Besaw collaborates with disability board for eye-opening video

Caleb Besaw produced a video with the Madison City Disability Advocacy Board. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Madison teenager Caleb Besaw has produced a video that may cause motorists to think twice before taking liberties with parking spaces intended for individuals with disabilities.

Besaw, a junior at James Clemens High School, collaborated with the Madison City Disability Advocacy Board on the four-minute video.

The project introduced Besaw to the disability board. “I’m always finding out great things that my community offers. I wanted to help because I enjoy working with others that may be different from me,” he said. “It really helps open my mind.”

Besaw chose the assignment from a request list for Daniel Whitt, Besaw’s mentor at James Clemens who teaches broadcasting and works in digital media. Besaw already had recorded a video for the special needs department at James Clemens.

Besaw’s work features Madison residents Joanne Pearson and Don Gardner, “who wanted to spread the message of awareness of disability parking spots in local shopping areas.”

James Clemens juniors Krista Taylor and Colin Hall assisted with filming. Besaw’s only challenge was receiving permission to film in various locations. Publix supermarket in the Village Shoppes of Madison on County Line Road agreed.

The disability board has given positive feedback for Besaw’s video. Sponsored by Sir Paul McCartney, the “Everyone Matters” group on Facebook posted Besaw’s video, which has received more than 50,000 followers. “It was pretty cool when I got that message notifying me that they were posting my video,” Besaw said.

“I really count Madison as my hometown, even though I’m an army brat. My family has lived in a lot of places in the South — from Tennessee to Florida,” Besaw said. The Besaws moved to Madison from Columbus, Ga. in 2007. He attended Heritage elementary, Liberty middle and Bob Jones High schools.

His father Lt. Col. Craig Besaw serves in the U.S. Army, and his mother Jenn Besaw is a Dance Trance instructor.

Caleb belongs to the National Honor Society and Young Politicians. He plays varsity soccer and is a kicker for Jets football.