Easter Seals Disability Services

Trevor

In his first summer as an Easter Seals camper, Trevor Bynum, who is deaf, relied on teen leader Jesse Ascioti to be his American Sign Language interpreter.

Two summers later, Trevor passed along the favor.  Using his lip-reading skills, 15-year-old Trevor then a teen leader himself was the American Sign Language interpreter for a new camper and helped him adjust to camp life.

In his time at Easter Seals camp at Agassiz Village in Maine, Trevor’s independence has grown and he has become a fine role model for campers and teens with and without disabilities. Trevor works hard and is always willing to try new things.

He helps Agassiz Village campers learn American Sign Language, but Trevor has lots of ways to communicate.  “He likes talking with other people.  He can make himself understood with body motions and mimicking,” Jesse explained.  “He makes friends easily.”

With his easy-going personality and big grin, Trevor makes everyone he meets feel comfortable.  Both campers and his classmates want to be around him and respect what he has to say.

They also admire this tall, lanky teen’s athletic abilities.  Trevor loves to run and race with other kids at camp.  And he likes to wrestle and show off his ability to do back flips from a standing position, according to Jesse.

Trevor, 17, is a junior at East Longmeadow High School in a program run by the Willie Ross School for the Deaf.  He played basketball for Willie Ross, where he has a reputation as a great team player, and now plays football for Springfield’s Science and Technology High School.

Because of his outstanding leadership at camp and at school, Trevor recently was presented with the Camp Friendly’s Future Leader Award by Friendly’s Ice Cream Corporation.

“The campers absolutely love him,” Easter Seals Camp Manager Colleen Flanagan said.  “Trevor is a great addition to the Teen Leadership program.”

Trevor with Kirk, Easter Seals President & CEO