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Graduation Day
Graduation Day, June 21, 1996, Bethlehem High School. A big day for anyone who is graduating, a bigger day for my son, Tom, a day he never thought would come and a day he never thought would happen for him.
Tom is a textbook Dyslexic child, who has fought an uphill battle through 12 years of frustrations, disappointments and day to day struggles. Not being able to read or write at a very high level, as the grades got higher, Tom's work got much harder. In high school it came to a point where much of Tom's day was sitting sand wasting time, for he could not take notes or read and student like his classmates, he relied on classmates to take notes and write for him and read to him. All tests were taken with he Resource Room Teacher.
The school sent Tom to the T.R.E. Center, to see if there was anything out there that could help with Tom's learning and take some of the frustration away.
Debra McGarvey was assigned to work with Tom. With a lot of research, talks with Tom and school staff, a computer was found that had both voice input and voice output, and a scanner. Therefore, Tom could have things read to him, and also write his own papers/notes and take tests.
This computer open many new doors for him. It removed a lot of frustration, has given him hope and allowed Tom to feel good about himself knowing that he can be independent and not rely on others.
Tom has set new goals he will soon be off to New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire. They have a scanner and we will work on getting a voice input and output computer system, but at least Tom knows that the technology is out there for him and that he can continue his education.
Many thanks to the T.R.E. Center, Debbie McGarvey, David Grapka and to Bethlehem Central High School PSU staff, Cheryl MacCulloch, Michael Grau, and Patrick Gunner for without all their help, we may not have seen Tom walk across that stage or at least not without that big smile.
Another success story for TRE, a service so needed to help the ones whose education is different and bring together the support.
THANKS!
By Debbie Feller