First Tolerance Fair Set for Sunday

After a cross country meet gone wrong, the Bachman family could have reacted in any number of ways.

They decided to help people.

Justin Bachman, a Solon Middle School student who has Tourette syndrome and was berated by an official last fall during a cross country meet in Boardman when he was experiencing vocal tics, said the experience motivated him to try to build a more tolerant and understanding community.

"We didn't want it to happen to me again," Justin said. "We didn't want it to happen to anyone. If you don't want it to happen to anyone, sitting around and doing nothing doesn't help."

Justin approached Solon Mayor Susan Drucker and explained to her that he wanted to do something to help spread the message of tolerance and understanding. 

Drucker threw the weight of the city behind Justin's idea. Together, the city and the Bachman family put together the city's first ever Tolerance Fair, which is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday at the Solon Community Center.

"I think that's a great thing," Drucker said. "That's what Solon is about."

Ron Bachman, Justin's father, said the fair has a simple goal: To show that people are just people, that we all have our differences, and that the only way to bridge those differences is to learn from each other.

"We're all different, so what's the difference?" said Ron Bachman. "When you look at people as people, all that other stuff goes away."

The fair will feature nearly 40 charity and advocacy organizations. It's free to get in, and heavy appetizers will be provided.

Some highlights include the Singing Fingers, an all-sign language choir that will teach people sign language. There will be wheelchairs and an obstacle course, so people can learn what it's like to live in a wheelchair.

The keystone of the event will be a speech by Marc Elliot, an internationally known tolerance speaker who also has Tourette syndrome.

The Bachmans say they hope to continue the tolerance fair on an annual basis, and Justin is staying busying talking to the media and giving speeches to community groups. 

He goes to the big time later this month when Justin heads to Washington, D.C., to meet with some of Ohio's congressional representatives to talk about tolerance and Tourette syndrome.