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When Stevens visits, however, she isn't reading out loud the way you might expect. Instead, she visits the classrooms and reads a book to each class using her Tobii Communication Device.
The device speaks for Lauren by reading Stevens' eye movements. Her teacher Brittany Wainacht and aide Piper Garner accompany Lauren, helping her answer questions through Tobii, including what she likes to do and if she has brothers and sisters.
Stevens was born with a disability called Rett syndrome, a postnatal neurological disorder that causes her to be nonverbal and require assistance to walk. She has learned effectively how to get her point across by talking with her eyes and facial expressions as well as through her Tobii Communication Device.
Visiting Holly Pond School is part of a transition program to help Stevens decide what to do after high school. She read to the ELP classes in Darien last summer and learned that she enjoys doing something for someone, since so many people do things to help her. She indicates that most likely her future career will involve teaching or helping others in some way.
Stevens takes classes at Darien High School, which include applied math and Earth science classes as well as music class.
Stevens hasn't let her disability get in the way of her enjoying activities such as skiing, snorkeling, fishing, horseback riding and even ziplining.
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