Jamaal Anderson gets it.

Anderson, a former Arkansas standout defensive end now with the Atlanta Falcons is, thankfully, one of those athletes that seems to understand celebrity is an opportunity to give back. All the money and cars and fame are nice, but Anderson sees more than that as detailed in a recent Atlanta Journal Contstitution article.

Anderson spent time with 28 senior high school students at the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf in Clarkston, Ga. Anderson, who grew up with a deaf father, was a bit rusty with his sign language, but still conveyed an important message to the students on hand.

Anderson grew up in Arkansas using sign language to communicate with his father, Glenn, who has been deaf since childhood. He told the students how his father never used his impairment as an excuse, but instead used it as a strength to become a scholar and teacher.
Anderson combined his father's story with his personal trials of having to walk on to the University of Arkansas football team. He became good enough to be selected eighth overall in the 2007 NFL draft by the Falcons. The story brought the students to the edge of their seats. They couldn't stop asking questions about how he made it and if they actually stood a chance.

It was more than a publicity stop for Anderson. He's been very involved in helping raise awareness for issues that the hearing impaired face. Anderson appeared on Capitol Hill on May 1 and was there to lobby for legislation aimed at improving technology and services for hearing impaired.

Anderson told the AJC he'd like to start a camp for deaf children in Atlanta or Arkansas. I could open possibly next summer.

There are plenty of things Anderson, a first round draft pick in 2007, could be doing with his time. It's refreshing to see him giving back.