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The support of family and friends is what kept Ralph coming back his home province to spend three different stops in Edmonton over a nine-year career. And he’s back for good now, coaching football for the past four years at Harry Ainlay high school, where he also teaches 12 older autistic students in the Interactions program.

“In Winnipeg, Adarius got to see the family side of me and got to meet my two daughters and was actually a lot of help,” Ralph said of Oakley, 12, and nine-year-old Parker. “I was out there, it was just me and my two daughters in a situation that required help from my support and he was right there for wanting to make sure that I was good, my daughters were good and was always very intrigued with Oakley and how she operated and thought.

“He just kind of built a cool little relationship with her. It’s been very supportive for me.”

Ralph was playing in Hamilton in 2007 when Oakley was diagnosed.

“I actually asked for a trade back to Alberta, so I was lucky enough to come to Edmonton for my second stint with the Eskimos,” Ralph said. “But it’s life-changing, I can say that. Oakley is a little bit verbal but not very. Her language hasn’t come, but it will soon.

“It’s kind of a big umbrella that you can throw the term autism under. Every kid in the spectrum is very much an individual. That’s one of the cool parts, is you still get a lot of personality with each individual, were they are on the spectrum, what they’re about and like as people, what motivates them and their interests.”

Bowman would like nothing more than to help those with autism develop skills and passions into the potential to one day follow their own career path.

While he’s spent time in Edmonton over past off-seasons, Bowman has come to call the city home.

“I’ve had a few up here, but this is the one where the trip back home was real quick,” he said of returning down south following the 2016 season. “But I definitely am wanting to start Adarius 4 Autism in Edmonton, so I need to be around for this.

“So this is home right now.”

GModdejonge@postmedia.com

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