Profile
of Success - Jeremi Kroos
Hi, my name is Jeremi. I am 32 years old and I have cerebral palsy. I would like to tell you all a little bit about myself. A doctor gave my mom too much pitocin during her labor and this cut off the oxygen to my brain. This is why I have cerebral palsy and why I use a wheelchair and a communication device.
I would like to share with you how I have communicated with others through the years. At an early age my mom and dad figured out that I was blinking my eyes once to say "yes" and that I was saying "no" with my voice. I still use this with familiar people.
As I got older, I learned to type with a typewriter. I pressed the keys with a head pointer. I remember that the first word I spelled was a bad one. My teacher told everyone that she couldn't believe I knew how to spell it. I continued to type with a typewriter until I turned 17 years old.
Since that time I have used a Light Talker and a Liberator. I also started using an optical head pointer, but I continued to spell everything out letter by letter. Six months ago, when I got my Pathfinder, I was introduced to the Unity program and began learning it. The Unity program allows me to communicate faster and I have more time to run my mouth!
I can connect my Pathfinder to my computer at work and at home. I work for the Center for Human Services and I enter payroll data and make greeting cards there. I live in my own apartment and I access the Internet and e-mail there.
In my free time I enjoy painting. I am able to do this by wearing a welder's helmet with a paintbrush attached to it. I also enjoy going to church and hanging out with my friends.
In the future I hope to become an ambassador for the Prentke Romich Company. I am also interested in finding competitive employment in my community.