He doesn’t even remember when he started volunteering at the Christina Sullivan Foundation (almost five years ago), but Anthony Catanzaro has always had a passion to help others. Recently he used his knowledge of 3D printing to provide adaptive controls for an esports athlete who was extremely excited to be able to drive a virtual race car using only his feet.
Beebo West hits the gas and steers with poise and grace while displaying the biggest smile you’ve ever seen. The 25-year-old video game enthusiast lights up with joy while participating in the Esports End of Summer Bash. “I really like video games,” exclaims West. “I love it,” he says of his new controller made specifically for his abilities.
“I found this idea on the internet,” explains Catanzaro, who found his passion for 3D printing and engineering while taking Career & Technical Education (CTE) courses at Ball High School. “It’s a hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) and it was originally designed for flight simulation.”
Today was the first day he met Beebo since there were not very many in-person gatherings during the height of the pandemic, but he knew what abilities Beebo had and adjusted his design accordingly.
“He has no arms, but he does have a good range of motion with his legs,” says Catanzaro. “I have seen images of Microsoft’s adaptive controller, so I modeled it after that and with my own printer I can modify the design to make whatever a specific person would need.”
“Because Anthony is compassionate and kind, I think he’s unlimited with what he can do with his engineering skills in the service of others,” beams Josephine Sullivan. She founded the Christina Sullivan Foundation, which helps facilitate a healthy and active lifestyle for children and adults with and without intellectual and physical challenges to provide inclusion in Sports, Education, Research and Life.
Catanzaro was introduced to the organization when he was a freshman tennis player and his Ball High team came to teach tennis to the athletes. Now he helps them out in ways well beyond tennis.
“I like helping others,” says Catanzaro. “I like seeing them experience new things and being there to experience it with them.”
Anthony is heading to Texas A&M in College Station this fall to pursue a mechanical engineering degree, but says he still wants to help out at the Foundation whenever he can.
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