Pratt teen uses various assistive technology to participate with peers, wins award

PRATT, Kan. (KSNW) – Kendrix Crow is going to be a junior at Pratt High School, and he is a recent recipient of the Outstanding Student Technology award through the Kansas Infinitec Coalition. The award highlights students who use assistive technology throughout their lives to fully participate in school and their communities.

“We really work on just helping Kendrix with coordination things so he can do the things that he loves to do,” Kelli Gallagher, occupational therapist, said. “He is able to explore a lot of different things that anybody else would explore and love to do.”

Kendrix has used both high tech, like an AAC device, and low tech, like grips on markers, for art class. In PE, he uses adaptive walkers and bikes. He has also had he joystick on his wheelchair synched with his Chromebook to complete classwork easier.

“Just being able to communicate with people that don’t know him as well, don’t know his gestures and signs as well to get his wants and needs across has helped a lot through the years,” Traci Crow, Kendrix’s mom, said.

“The fact that he can go out and do that and isn’t afraid to do that really speaks to me and is encouraging to a lot of people,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher says that over the years, Kendrix has grown to advocate for himself and express what works best for him.

“He’s not going to be in school forever,” Gallagher said. “We like to plan for the future, and we want him to be as successful as he can and have the most engaging and fulfilling life that he can possibly live.”

“It gives me peace of mind knowing he can advocate for himself and be independent, and I won’t always have to be there, even though that makes me a little sad,” Crow said. “It shows me how strong he is.”

Kendrix uses technology to express himself and his love for sports. He loves following stats and teams and cracking jokes.

Other students in Kansas were selected for the award in addition to Kendrix. When Kendrix won, Traci was shocked.

“Of course, he’s special to me and all of us in the family, but I guess other people see his joy that he spreads, so that was pretty awesome,” Crow said. “It just shows me that other people realize and see it as well.”

Kendrix hopes to be a basketball coach with the Kansas Jayhawks someday.

If you would like to nominate a person or business for Positive Connections, fill out KSN’s online contact form.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.