John Anderson, a 15 year old who cannot speak due to brain paralysis, received a specially designed computer to communicate using pictures and sounds at TCS on October 7th.

The device was built by a group of TOM, in the group there was Julian Zuñiga, who is the group’s electronic engineer, there is a medical doctor, a computer programer, and two TCS students, Gabriel Vallejo and Ana Medina.

“He is not able to talk or walk, all his movements are random, so we need to build a communication device for him to be able to speak,” Zuñiga said.

John Anderson and his family are adapting to the program even though it requires a lot of work. This is something that will change his life by completely, that’s why he is not ready and he needs training.

“We believe he will be able to use the device perfectly, in this moment he is being trained to use the technical assistance, this past days he has been really happy and enthusiastic, this will change his life in an enormous way,” Jose Galarcio, doctor of Comite of Rehabilitacion, said.

The program works with photos that John Anderson is already used to. They are about basic needs that everyone has, like a person sitting in a bathroom meaning and when he sees it he makes them understand that he needs to go. When the program starts the photos  start appearing in a screen and they change constantly, when he recognizes what he wants he makes a sound and the program talks for him and says what that picture represents.

“The program allows that people besides his family are able to understand John Anderson and communicate with him,” Galarcio, said.

John Anderson has suffered because he can’t communicate what he wants, is not able to control his body and can’t talk to people who aren’t use to his speech. This device enables him to communicate with strangers his basic needs.

“All the movements of John Anderson are completely random, he has suffered a lot throughout his life, because he can’t express what he wants, and he can’t do what a normal 15 year old does,” Gabriel Vallejo, 10th grade TCS student, said.

Even though John Anderson has a lot of problems he has learned to live with it, and he gets used to the conditions of life that he has, he is really happy and tries to improve every time. His family is always supporting him and they are doing everything they can for him.

“The family has showed a lot of interest during the process, they have been really patient and are hoping that the best happens,” Galarcio said.

In Comite of Rehabilitacion, John Anderson has received a lot of support throughout his life, he knows the doctor for a while now, and that helps him because he can trust him and is important that he works with people he knows and not with strangers.

“I met John Anderson about six or seven years ago, but I have been working with him about 2 years ago now, I had the opportunity to work really close with him, and it has helped him and also I have received a lot of good things from that,” Galarcio, said.

Everyone that has worked with John Anderson, and the people that were in the group are really proud of what they accomplished, they loved working with him, and all the great things that happened during TOM.

“I feel really excited, I’m sure that we are going to make John Anderson be able to communicate!” Vallejo said.