With a twinkle in his eye, an endless love for math, and dance moves like no other, nine-year-old Deacon McGannon is a one-of-a-kind kid who is rewriting the rules of what is possible. Whether he is making his baseball team laugh with a goofy joke or proudly rattling off math facts for fun, Deacon approaches life with heart, humor, and determination. 

From an early age, it became clear that Deacon experienced the world a little differently. Although the journey toward a diagnosis was long and filled with delays, Deacon’s family never gave up. After years of navigating uncertainty, the school system finally diagnosed him with autism at age eight. They are still awaiting an official medical diagnosis, but that has not stopped Deacon from making incredible progress—and defying expectations at every turn.

Deacon keeps showing the world that limits are made to be broken. He dreams of becoming a math teacher one day—and if his love for numbers and reading is any indication, he is well on his way. He also wants to get married and have children, and his family has no doubt he will do just that.
One of his proudest moments came last year when he received the Sportsmanship Award in baseball. He is the kind of teammate who keeps going no matter what, and lifts up those around him with his perseverance. That same determination shows up in every area of his life—from school to the dance studio to everyday moments at home.

Deacon is known for being kind, funny, and full of energy. He loves to dance, build with Legos, dive into math problems, and talk video games with anyone who will listen. Once he feels comfortable, he opens up with endless stories, jokes, and questions—always eager to connect with the people around him.

“He’s taught us to stick together—even during hard times—and helped us see the world in a different way,” his mom says. “He just wants to be included, to be loved, and to make others happy.”