Cadet training
Students prepare to become officers and leaders
A local shop offers a tactile experience in a digital age Making a business of love
Wendy Strgar works to change society's view of intimacy Slow and steady wins this race
Developmental delays are no match for Tegan Wright Celebrating Spielberg
The English Department showcases the director's work A celebration of culture
The Elmira Pow-Wow honors veterans, elders and diversity A fresh approach to cocktails
It's the ingredients at Bel Ami Lounge From Quito to Eugene
A student's journey from the Universidad to the University Death Saddle
Three students try a new sound in a new band Behind the scenes
What goes on to make the show go on at the EMU Baseball is back
The sport returns to the university after 28 years Thompson's Mills
The oldest water-powered grain mill in the state A chance to shine
Intramural basketball provides an equal opportunity Lessons in teamwork
YMCA youth basketball molds future athletes Making the right call
Students find that officiating isn't as easy as it looks A soccer tradition
Local players get together to keep the game alive
Slow but steady wins the race
Tegan Wright's developmental delays don't stop him from leading an enriching life
By Amanda MilesTegan Wright can barely crawl. He can't walk without the aid of a walker. He cries, laughs and smiles; he can shake his head "yes" and "no," and knows some sign language, but otherwise has limited verbal skills. He has hypotonia, which means his muscle tone is low. His diet consists of vegetables, fruit, nuts and meat, but no dairy or grains, to help ease digestive problems.
Tegan will turn 4 in March. He may be a child with developmental delays, but that isn't stopping him from getting the most out of life.
His mother, Teri Sue, 39, is a Eugene veterinarian with a holistic emphasis. She specializes in nutrition and end-of-life issues, and runs her practice, My Home Vet, out of her home, making house calls on her dog and cat patients.
Teri Sue constantly looks for ways to help Tegan progress.
Tegan attends preschool through the Early Education Program, a nonprofit organization with sites throughout Lane County. Most of his classmates also have some sort of special needs, although a few are "on track" developmentally.
At EEP, Tegan gets to engage in group activities, books, play stations, songs and work on skills like potty training.
He utilizes the services of a physical therapist, Jody Oakerson, through EC Cares to help address his physical needs. EC Cares is an early intervention program run by the University of Oregon that offers special education services.
Tegan also gets to experience the healing human-animal bond through a nonprofit organization called RideAble. Based outside Springfield near Marcola, RideAble gives horsemanship opportunities to people with developmental disabilities.
Twice a month except for a few weeks during the holiday season, Tegan goes on a 30-minute riding lesson with Reddi, a 17-year-old sorrel Icelandic horse. One volunteer leads Reddi, while two spotters walk at Tegan's sides to make sure he stays on.
Teri Sue's ultimate goal for Tegan is the same as any parent has for her child: to grow up to be a self-sustaining adult, to the fullest extent possible. She wants him to have more communication and mobility skills and could picture him being able to walk with walking sticks one day. She also hopes he will be able to work when he gets older.
"His contribution is somewhere," she said. "I just don't know where it is."