Man With Cerebral Palsy Hopes GoFundMe Campaign Will Help Him Find His Voice
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – It's rare to sit down and talk with someone who can't say a word. But spending just a little time with Richard McClintic and you'll hear his message loud and clear.
This 48-year-old Sacramento man who's had cerebral palsy since childhood has never been able to speak.
He's on a quest to find his voice.
"What is your favorite food to eat?" we ask.
"Mexican," McClintic replies.
Richard communicates by pointing to letters and numbers on sheets of paper attached to a clipboard. Or, when it's working, he types what he's trying to convey using an outdated speech machine.
It's often tough to make out what he's saying. That's why it's easy to understand his desire for something that will change his life – a new speaking device.
So, he's started a GoFundMe campaign to raise the $5,000 needed.
A smaller, more durable speech machine – his aide Christina Cowens points out – would smooth out the painful process of trying to communicate.
"What happens is once his disability kind of flares up … it knocks his machine out of his lap," Cowens said. "Because the screen is so sensitive, a lot of times that's the first thing to go."
As he goes on his scooter, Richard's aide says he would also be able to take the smaller device with him more easily.
"I was gonna walk with him but he's quick, you gotta slow speed on that?" Cowens said.
Richard attends classes at American River College, and having a two-way screen – an added feature in the newer system – would be crucial.
"What would you say to people who see this and say, 'You know what? I'm gonna help this guy out?'" we ask.
Richard's aide interprets what his outdated machine tries to convey.
"I will appreciate them, yes."
If you'd like to help Richard, a link to his GoFundMe can be found here: http://www.gofundme.com/qggextc.
