Kenny: Disabled w/ Desire to Design

As an artist and gamer, my manual dexterity was especially instrumental to my work and lifestyle. When I lost it, I was afraid I had also lost the ability to pursue my desired career as a game designer.

My name is Kenolisa Oramasionwu and I'm a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, Georgia, studying interactive media and game development. About a year ago I was injured in a car accident which made me a quadriplegic. After a long stay in the hospital and intensive therapy at the Shepherd Center, I decided to return to school.

At first I was unsure whether to continue my major in game design. My fingers are paralyzed which greatly hinders my practical artistic ability and makes me unable to play video games on consoles using a controller or on computers with a keyboard and mouse. But I ultimately decided that I would not let my injury hold me back from my dream career. I realized that this could in fact be a great opportunity to design games tailored to people with disabilities and even develop new assistive devices that would allow people with disabilities access to all games on the market. I’m determined to finish my degree and see these ideas to fruition, but I need your help.

Although my initial hospital stay was covered by insurance, my family and I are faced with the huge cost of my ongoing care and treatment, including specialized physical therapy, live-in caregiving (as I am an international student), a handicapped accessible van and additional home modifications and assistive technology, all of which is not covered under insurance. That is why I'm reaching out to you guys. Even the smallest givings won't go unappreciated.

With your support I'm certain that I will make it through these trying times and I, in spite of my injury, can and will achieve my career goals!