Special Needs Adults Get VIP Treatment At Philly's FBI Field Office
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- For FBI agents, suiting up for the task at hand is an everyday experience.
For the rest of us, it's something special.
"It's my first time being here so I'm happy," said Jen Crane.
On Thursday, 21 adults from CADES, a Swarthmore organization that serves those with special needs, got the rare chance to tour the FBI Philadelphia office, try on SWAT gear, and meet field agents.
It's a memory Janai Bell, a longtime FBI employee wanted for her 21-year-old son, Clarence, who has Down Syndromee and autism.
"He wants to be a police officer and chef," Bell said. "I think it means a lot to him because it's showing him he's just like anybody else."
"I just think it's kind of interesting because it kind of reminds me of being with the police," said Ryan Haldeman, one of Clarence's friends who was also on the tour.
So, Bell helped organized the visit. The group took fingerprints, had a pizza party, and saw some of the equipment used by field agents.
"It says FBI on it so the bad guys know who we are," said Special Agent Stephen Powell, as he showed the group a bulletproof vest.
Special Agent Powell has been with the FBI in Philadelphia for 14 years.
"It's a really neat opportunity to interact with the community, some of the folks who don't normally see the FBI and show them a little bit of what we do," Powell said.