For the past four years, Tim Kenny, of Avon Lake, has been studying applied science in data analytics at Lorain County Community College.
On Saturday, he'll graduate with about 2,000 other students.
For Kenny, who has cerebral palsy and communicates by typing into a tablet to create a digital voice, graduating with his associate's degree is a special time for reflection.
鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of myself for all of my work that I have been able to do,鈥� Kenny said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just going to take in the moment and reflect on what I achieved, but the road doesn鈥檛 stop here.鈥�
Living with a disability can make it difficult to complete a college degree. In 2014, people in the U.S. aged 25 or older with a disability were about half as likely to have completed a bachelor's degree compared to people without one, figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show. And those with a disability were more likely to have less than a high school diploma.
鈥淚 have struggles with everything a normal person couldn鈥檛 think of,鈥� Kenny said. 鈥淓very day with cerebral palsy is a pain, but I鈥檓 one of the lucky ones that can still live life without any major problematic difficulties.鈥�
Kenny said he sometimes deals with pain, plus eating and getting ready for the day takes much longer than for most people. He drives to school, but it wasn鈥檛 until halfway through his LCCC career that he got his license. There are communication issues 鈥� it takes Kenny some time to respond to questions by typing into his tablet. He received special accommodations at school for taking notes and tests. And then there鈥檚 how people often perceive him. He said he鈥檚 often misunderstood and judged.
鈥淕oing off to school wasn鈥檛 a realistic option due to my [cerebral palsy], but also coming to LCCC allowed me to start easy,鈥� Kenny said.
Kenny plans to continue his education with an LCCC program that partners with Western Governors University to earn his bachelor's degree.
鈥淢y mom always pictures me doing inspiration speeches and maybe this is it,鈥� Kenny said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 let others stand in the way of your goals. Push yourself and prove them wrong.鈥�
Kenny鈥檚 dream job is to work as a data analyst in the sports world, particularly for one of Cleveland鈥檚 professional sports teams.
His take on the Cleveland Cavaliers chances in the ongoing series against the Boston Celtics?
鈥淭he numbers say, 'No,' but my heart says, 'Yes,'鈥� Kenny said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 Cleveland, baby. We love underdogs.鈥�
