Sandburg 8th-grader receives tech award

Fernando Rodriguez, an eighth-grader at Carl Sandburg Junior High, was one of 12 students named a winner of the 2012 Technology Achievement Award presented by Infinitec North, the assistive technology program of United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago. Rodriguez was presented with the honor at an April 26 awards banquet held at The Cotillion in Palatine.

Rodriguez was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the fourth grade, and must display fierce determination and tenacity to overcome the extreme bouts of fatigue and muscle tremors caused by the disease. It is that work ethic that has allowed him to overcome a series of medical struggles he experienced as a seventh-grader and make Carl Sandburg's honor roll as an eighth-grader.

This achievement is due in part to his work to learn two different speech recognition programs that make his schoolwork less physically challenging - Dragon Naturally Speaking and Dragon Dictate. These programs allow Rodriguez, who is unable to use a pencil, to dictate his thoughts into the computer. They will assist him not only through his high school years, but on into college and in his personal life as well.

During training sessions, Rodriguez, who is deaf in one ear, had to make numerous corrections when the computer was not able to recognize some of his words. Despite this obstacle, he remained patient, and worked happily, tirelessly and without complaint. This is one of the many examples of the perseverance he has to display on a daily basis to meet his own high standards.

Rodriguez is also a voracious reader who reads above his grade level. However, he is unable to hold a book due to his frequent arm tremors. Instead, he has an iPad that he can use independently to listen to downloaded books by all of his favorite authors.

"Fernando is teaching us day in and day out the human spirit," said his teacher, Joaquin Gongora. "The resilience and determination that he shows all the time is inspiring. I have seen him coming back from his crisis, and he conducts himself in a way that nobody I have ever known would. He comes tired and exhausted, but his optimism and uplifting attitude remain untouched."

Infinitec means "infinite potential through technology," and the mission of Infinitec Inc. is to advance independence and promote inclusive opportunities for children and adults with disabilities through technology.

The Infinitec North awards program honors students from the north suburbs for their achievements in using assistive technology in school. The students selected have dramatically increased their independence by using technology .

such as special software, adapted wheelchairs, augmentative communications devices and other equipment and approaches.

For information, contact Greta Rakow, Carl Sandburg Junior High principal, at (847) 963-7800 or rakowg@ccsd15.net.

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