October 21, 2022
by: Emily Hastings
Elijah
Elijah is a delightful 11-year-old boy who is always happy to see you! He was born premature and was soon after diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which affects his muscle strength and speech, so he relies on assistive technology devices to help him move around and speak.
therapy at 20 months old.
When Elijah started receiving UCP therapy services at 17 months old, he communicated using only his facial expressions. There were so many things Elijah wanted to say, and the UCP team tried out many different speech devices to see which would work best for Elijah. They finally found one that he excelled at that uses eye gaze technology. This would make it possible for him to interact with the world using a mouse that is controlled with his eyes. To make this work, Elijah needed a new wheelchair that allows his body and head to be positioned in the right way.
The process of finding the perfect seating system for Elijah was long and complicated. This included selecting the proper equipment, receiving insurance approval, not to mention locating ALL the different pieces and parts needed. Even after everything arrived, the UCP team had to work with an outside company, Miller’s, to build the perfect wheelchair customized for Elijah.
eye gaze communication device.
On October 5, 2021, Elijah arrived at UCP in his old, adapted stroller. He left a few hours later beaming from ear-to-ear in his new, blue custom manual wheelchair (which can even fold to fit in his mom or dad’s car)! His new chair provides him with the right position he needs to participate in school, navigate his home and more easily integrate into the community. When asked if he liked the chair and if he was comfortable, he immediately answered “Yes!”
Elijah’s ability to use his eye gaze communication device has drastically improved since he received his new wheelchair. He is now able to discuss an array of topics, such as requesting assistance, expressing his opinions and answering questions. His personality has blossomed because of this assistive technology. He has always been called “Smiley” here at UCP because of his infectious smile, but we are getting to see his smile even more now because he is able to express his thoughts without difficulty or frustrations. Most importantly, he knows he is finally understood.
With his new wheelchair and communication device, Elijah’s future is full of possibilities!
Leave a Reply