Meeting Jason Burns from Fidgetland, as seen on “Shark Tank”
My 3rd to last year of my special education teaching career, I was always looking for ways to help my students learn to embrace their learning difference and give them opportunities to meet others to share their stories. As usual my Friday evening, I was watching Shark Tank and was excited to see Jason Burns pitch on Shark Tank his unique fidgets and received a deal with Barbara Corcoran. I was intrigued about the fidgets and wanted to purchase some for my classroom. At this time, the fidget spinners were a fad and were not used truly as a fidget and became a distraction for the kids and the teachers. The next day, I checked out Fidgetland’s website and decided to call and actually got Jason on the phone. We had a great decision about learning differences, Jason’s ADHD, my students, and his fidgets. Jason and I scheduled a skype call for him to share his story to my students.
My students learned so much from Jason’s story. It gave them a sense of knowing that others have learning differences and can be successful. Jason came up with an idea of sending my classroom a fidget kit and having the students make their own fidgets. When we got the fidget kit, we spent time making the fidgets. Some students were better than others in being able to manipulate the pieces to create the fidgets. It was also a teaching moment, to show that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. It was very satisfying to see some students take charge and create the fidgets where they normally do not get involved and are normally quiet.
The students loved the fidgets as well as I did. It was very quiet and discrete. These fidgets are great for the classroom. In fact, it did not create distractions! The students used them during their independent work, classes, and during tests. I was very grateful to actually find the right fidgets for the classroom.
Jason and I kept in touch throughout the years after the Skype call with my students. I would continue to purchase fidgets and give them to people who I knew who would benefit from. The summer I retired from teaching, I talked with Jason about The I Am Able Foundation. He was very interested in getting involved. I had left Jason many messages to give updates on the progress that we have completed. I had not heard back from him and figured he was just busy with life and Fidgetland.
Finally, Jason and I finally connected and it was the perfect timing. He was so glad that I called because he wanted to ask me some questions about ADHD and organization and I was on a list of lists to call me. I was so excited to invite him to be part of our first I Am Able Empowerment group. He told me that he would love to be part of it. I flew out to LA to watch our first empowerment group in action and I got to finally meet Jason in person. Yes, Jason was using his fidget while he was participating in the empowerment group.
