Daniel Ellsey

Brainstormer, Educator/Teacher, Idea generator, Job-seeker, Musician, Performer, Single

I was born with Cerebral Palsy 34 years ago. My immediate family includes my grandmother, mother, three sisters, a brother-in-law and two nephews. My family means the world to me. I graduated from Mass Hospital School in Canton Massachusetts. I have no use of my arms and legs and I am unable to speak. For many years I would communicate by using a board with the alaphabet and many rows of words. People I would communicate with would point to a letter, a row and then the words to figure out what I was saying. Since my admission to Tewksbury Hospital 12 years ago the speech department has worked wlith me closely and I was taught to use the Vanguard Computer. This computer has all the information that I need to make my needs known and the ability for me to communicate with everyone. Because of the Vanguard Computer I am able to speak to 4th and 5th graders at a local school as to what it is like living with a disability. In addition I am involved in a program called Work Opportunities and I have had numerous job positions in the community. My last positon was working in a school with disabled children. I love listening to country music including owning hundreds of CD's, watching wrestling and following any and all criminal shows on television including Court TV. I have been involved in the Tewksbury Hospital theater program for several years now and I have enjoyed working with Tod Machover and his students at MIT with the Hyperscore program creating music compositions. One of my pieces is presently played on a local College radio station where I live.

Living life to it's fullest despite having a disability

Tod Machover professor at MIT (see profile) and several of his students have been working with me for several years assisting me with the Hyperscore Program enabling me to compose music.. Because of my love for music and my involvement with MIT I have been given the opportunity to play my music compositions in front of thousands of people at two different Conferences last year. Being a part of the TED Conference is a dream come true. I am so thankful for this opportunity and to everyone who assisted in getting me to California to attend and participate in this 2008 TED Conference.

Working with people, using computers, composing music and acting.