This week, we meet Caitlin! Caitlin is the Assistant to the Director, and shares her story with us.
My name is Caitlin Koval. I have spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. This condition affects both of my arms and both of my legs. Because of the spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, I have to use a motorized wheelchair. The motorized wheelchair helps me to increase the level of freedom and independence that I have. Spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy is not contagious. Therefore, a person cannot catch the condition from another person who already has the condition.
I went to Buchholz High School in the fall of 2006, and I graduated from there in the summer of 2010, with a standardized diploma. I consider that to be a major accomplishment because there are many students who have developmental disabilities who do not graduate from high school at all. After high school I attended Santa Fe College, which was the number one community college in the nation. I attended Santa Fe College from the fall of 2010 until the fall of 2015. When I graduated, I received my Associates of Arts Degree with a focus on Family, Youth and Community Sciences.
I am not going to allow my disability to stop me from accomplishing my goals and dreams.
If I allow my disability to stop me, I would not get anywhere in my life. I am currently volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida. In addition to volunteering, I currently have an internship with GROW-HUB as the assistant to the director, David Banes. In addition to being one of the assistants to the director, I am also the community liaison, responsible for typing the newsletters, checking on the website, and Facebook page.
