Giving up is not an option for Keith Hanson. He has accomplished much in his 41 years, though his left thumb is the only part of his body that he can move consistently. And though he moved into a nursing home at an age far younger than most who take that step, he aims to make the most of each day. Diagnosed as a toddler with Werdnig-Hoffman Syndrome, a form of spinal muscular atrophy, Keith greatly surpassed the life expectancy of 11 years for people with the condition. He is required to stay on a ventilator and take his meals through a feeding tube, but the situation hasn't stopped him from being an active participant in his world. Keith's studied electronics in high school and has a flair for technology that keeps him in the loop. One of Keith's dreams came true in February 2000 when he acquired a DynaVox 3100 to communicate with staff and visitors at the Hillcrest Nursing Home in Red Falls, Minnesota, where he's lived for more than four years. The device is a more comfortable solution than the speaking valve that he previously tried. He could use the valve for just minutes at a time because it was inserted into his throat and interfered with his breathing. Keith accesses his DynaVox via scanning with a micro-sensitive switch attached to his left forearm. In 2001, Keith got a personal computer. The Internet is vital for him not just because he lacks natural speech, but because of his inability to access the telephone. With four of his six siblings living out of town, Keith's e-mail box undoubtedly stays pretty full. Keith has mastered the skills he needs to keep up with his e-mail, surf the World Wide Web, program his DynaVox and use its DynaBeam environmental control unit. Using the DynaBeam, the DynaVox allows him to run his TV, VCR, CD player and police scanner without having to ask for help. It also comes in handy for serious purposes such as operating his alarm system. For fun, Keith listens to heavy metal music, watches reality-based and medical TV shows and tapes the shows he misses. He's also a faithful follower of Minnesota Vikings football.