mix and match and find all info on. And I forgot to say one more thing. Mom's book. my mom wrote the best book you have ever read in your entire career. It is called Swinging from the Shandere. When I was three, I was ready to be right standing on the whites on the Chandler and my mom said, boy.

If I ever write a book, that's the name of my title. There are funny stories that we did not get into. And we will bring some to the conference. It's twenty bucks. It's the best book you've ever read. You can get it on Benagerie One dot com. It's a great stock and stuffer for Christmas. It's a great read for the summer. It's a great read in the fall. So make sure you get it. Swing it from the Chandreau. My mom wrote the front section. I wrote the back section. So get it today. You can't pay for this kind of PR, right?

Also don't want to mention that Dan and I'll be doing a breakout session, more about the family impact because there's so many things that Ben doesn't remember from his childhood. and Dan really shares from his heart a lot of things that he wasn't able to express as a child that he now is able to understand as an adult. And that has really helped other families just take into their consideration their siblings and the issues that they face. Yeah.

Andrew Easton (28:58.983)
I am probably 30 seconds from bringing us home, but the guy cutting our yard is literally under my laptop right now. I don't know if you can hear it, so I apologize if that's the case, of course. time me. I have four kiddos. This is off the record here. I'll I'll call on Zach Morris timeout. I have four kiddos, and so there's this number of them are still at home today, so I'm kind of working from here on uncharacteristically and loving loving doing both, but different things to work with. So, okay.

Ben Dan Sandy (29:04.749)
Ha ha ha

Ben Dan Sandy (29:21.302)
yeah. yeah.

Ben Dan Sandy (29:25.591)
It's great.

Andrew Easton (29:28.233)
back in. w well to bring things to a close, Ben, Dan, Sandy, thank you so much for all of your advocacy ongoing. I love learning about all the work that you've done and all the accomplishments that that have inspired others and have led to an opportunity for us to connect with you here in Nebraska and inspire our educators here to go and and be the teacher that all students need to be advocating for regardless of what their needs are.

Ben Dan Sandy (29:48.247)
Yeah.

Ben Dan Sandy (29:53.932)
Yeah.

Andrew Easton (29:57.413)
and so we look forward to seeing you here for the NEM TSS Summit and encourage folks to again check the show notes so that they can can be a part of that conversation. So thanks for your time.

Ben Dan Sandy (30:06.584)
Yeah. No, of course. Thanks for having us. Thanks so much. Thank you.