Jaiden Picot, who was paralyzed in 2024 after a truck struck him, never envisioned that video of him just recently strolling throughout Virginia Union University (VUU)’s graduation phase in a futuristic robotic suit would go viral.But given that it did
, he states he wants the world to know that he plans to invest his expert profession trying to help make the place more accessible to people who– like him– use a wheelchair to get around.
“I understand I missed out on a great deal of going out with my good friends” after being disabled, he said in an interview with the Guardian. “I was not able to enter specific dining establishments, particular events, even if they don’t have a ramp for me to get in. And I feel like altering that’s very essential due to the fact that it’s a huge neighborhood out there of us who want to get in locations everybody else does.
“Even if we might have gone through something awful, it does not indicate … our life needs to be so hard after that.”
Virginia trainee paralysed by truck collision graduates in robotic match– video Picot, 23 and a local of Portsmouth, Virginia, was riding an electric scooter in August 2024 when a freight truck struck him. The impact caused a spine injury at Picot’s 4th cervical vertebra, immobilizing him from the chest down.He didn’t mince words when talking about the nature of the injury that has required him to live with paraplegia.
“My life has been so difficult since that day,” Picot stated. Remembering day-to-day exercises and regular social adventures, he included, “I was an independent person before my mishap.”
Picot dedicated himself to getting back as much of that independence. He began participating in rehab at Sheltering Arms Institute in Richmond, Virginia, practicing self-care tasks, strolling inside what are called robotic exoskeletons, and driving his power wheelchair, as his caretakers there recounted in a December 2024 news release.He likewise started mastering voice-controlled gadgets to operate his tv; set alarms and pointers; and play music, games or sleep noises in his room at the institute.Meanwhile, Picot completed his bachelor’s degree at VUU in Richmond on time in the spring of 2025. He right away embarked on his graduate research studies and earned an executive master’s in organization administration.Picot’s mother, his girlfriend and 2 of his rehabilitation therapists were amongst his supporters at his commencement event on 9 May.In a moment from the graduation that attained digital virality, Picot wore one of the robotic exoskeletons with which he had trained walking in at Safeguarding Arms Institute. And with his two therapists assisting him, Picot walked throughout the ritualistic stage to get his degree, with the exoskeleton reacting essentially to his swaying, as he put it.”Oh, wow– I did it, “he informed a cheering audience while on the stage.”My life– it took a really, truly huge turn. I might have quickly put myself in a closet, gave up on life, however I decided not to let my situation control and stop me from attaining my goals.” Picot later invoked the name of a sci-fi film franchise about fighting robotic factions to describe the exoskeleton, saying,
“I like to call it a big Transformers fit.”Video of Picot’s stage walk and the wild applause it warranted spread quickly on social networks along with across news platforms. A
reaction that was typical of the discussion motivated by the footage of Picot and news coverage of his story can be found in an X post from nationally renowned civil liberties lawyer Ben Crump, who composed in part: “POWERFUL strength in the face of misfortune!”A statement from VUU– a historically Black university– concurrently hailed Picot as “a testimony to what is possible when purpose meets preparation “. Yet none of that is to say Picot has been spared considerable impediments as he adjusted to life among the approximated 300,000 or so people in the United States who are
coping with traumatic spinal cord injuries, the vast majority of which lead to paraplegia or quadriplegia.Though the federal Americans With Disabilities Act has needed affordable accessibility accommodations for companies serving the general public considering that 1990, Picot explained how calling ahead to dining establishments and event venues to make sure there is a ramp and sufficient area for his wheelchair has been a truth of life.He stated he had actually been not able to attend events at places where there is neither. Picot stated he had found out”it’s plenty “where that is the case.Picot and his family additionally have actually been soliciting financial
support online for an accessible van that they state would make it simpler and safer for him to get to and from his day-to-day activities and commitments.Asked what he pictures for his budding expert profession, Picot stated he wants to combine pursuing a name for himself in property with reducing at least a few of the accessibility issues which he has actually come across. He stated he prepared to look for conferences with his state
‘s civic leaders over the concern to get started.”I’m trying to grab the stars and assist us get to a point where every place has some type of lodging for wheelchair-using people,” Picot said.”I’m mentally ready to reach my objectives and likewise supporter for people like myself.”