Hugh Jackman shares inspiring message for blind student starting middle school: 'You be yourself'

The Wolverine is known to care about people around him and Hugh Jackman, who embodies him on screen, isn't too far from the character in real life. When a visually impaired student named Ashton was starting middle school, he had his mother's support. But little did he know that Jackman would also root for him.

It all started when Ashton's mother Hilda Dunford shared a video of Ashton navigating through school corridors with his backpack and a white cane, encouraging other parents to teach their children to be sensitive and inclusive toward children who might come across as different or have special needs. The video clip was posted on August 14 by @ourblindside. The text overlay reads, "A letter to parents before my son who is blind starts middle school. Talk to your kids about students who may look or act different than the rest. Teach them to include the kids who may be sitting alone in the lunchroom or not able to find class the first day."

The caption further explained, "Tell them about blind students and other children with disabilities before you send them to middle school this year. Ashton starts middle school on Wednesday and I think I’m more nervous than he is. I just want him to be able to find some good friends this year. Middle school is a hard transition and all I ever want for him is to feel included and to know he belongs with his peers and the rest of the students in the school. Being the only blind student was hard in elementary school and I know it’s going to be even harder in middle school for my son. So please talk to your kids and tell them about children with disabilities this year. Tell them about my son who practiced walking around the school all summer just to prepare for his first day."

"Tell them to include someone who is different and give them a chance to get to know a new friend. I hope Ashton will come back home smiling and excited after his first day of middle school because he made a friend. Inclusion starts at home and parents should talk to their kids about these things before sending them to school every year. It will make a difference for my son if you have these kinds of talks with your kids. I’m so proud of how far Ash has worked to learn the layout of his middle school and I know he will find his way on the first day," it concluded.

Other parents who viewed the video also felt similarly. "Our babies are only one year old but I want to make sure they do what you suggested and I wanna make sure I do include them in all kinds of conversations, and explain to them the difference among all of us, show them different kinds of cultures and How differently we can all behave sometimes!" commented @lucyanatchapman. Since being posted, the video clip has gained 14,583 likes and viewed by over 712k people including the "X-Men" star.

Jackman re-posted the footage on his Instagram account and asked the public to assist him in contacting Ashton and his mother. "Hi everyone... if you know how I can be in touch with Ashton please DM me," the Australian actor wrote. "I'd like to wish him an amazing new school year. Thanks for the help."

The internet soon did its magic and Jackman shared an inspiring message for young Ashton, who turned out to be a big fan of the star. "I'm rooting for you man and I know you're going to have an amazing school year. And remember, like P.T. Barnum said: 'No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.' You be yourself. You're amazing," the star told the youngster.

Sharing the experience on Instagram, Dunford wrote: "No one ever made a difference by being like anyone else. I’m pretty sure Ashton won’t ever forget Hugh Jackman’s words to him when he reminded him to be himself in middle school and told him he was amazing. Ashton has always been a huge fan of Hugh Jackman he dressed up as the Greatest Showman for Halloween two years in a row and he performed 'A Million Dreams' when he was 7 to a huge crowd."

"We also took him to Hugh Jackman’s world tour in 2019 when he came here," she added. "Now he has this video to encourage him in middle school. We will always be huge fans of Hugh and his work, I think the world needs more kind gestures like this. Thank you Hugh for reaching out to Ashton and sending him these words. He’ll never forget he had the chance to hear your voice encourage him when he first started middle school."