Diego Jimenez’s journey to EVHS graduation has been anything but typical. To celebrate his extraordinary accomplishments and send him off to Germanna Community College with the tools that he needs to be successful, on Thursday May 11, 2023, a large group of people came together at Eastern View to present Diego with some special gifts. The gifts included the technology that he uses for school.
Diego started his education in CCPS in preschool at Sycamore Park Elementary, then he attended Farmington Elementary, Floyd T. Binns Middle School, and Eastern View High School. Celeste Williams, a CCPS paraeducator, has supported Diego the entire fifteen years of his CCPS journey. She shared, “The technology has helped Diego be independent, keep up and remain on the honor roll.”
CCPS Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Liaison Jamie Hoover explained, “Diego uses assistive technology to be successful in his education. This technology includes a device called Quha Zono 2, which is a gyroscopic head mouse that allows Diego to control a computer mouse with his head instead of his hands.”
Assistive Technology Facilitator Susan Reed, who has worked with Diego since early elementary school, recalls when he first started using the device, “When he started using the Quha Zono, it was practically an instantaneous success. He was able to operate his Chromebook as quickly as most people can with a traditional mouse. This was important to Diego since he needed to be able to keep up with the quick pace of high school classes. Previously, he relied on a sophisticated program that used voice commands to control his computer. The Quha Zono had the added benefit of being able to control his computer silently.”
Diego has been successful using the Quha Zono 2 with his CCPS Chromebook to complete his academic assignments during his time at EVHS. His teachers wanted to send him off to Germanna Community College ready for success, so they started raising money to buy the equipment so that Diego would be able to take it with him. Overall, $1,200 was raised, $700 by teachers and school employees from all of the schools that Diego has attended in CCPS. In addition, EVHS teacher Latonda Dillworth-Hudgen worked with the Culpeper Lions Club to coordinate an additional $500 donation. Diego’s gifts not only included the Quha Zono device, but also an adapter that allows him to use it with his phone, a large screen Chromebook and a wheelchair accessible laptop bag.
During the gift presentation, Diego told the group that he would be going to Germanna to earn his associate’s degree. Then, he said, “I’m going to transfer to a big four-year college for my major, broadcasting.” The gifts that he received will help him to continue his academic success. Hoover said that the fact that they were able to raise so much money for Diego was a reflection on the positive impact that Diego has had on so many people in CCPS.
CCPS teachers Erin Restel and Kim Bledsoe said, “Diego Jimenez is a unique and wonderful student! He is a hard-working, motivated and determined young man who doesn’t let any limitation or challenge stop him! He brings a smile and laugh to everyone and has a wonderful sense of humor! We wish him much success, and can’t wait to see what all he will accomplish!”
For Celeste Williams, who has been working with Diego for so long, the last few weeks have
been emotional. “I feel like a proud parent,” she said. Reflecting on his journey, she said, “The most rewarding thing is him being positive and trying new things such as choir and the school musical.” She concluded, “I will miss his daily jokes and positive attitude.”
Reed summed it up with the following, “I am so proud of Diego for all that he has accomplished during his school career, and I’m very excited as he continues into higher education. When we gifted him his technology, I was so happy to know that he was moving forward with all the tools that helped him achieve his potential while he was a student in Culpeper. But what makes me especially proud is his self-determination. As I watched him get all his new technology set up, I realized that he has all the skills he needs moving forward to continue being successful. I also think a great deal of credit goes to the staff and administrators at Culpeper County Public Schools for not only fostering an environment for Diego to be successful in while he was in their school division, but also equipping him with the knowledge, confidence, skills, and tools to continue that trajectory post-graduation.”