Volume 14, No. 3, Summer 2006	Previous Issues Subscribe to AT Messenger Download PDF Viewer
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Brandywine Student Receives AAC Device

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Prentke Romich Company (PRC), the company decided to honor the individuals it serves. PRC, an augmentative and assistive communication (AAC) technology company, started its “40 for 40” program through which 40 PRC speech output devices will be donated to individuals who lack funding options and would otherwise not be able to obtain a device. One winner of an AAC device through the “40 for 40” program is a student in the Brandywine School District in Wilmington. Adnan Hemedi was chosen to receive a SpringBoard Plus from Prentke Romich Company after his personal story was submitted to PRC by his family and Marie Azzara, his speech language pathologist. Ms. Azzara also shared Adnan’s story with us.

Adnan M. Hemedi was born in one of the urban clinics located in Center City, Nairobi, Kenya on January 8, 1986. Like any child, he grew up in the wealth of love afforded him by his parents and relatives. He attended Visa Oshwal Nursery School (the American equivalent of kindergarten). He grew up expressing his dreams to his teachers and parents...one day he wanted to be a pilot, the next a doctor, a spiritual minister, or he simply wanted to be forever young and play with his childhood friends! Because of his wonderful personality, he became a darling of many at school and wherever he went.

In 1992, while attending his grandfather's funeral, six-year-old Adnan accidentally fell head first onto concrete pavement. He was taken to the emergency room, but no accurate diagnosis was done as to the full extent of his injuries. He was given painkillers and his parents were advised to watch and monitor him closely.

After four days, Adnan was said to have developed very septic tonsillitis or simply an acute sore throat and was given some antibiotics. His condition escalated. He had a very high fever, and he could not swallow. He became severely dehydrated and soon started having convulsions. He was hospitalized at that point. After receiving some medication, he began to show signs of improvement. This improvement was short lived. Adnan soon became quadriplegic. He also lost his speech as well as his swallowing reflexes completely.

In 1994, with the help of passive physiotherapy, Adnan rejoined his friends and teachers at Visa Oshwal School. This reunion, however, was without much fun. He couldn't play or learn as he had before. His friends and teachers urged him to play games and have fun, but to no avail. Those were surely moments of great frustration for him, his family, and friends. In the same year, Adnan started experiencing seizures and was removed from school altogether.

In 2002, Adnan was invited to the United States for medical evaluation and recommendations. He and his mother left his father and brothers behind in Kenya and set off on his journey to the US. Adnan has now been in the United States for four years and is still waiting to raise enough money to complete his medical recommendations. In February 2005, at age 19, he was enrolled in public school in the Brandywine School District in Wilmington. This was his first formal school experience since he was eight years old. Over the past year, he has blossomed and shown progress on educational goals.

A special ‘thank you’ to the Hemedi Family and Marie Azzara for submitting Adnan’s personal story and photograph.