Aggie alum with muscular dystrophy drives using modified car

COLLEGE STATION, TX — Kyle Cox is an Aggie alumnus, a latest Bush College of Authorities and Public Service graduate, and a licensed motorist.

Kyle was born with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which has created vital bodily setbacks for him. However, because of funding from the Texas Workforce Fee, he’s been in a position to purchase customization for his automotive, which permits him the independence he must drive to work.

“I’ve numerous entry to individuals within the incapacity neighborhood,” mentioned Kyle’s mom Kristen Cox. “I discovered that in case you want a car so you’ll be able to work, or be ready to work, the TWC will enable you get that car.”

This automotive permits Kyle to drive to church, work at his household’s expertise enterprise on the Texas A&M campus, and journey to conferences for the enterprise Kyle goals to start out.

Utilizing his grasp’s diploma in public service and administration, Kyle is forming a consulting firm that can work with companies on topics like incapacity coverage.

“Having this enterprise, I’ve to journey lots to fulfill with individuals and potential shoppers, so, having that automotive helps with transferring my enterprise ahead,” Kyle defined.

Kyle didn’t merely hop within the modified automotive and take off when he first acquired it in August 2019. The car needed to be examined for security by specialists, and Kyle spent weeks of coaching making certain he may function it safely. Now, he is in a position to navigate long-distance journeys in addition to brief excursions.

“I simply took a solo highway journey a number of months in the past to Austin for the primary time, to go to the capitol,” Kyle mentioned. “That was the primary time I bought to drive there on my own. I’ve pushed to Dallas and Houston, in fact with different individuals within the automotive. However I’ve even pushed so far as El Paso.”

The scenario isn’t with out its challenges, although. The automotive system has malfunctioned and left Kyle stranded earlier than. The truth is, he was solely simply returned the automotive on Wednesday, after a month of repairs had been performed in Houston. And, for the reason that driving system’s designer lives in Switzerland, troubleshooting issues may be exhausting.

“We now have the cellphone of that man, if he solutions it,” Kristen Cox said. “There’s no after-hours emergency [service], no wheelchair taxi in School Station that may choose him up.”

The Coxes say they’d prefer to see native distributors who service such a system. Nonetheless, they’re grateful for this development in expertise, and are hopeful that engineers, comparable to these at Texas A&M, may be capable to develop much more up to date choices. In any case, something is feasible for the Coxes!

“Ten years in the past, we didn’t suppose Kyle could be alive,” Kristen mentioned. “We had been advised he would dwell to be 20. He’s 25! 5 years in the past, I had in all probability heard about [the car modification], however I couldn’t image him driving. However as soon as I discovered it was potential for him, I used to be on a mission.”

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