Atwater resident with cerebral palsy completes college degree

Physical limitations can make pursuing education difficult, but not impossible.

Atwater resident Chris Cox is an example.

Cox, 28, has cerebral palsy, a congenital disorder that affects the nervous system. He has struggled with verbal communication his entire life, and interacting with teachers and fellow students has not always been easy.

But for Cox this has been just another hurdle he has overcome.

He received his associate’s degree from Merced College in 2011, and recently completed a bachelor’s program in IT Management at Western Governors University, an online nonprofit university.

Out of thousands of graduates, Cox was chosen to deliver a speech at WGU’s upcoming commencement ceremony Saturday in Salt Lake City. One of his mentors will help deliver his speech. He hopes the more than 1,000 people expected to attend hear his heartfelt message.

“People have misconceptions (of people with disabilities),” Cox typed on his desktop Friday. “They only see the outside, the physical, not the inside or the dedication.

“By doing this graduation speech, more people will know me for who I am.”

He said he dedicates this accomplishment to his dad, who passed away last year.

Next weekend, his grandmother, aunt and uncle will join him at his graduation ceremony.

“My grandma is really proud,” he said.

Although most of his family lives in Stevinson, where he was born and raised, Cox said he wanted to be independent and decided to move to Atwater in 2013. Internet access also happens to be a lot better in that area, he said half jokingly.

Cox shared that he spent most of his high school years researching career options. His dream, he said, was to become a marine mammal trainer, but found that his disability made that an unrealistic goal. Information technology was the alternative choice, and one he finds great joy in.

“I built that,” Cox said, pointing at his computer tower inside his apartment.

Above his computer also hang framed awards and certificates, most recognizing his excellence in computer technology. Cox said he is actively searching for a job in systems and network administration or remote technical support.

For people who know Cox, his accomplishments are no surprise.

Debi Swarts, a counselor at Merced College, worked with Cox through the Disabled Students Program and Services on campus. They still keep in contact, and Cox recently shared news of his diploma with Swarts.

Cox worked with students at the college’s tutorial center for several years. Swarts said Cox was always a great help with computers.

“It’s a blessing to see that those with challenges can excel above and beyond expectations,” Swarts said. “He never allowed his disability to interfere with his long-range goal.”

She believes it’s a great disposition and determination that got Cox this far.

Cox agrees.

“I have a common type of disability where it takes a longer time to complete a task, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t care about ourselves nor should people categorize us any differently,” he said. “We try our best and go get it done.”

If people take anything from his story, he said, he’d want them to feel inspired to pursue their dreams.

“If I can do it,” he said, “so can they.”

This story was originally published August 9, 2015 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Atwater resident with cerebral palsy completes college degree."