Campus School Director Dr. DiMattia’s personal reflection about his EagleEyes experience for the past 12 plus years:

It is appropriate at this time of retirement from BC to reflect about the extraordinary experiences I have had working with EagleEyes. These years have been the most exciting of my teaching career that has spanned five decades. It has meant moving into a new field, assistive technology, but has been worth every adjustment necessary along the way.

In 1995, Dr. Frank Curran and myself began what has turned out to be a most productive partnership with colleagues Drs. Gips, Olivieri, and Tecce, who are the developers of the original EE technology. Our purpose at that time that continues today has been to bring EE to any individual who would benefit from its use, with a primary focus on those individuals for whom formal schooling, the place where knowledge is organized into scope and sequence, had not been thought possible before. In addition, we wanted to assist EE users with support and training aimed at maximizing personal success and educational outcomes.

Among the most significant EE experiences has to do with the affirmation that all children learn as naturally as they breathe when provided the necessary support and specialized aids that neutralize disability. Family members of potential users are among the most frequent persons who inquire about EE, and I can say unequivocally they are the strongest advocates, offering a great sense of hope that technology can be a wonderful equalizer in helping their loved ones more fully express their locked in talents as participants in life, rather than spectators. From parents I have learned that where there is love there is no burden. Once parents and users of EE come to believe in the technology as an instructional access tool, incredible things happen. As individual users show their skills at eye painting, shooting down aliens, spelling out their names, or answering academic questions, those watching often are left teary eyed and more determined to provide the necessary support so the individual can continue to grow in confidence and academic ways. As one parent said, “When my daughter is hooked up to the EE system, she is asked to do something for the first time in her life. Prior to her becoming an EE user everything was done for her.” While Patty is no longer with us, I can say she taught us that being a participant in life beats being a spectator. Her great smile was always an affirmation of how she expressed the fullest of her humanity.

Michael Nash has single handedly changed the perception that other individuals have about those with disabilities. In a high school Social Studies class, Michael was part of a three-person jeopardy group. The two other players took different positions on a question and Michael was asked his choice. As it turned out, Michael’s answer was the deciding choice that led his team to claim the round. A peer in another group complained of unfairness because the winning team had Michael. It was just several months before when there was a certain amount of concern regarding the benefit Michael would receive from the class. For the past several years, an aliens-shooting contest has raged between BC Campus School volunteers using the EE systems with the winner challenging Michael. Michael, the champ, is still undefeated.

John Bottone prepared for First Holy Communion using an EE system. What an accomplishment for a youngster diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy! I supervised an undergraduate student who made a documentary film of John’s challenge and the emotional impact was just incredible.

To conclude what has been the impact on me from EE experiences, let me say that I have been privileged to be a part of this work, and that I am excited about the future regarding educational benefits for individual EE users. The technologies are available for those who may benefit. Frank Curran and I had a simple vision that has been integrated into the very soul of the EE program, thanks to individuals like Jim Gips, Maureen Gates, Joe Appleyard, and the many other individuals who have worked with us over the years. I wish to share with all who are reading this one of my favorite stories. A young man was walking along the beach when he noticed hundreds of starfish had washed up on the shore. He began to pick up individual starfish and toss them into the water. Along came another person who asked, “Do you really think that you can make a difference with all those starfish that are on the shore?” The young man, while tossing a starfish into the water, replied, “I think I made a difference for that one.” EagleEyes has been making a difference for individuals, one at a time.