Helping Hand

In 1st grade, Bryan Riley could walk. By 7th grade, Bryan had metal rods inserted in his spine for support. Now, in 9th grade, Bryan needs a power chair to get around.

Bryan Riley has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative genetic disease. While Bryan’s mobility continues to decrease, his passion for education and love for robotics grows. Bryan is a member of the FIRST Robotics Team at Spruce Mountain High School in Jay where teacher Rob Taylor says he thrives, competing recently with the school’s team at an event in Lewiston.

“Throughout all of this, Bryan has maintained a positive attitude and has continued to be the gifted student and wonderful friend that many in his school and community have come to know,” said Taylor. Taylor has been Bryan’s mentor since he entered school. When he struggled to walk, Taylor pushed a wheel chair behind him for support.

“There was no way in hell he was getting in that chair, he's the most independent guy,” said Taylor.

When Bryan missed a lot of school because of his illness, Taylor found an alternative way to get him the instruction he needed and craved.

“He’s made all the diff erence in the world,” said Bryan’s mom Tina of Taylor. “When you talk about kids reaching their potential, you need the right person to do that and Rob has been that person. Most kids in Bryan's situation fall through the cracks but Rob and his school picked him right up. They have been instrumental in making sure no barriers exist—they knock them down at every turn—Rob has been the leader the whole way,” said Tina Riley.

So, when Bryan lost most of his strength and mobility in his upper body, unable to even give a high-fi ve or a fi st pump, it was no surprise to anyone that teacher Rob Taylor stepped up again, and this time he brought his local association with him—the need now was far greater than before.

Bryan needed a new arm—a robotic one to do the work he could no longer bear to handle on his own. Paying for the arm, a JACO2 carbon fi ber arm that attaches to his wheel chair, would be a challenge—it cost $40,000. But, with Rob Taylor once again taking the lead, the RSU 73 Education Association didn’t disappoint Bryan.

RSU 73 EA kicked off the fundraising eff orts, starting raffl es, hosting spaghetti dinners and promoting a Crowdrise campaign to help pay for the arm. More than 70 donors in the community stepped forward and together everyone raised $15,000. Kinova Robotics, who manufactures the arm, then provided Bryan’s family with the contact information of donors who might fully fund the robotic arm. The fi nal donations came through just days before Bryan was set to compete with his high school team in a robotics competition.

“It is appropriate that a student with Bryan’s passion for robotics can have his life improved by this wonderful technology,” said Taylor.

At the competition, thanks to Bryan’s new arm, he was able to physically participate in the challenges which had the Spruce Mountain team create a robot of its own to lift and stack totes, inspiring his teammates.

“He's a huge part of our community and part of our program. He makes me realize we are all human; he is one of my best friends. I've known Bryan almost all my life and he's always been the same great kid, I don't see a disability,” said friend and classmate Austin Gilboe. And now Bryan can function beyond his disability, thanks to his arm which helps the 15-year-old maintain some independence.

“Things are more accessible now than they were before. I can push things—a handicapped button for a door and elevator buttons,” Bryan said as he demonstrated how the arm works. The arm can perform tasks far beyond pushing buttons; it has the ability to pick up items from almost any angle— even a raw egg without breaking it—the arm has a hand with two fi ngers and thumb coated with rubber. Bryan operates the arm with a joy stick controller on his wheelchair.

“It makes me feel really happy that people think I'm a really good person,” said Bryan in response to the outpouring of support.

As for Rob Taylor, who’s supported Bryan since he was 7, the happiness comes in the form of a new kind of high-fi ve and a new outlook on the future.

“Bryan is a wonderful kid. He got the arm installed and he has a perma-grin—he hasn't stopped smiling,” said Taylor.