Gaston County student receives statewide “Yes, I Can!” award

His teachers, family, and friends call him “Mr. Social.”  Now, they also can refer to him as a statewide award winner.

Timmy O’Shea is the recipient of the “Yes, I Can!” award that is presented by the North Carolina Council for Exceptional Children.  He is one of only five students chosen to receive the award for 2022-2023.  The other recipients are from Lincoln, Edgecombe, Wake, and Nash counties.

The recognition is intended to “honor children and youth who shine.”  O’Shea won the award in the independent living category.  Awards also are given in other categories such as self-advocacy, academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, community service, arts, employment, and technology.

“Timmy’s work, determination, and skills are amazing,” said Amber Radford, a special education teacher at Ashbrook High School.  While O’Shea is not one of Radford’s students during the regular school day, she has spent time working with him after school.  “The award is a great accomplishment, and we are very proud of Timmy.”

According to Radford, O’Shea has shown significant progress over the past several years.

“Timmy has grown so much with his independent life skills.  When I first began working with him, we concentrated on social greetings and how to use them appropriately in the community,” explained Radford.  “He has become a ‘social butterfly’ and uses the skills he has learned to greet people, and that is how he got his nickname, ‘Mr. Social."

In addition to learning how to interact with others socially, O’Shea knows how to complete his chores at home with independence.  “He has gone from needing a visual schedule to check off his tasks to doing them now intrinsically and demonstrating responsibility,” said Radford.

O’Shea’s progress with his social and independence skills has resulted in him getting involved in volunteer opportunities with the Special Olympics, Gaston College, and the Ronald McDonald House.  One of his favorite opportunities is volunteering at a local ice cream and coffee shop where he enjoys interacting with people.

“He has worked hard on becoming independent with making his own schedule and being responsible for keeping up with his chores, tasks, and homework and needing only minimal prompting from his teachers and other adults,” said Radford.  “This is a great improvement from the shy and prompt-dependent student who I first met in 2015.  It is wonderful to see how he can go about his day with independence.”

Radford said she is most proud of how O’Shea put his life skills to use when his grandfather faced a medical emergency.  “He called a family member when he was home alone with his grandpa and realized his grandpa needed help.  This was a skill he had practiced, and he was able to use it to help his grandpa in a time of need.”

O’Shea graduated from Stuart W. Cramer High School in 2021 and is in Gaston Links, a dual enrollment program offered by Gaston College and Gaston County Schools.  Gaston Links is a three-year transitional program for students between the ages of 18-22.  It helps students with developmental challenges transition from the public school system to college and the workforce.  

Gaston Links offers workforce development, continuing education, and certification courses that are taught by Gaston College instructors as well as career exploration and job preparation courses taught by exceptional children teachers in Gaston County Schools.  Over the three-year period, students receive training and support to gain permanent employment or volunteer positions in the community.  They also make friends with people of similar ages, work on communication, social, self-determination, and other skills, and develop interests in leisure and recreation activities.  Currently, there are 24 students from Gaston County Schools enrolled in Gaston Links.

The “Yes, I Can!” awards program began in 1981 as a way to celebrate the achievements of children and youth who have disabilities and encourage them to seek their highest potential.  The awards also are designed to increase public awareness of the abilities, aspirations, and personal qualities of people with special needs.

O’Shea will be honored at an awards ceremony where he will receive a plaque and plenty of accolades.  He beams with pride when someone mentions the award and congratulates him on winning.

“I am happy to get this award because I have worked hard,” said O’Shea.  “I am excited to see my friends when I get the award, and I love my family and friends.”

O’Shea’s father is proud of his son and the growth he has experienced.  He is grateful for the efforts of Radford and other teachers who have had a positive influence on Timmy’s life.

“Timmy has grown from a shy little kid to an outgoing and social young man,” said Tim O’Shea.  “He always keeps an optimistic approach to the activities he does and brightens every room he is in.  Timmy’s optimism has enabled him to push through and continuously try until he succeeds at whatever the task.  I am very proud of the independent young man he has become and look forward to everything the future holds for him.”