In the heart of the DeSoto Occupation/Vocation Educational (DOVE) Program, there is a storyteller whose voice doesn’t echo through the room in the traditional sense—yet it fills the space with clarity, humor, and uncommon courage. Her name is Morgan, and she is reshaping what it means to communicate, to lead, and to be truly seen.
Most people notice the wheelchair first. Morgan’s teachers will tell you, gently but firmly, that those people don’t know her yet. “She is so much more than that,” said Morgan’s paraprofessional, Sonya Dearman. “She is very observant and has an unbelievable memory. She keeps this all inside and then will type a detailed description of what happened.”
What Morgan holds inside—and brings forward with the help of her speech-generating device (SGD)—has become the heartbeat of the DOVE classroom.
A Voice Emerges Through Technology
Morgan was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a very young age which affects her speech and motor abilities. Communication for Morgan requires intention, strategy, and often extraordinary physical effort. But where others see limits, Morgan sees opportunity.
She learned to use high-tech AAC tools at the age of three, moving through several devices over the years. Her current SGD includes switch-activated scanning and even eye-tracking technology, allowing her to express thoughts with growing independence. That independence—teachers say—is opening doors academically, socially, and emotionally.
“With her device, Morgan is communicating her needs, preferences, and ideas with much more confidence,” said DOVE Transition Specialist, Charlie Pate. “She’s becoming quicker and more intentional. She understands how to make herself heard.”
Ms. Dearman, a longtime educator, who first met Morgan in kindergarten and now works alongside her as a paraeducator, added, “She loves writing stories, and will choose doing that over anything else. She makes her choices known. She makes her voice heard.”
Her voice isn’t just growing—it’s blossoming.
The Birth of a Student Storyteller
Inside the DOVE classroom, students take part in projects, field experiences, and real-world learning. But until recently, there was no one capturing those moments—no one telling the world what these students were doing, creating, and accomplishing.
Then Morgan began to write.
What started as a simple classroom idea quickly became something bigger: The DOVE Dispatch, a student-led publication where Morgan documents class activities, highlights her peers’ successes, and shares stories that would otherwise go untold.
“These stories are 100% Morgan-led,” Ms. Dearman explained. “She comes up with the ideas and reports what the classroom has been doing. When she publishes an article, students get to relive the fun activities they’ve done. The things they have done become more important in their eyes, because others can see what they are doing.”
Morgan isn’t just writing stories—She’s building connection, meaning, and pride.
Check out Morgan's work she is producing and sharing with her peers using her SGD:
Perseverance in Every Keystroke
Morgan’s determination is one of the first things her teachers mention.
“It takes her twice as long to type what she wants to say,” Ms. Dearman shared, “but she keeps working. Many others would have given up, but not Morgan.”
Some days, she types so long that her hand reddens from pressing the device switch repeatedly.
When asked whether she needs a break, she often responds—through her device—“No.” She will keep writing until she is finished.
Her resilience inspires everyone around her.
Shaping Culture Through Kindness, Humor, and Heart
Beyond her writing, Morgan’s greatest strength might be the way she makes people feel.
“Morgan brings patience, kindness, and a strong desire to connect with others,” Mr. Pate mentions. “Her presence helps build a sense of community among her peers.”
She listens closely. She remembers everything. And she loves a good joke.
“She has a wicked sense of humor,” Ms. Dearman laughed. “She hears a funny comment, then responds on her device. She keeps us all laughing.”
In a classroom built on a positive and caring culture, Morgan doesn’t just contribute— she strengthens it.
A World Without Limits
Morgan’s story reflects the mission of the DOVE program: individualized support, high expectations, and deep belief in every student’s potential.
Mrs. Jennifer Parker, Assistive Technology Coordinator, says that AAC devices—like Morgan’s—are transformative tools that “move students past barriers created by physical speech difficulties” and build “social inclusion and self-advocacy.”
Through careful assessment, tool trials, and data-driven selection, DOVE gives students the right equipment to express themselves meaningfully. As one team member explained, AAC isn’t just about communication—it’s about opening doors to independence, leadership, and opportunity.
And Morgan goes beyond those limits.
Looking Ahead: A Future Written in Her Words
Her teachers are unanimous about one thing: Morgan is a writer.
“My hope is that she continues writing,” Ms. Dearman expressed. “She writes great short stories, and I hope to see her continue.”
The DOVE team believes Morgan’s voice will only grow stronger, her role only more influential, and her impact on the program—and the community—only more profound.
Morgan’s presence illustrates what the program truly stands for: compassion, individualized support, and high expectations for every student.
Morgan is not defined by her challenges. She is defined by her courage, her creativity, her memory, her humor, her commitment, and her voice—a voice amplified through technology, sharpened by experience, and strengthened by positive and caring culture.
She is not just part of the DOVE story. She is writing it.
