Family fights to keep teenager with special needs on NC high football team

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A local family is pushing back against the North Carolina High School Athletics Association’s decision to deny a special needs player the opportunity to be on Ashville High School football team next season.

Noah Britton has an Individualized Education Plan that allows him to have a modified education program because he has special needs. The 18-year-old is on the autism spectrum and will attend an extra year of high school. Throughout his football career, Britton has only played a few snaps, but his parent said it’s part of being on the team that gives him joy.

“Noah has played just a little over two minutes total — ever. It’s not really playing in the game that is important for Noah. It’s to feel like he’s ready at any time, and it’s the participating in athletics as a whole that’s helped Noah,” his mother Cheri Honeycutt said.

“He went out for spring practice, made the team and that was one of the happiest days for both of our lives,” Noah’s father Chris Britton said.

Click here to read more.