Hector entered Elgin High School in August 2004 feeling the butterflies that often come with big transitions. He wanted to be liked and to be sure to express his desires and needs clearly because his cerebral palsy prevents him from speaking in his own voice. The success that Hector enjoyed as a freshman surpassed all expectations, thanks to his outgoing personality, the dedicated team supporting him at school and the DynaVox 3100 that he has used since the fourth grade.
When students in the self-contained modified learning program at Elgin read a skit from a magazine, Hector played a hoodlum. His classmates erupted in friendly laughter at the irony of the line “You scrawny little punk” he delivered with the aid of his device. In real life, Hector is small for his age and gentle in nature.
Hector is broadening his social communication skills through a buddy system in which National Honor Society students meet with him for casual conversation during study halls and lunch. Speech-language pathologists Carol Jackson and Mark Klimek, who arranged the activity, say Hector and his buddies talk about things that teens enjoy - shopping malls, movies and sports.
With the DynaVox, which Hector activates with a head switch on his wheelchair, there is little need for him to keep things to himself. He uses it to cheer for younger brother David, 13, at his football and basketball games and to remind his mother to pick David up from practice.
When asked about a subject that he would rather not discuss, Hector selects a button on the device programmed with the teasing phrase “What I want to tell you is not in my computer.” The more direct “Please don’t talk to me that way” is his phrase of choice when female schoolmates try to mother him.
“Hector is very motivated to communicate and has an extremely positive attitude.” ~ Marilyn Mathers a speech-language pathologist who has known Hector since he was in kindergarten.
“Seeing Hector laughing or happy makes it all worthwhile,” ~ Miguel Gallegos, the aide who accompanies Hector throughout the school day.
“Hector doesn’t care than he’s different than everybody else. That doesn’t get in the way. We know that he’s living a normal life. That smile on his face tells it all.” ~ Virginia Lopez, Hector’s mother.
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