‘Just like my big brothers’: boy with cerebral palsy passes GCSEs with eye-tracking technology

Patrick McCabe, a 16-year-old with cerebral palsy, has achieved an extraordinary feat by passing his GCSEs using eye-tracking technology. This summer, the Macclesfield resident completed his exams in four months, which was made possible by the support of CandLE, an organization that assists students using AAC technology in education.

Patrick's journey has been marked by both triumphs and challenges. While he has made meaningful friendships and thrived in the mainstream school system, communication barriers and a lack of familiarity with his eye-tracking technology have posed difficulties. His headteacher, Ross Martland, acknowledges that inclusive education reforms are necessary, but funding limitations are a significant hurdle.

Throughout the exam process, which lasted from February to June, Patrick's determination and the expertise of his dedicated teaching assistants allowed him to demonstrate his knowledge even with the added time and effort required. The 30-mark questions could take up to six hours to complete, leaving Patrick exhausted and frustrated at times.

Despite these obstacles, Patrick remains optimistic about his future. After completing his A-levels in French, business, and media studies, he plans to pursue a degree in media at either Salford or Bournemouth universities. While he feels excited about the prospect of studying media, Patrick remains concerned about the potential additional barriers he might face in forming friendships due to his physical disability and reliance on eye-tracking technology.