Bensalem Teenager Spreading His 'Built Different' Message

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —"I'm Built Different."

It's a phrase 19-year-old Nolan told his mother Coleen Slaweski when he returned from the "Rising Light Ridge"camp run by the Tim Tebow Foundation in 2021.

Nolan, who was born with Down Syndrome, attended the camp in Bear Creek, participating in activities such as fishing, hiking, kayaking, archery, and other outdoor activities.

He met Tebow, the former college Heisman Trophy winner, and came away from camp with the understanding that he's "built different" than other people.

Well, not only did Nolan coin the phrase. He's now spreading his message.

Nolan will be selling T-shirts from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Robert K. Shafer Middle School on Hulmeville Road. It's his first vendor event after launching his own Etsy Store on March 21, which was World Down Syndrome Day.

"I'm extremely proud of him," his mother said. "I thought it was such an amazing thing for him to embrace his differences and to recognize that everyone is 'Built Different.' It's truly eye-opening and it's what makes this world turn. We are all built differently, we are all unique in our own way. Everyone is 'built different' and when we recognize that and understand it, it helps us look at each individual person with respect and honor."

Nolan started working on his "Built Different" project last year after getting his first tattoo of "Built Different" at the age of 18, his mother said.

Since his store opened two months ago, Nolan has sold more than 120 shirts. Click here to check out his merchandise.

"In today's culture, we need to embrace each other, we need more respect, we need more patience and we need to honor each difference that every individual has," his mother said. "We may not agree or understand, but we need to recognize that it's just 'different' and that is OK."