>> sometimes i forget i have treacher collins. >> you do?, sometimes when i'm having a good time i forget what i look like. >> when we were zip lining did you forget you had treacher collins? >> yeah, i was just having a lot of fun. >> reporter: it's the fall of 2015. nathaniel's first day of middle school. to ease the transition the newmans have come up with a plan. >> russell and nathaniel sit down together and write a letter. >> my name is nathaniel newman. i am different. i don't want you to be surprised when we meet. i really just want you to treat me like everyone else. >> reporter: but the single most powerful change in how children treat nathaniel isn't because of that letter, but because of a little blue book called "wonder." >> you may have read the book "wonder." if you have, then you already know a little bit about me. >> reporter: "wonder" tells the story of 10-year-old augie pullman, born with a facial difference a lot like treacher collins. when the book came out in 2012, nurse shivaro was one of the first to read it. she reac

we were lucky enough to talk to the author of the book which the film was based on and treacher collinscter as what he has. the author said to us that she wanted to talk about the issue of bullying and facial disfigurement and not talk about treacher collins. but you have it, tell us what it is. it is a facial disfigurement so i do not have any cheekbones, i have no years and i have a very small airway. this developed during birth. it is how i was born. and the work that is being done now to get a more positive conversation, or more upfront conversation, or more upfront conversation about disfigurement more generally, is that what you we re more generally, is that what you were trying to achieve? yes, we want to start conversations about visible difference and looking different. it is not something people feel comfortable discussing. we want to move to a place in schools where they value difference so they will say to kids, we are all different, you are different from your friends, difference is nothing to be frightened off, it is what makes us all unique and brilliant. if we can get pe

. >> reporter: jackson has treacher collins syndrome, a genetic condition that makes him look, well,o something to fix the school situation, and my eck husband made a plea on facebook. >> reporter: "my heart is in piece," dan bezzant wrote. "he's called ugly and freak and monster. he talks about suicide. he's not quite eight." next morning jackson had messages from kids. >> i'll be friends with you. >> you look like a really nice kid. >> reporter: some bikers organized a ride to stand with jackson and stand up to bullying. someone even hooked him up with rex the service dog. does rex lick you? >> yeah. >> where? >> here. >> reporter: right on your face? >> yeah. >> reporter: in hollywood and real life, it's a nice reminder -- different doesn't have to mean bullied. >> a little boy asking questions about his faith recently, and there were about five other boys who smoke up and said, he was been that way. leave him alone. be nice. >> reporter: be nice. if that's the lesson kids are truly learning, then maybe this holiday season jackson bezzant is giving so much more than he's received.

. >> jackson has treacher collins syndrome, genetic condition that makes him look, well, different. > to do something because, to fix the school situation. and, and, my husband made a plae -- plea on face book. my heart is in pieces, dan wrote, he is called ugly and freak and monster. he talks about suicide. he is not quite 8. the next morning, jackson had messages from kids. >> i'll be friend with you. >> wanting to be friends. >> you look like a nice kid. >> some bikers organized a ride to stand with jackson and stand up to bullying. >> someone even hooked him up with rex the service dog. >> does rex lick you? >> yeah. >> where? >> here. >> right on your face? >> yeah. >> ha-ha. >> in hollywood, and real life, a nice reminder, different doesn't have to mean bullied. >> a little buy asking questions about his face, just recently, and there was about five other boys who spoke up and said, he was born that way. leave him alone. be nice. >> be nice. if that's the lesson kids are truly learning, then maybe this holiday season, jackson is giving so much more than he has received. jim axel