Jaiden Picot, who was disabled in 2024 after a truck hit him, never imagined that video of him recently strolling across Virginia Union University (VUU)’s graduation stage in a futuristic robotic suit would go viral.But because it did
, he says he wants the world to know that he intends to invest his expert career trying to assist make the location more accessible to individuals who– like him– use a wheelchair to get around.
“I know I missed out on a lot of going out with my buddies” after being incapacitated, he said in an interview with the Guardian. “I was not able to get into particular dining establishments, specific occasions, just because they do not have a ramp for me to get in. And I seem like changing that’s extremely important since it’s a big neighborhood out there of us who want to get in places everybody else does.
“Even if we might have gone through something terrible, it doesn’t imply … our life needs to be so hard after that.”
Virginia trainee paralysed by truck crash graduates in robotic match– video Picot, 23 and a local of Portsmouth, Virginia, was riding an electrical scooter in August 2024 when a cargo truck struck him. The impact inflicted a spine injury at Picot’s fourth cervical vertebra, disabling him from the chest down.He didn’t mince words when talking about the nature of the injury that has required him to deal with paraplegia.
“My life has actually been so tough ever since that day,” Picot stated. Remembering daily workouts and regular social trips, he added, “I was an independent person before my accident.”
Picot dedicated himself to acquiring back as much of that independence. He began participating in rehab at Sheltering Arms Institute in Richmond, Virginia, practicing self-care jobs, strolling inside what are known as robotic exoskeletons, and driving his power wheelchair, as his caretakers there recounted in a December 2024 news release.He also started mastering voice-controlled devices to operate his tv; set alarms and suggestions; 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 immediately started his graduate research studies and made an executive master’s in company administration.Picot’s mom, his sweetheart and two of his rehabilitation therapists were amongst his supporters at his beginning ceremony on 9 May.In a moment from the graduation that achieved digital virality, Picot put on among the robotic exoskeletons with which he had trained walking in at Safeguarding Arms Institute. And with his 2 therapists helping him, Picot walked across the ritualistic phase to get his degree, with the exoskeleton responding 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 truly, really huge turn. I could have quickly put myself in a closet, gave up on life, however I chose not to let my scenario control and stop me from attaining my goals.” Picot later invoked the name of a sci-fi movie franchise about fighting robotic factions to describe the exoskeleton, saying,
“I like to call it a huge Transformers match.”Video of Picot’s phase walk and the wild applause it merited spread quickly on social networks in addition to across news platforms. A
response that was common of the discussion inspired by the video of Picot and news protection of his story can be found in an X post from nationally renowned civil liberties lawyer Ben Crump, who wrote in part: “POWERFUL resilience in the face of adversity!”A statement from VUU– a traditionally Black university– concurrently hailed Picot as “a testimony to what is possible when function satisfies preparation “. Yet none of that is to say Picot has been spared considerable obstacles as he adjusted to life amongst the approximated 300,000 approximately people in the United States who are
dealing with traumatic spine injuries, the huge majority of which result in paraplegia or quadriplegia.Though the federal Americans With Disabilities Act has actually needed sensible availability accommodations for organizations serving the public given that 1990, Picot explained how calling ahead to restaurants and occasion places to guarantee there is a ramp and enough area for his wheelchair has actually been a reality of life.He said he had actually been not able to go to events at locations where there is neither. Picot said he had actually found out”it’s plenty “where that is the case.Picot and his family additionally have been obtaining financial
assistance 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 imagines for his budding professional profession, Picot said he wishes to integrate pursuing a name for himself in real estate with easing at least some of the ease of access issues which he has actually encountered. He stated he planned to look for meetings with his state
‘s civic leaders over the problem to begin.”I’m attempting 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 psychologically prepared to reach my goals and likewise advocate for individuals like myself.”