Osiel Mendoza has spent six years communicating through eye movements and assistive technology. What he's built in that time (a lasting scholarship, a restored digital voice, and a home he runs with his eyes) is nothing short of remarkable.
Osiel Mendoza doesn't take a single day for granted. After nine years with ALS, each morning still brings its own set of physical challenges: exhaustion, limited mobility, the painstaking work of communicating through an eye-gaze device one letter, one word at a time. Six years ago, he lost the ability to speak. And yet, by almost any measure, Osiel has never been louder.
A Scholarship Born from Love
Five years ago, Osiel's hometown community did something extraordinary: they created a scholarship in his honor, awarded each spring to graduating seniors from the high school he once attended. What began as an act of love has grown into an annual tradition, one that gives Osiel a platform to share his story, raise awareness about ALS, and inspire the next generation of students as they step into college and their careers.
Every May, Osiel shows up. Despite the daily health struggles that come with his diagnosis, he is present, bearing witness to young people whose futures stretch out before them, knowing that his story has played some role in shaping theirs. It is, by his own account, one of the greatest highlights of his year. A local news segment on KTVU captured the scholarship celebration and the community spirit that surrounds it.
A Voice, Restored
Earlier this year, Osiel was presented with an opportunity that would have seemed unimaginable just a few years ago. Through a partnership between the San Francisco Giants and ElevenLabs, a leader in AI voice technology, Osiel was given the chance to reclaim something ALS had taken from him: his own voice.
Using recordings made before his diagnosis, ElevenLabs reconstructed a digital voice that sounds like Osiel: his cadence, his tone, his presence. For the first time in six years, he can communicate in a voice that is unmistakably his own.
Independence, One Click at a Time
Osiel's voice isn't the only technology changing his days. Over time, he has built a smart home that lets him take part in daily life on his own terms, with Ring cameras and doorbell, a Kwikset smart lock, a Google Nest thermostat, Samsung smart appliances, a Dreame robot vacuum and air purifier, and Starlink WiFi tying it all together.
The result is independence, and, just as important to him, the feeling of being helpful to his family and caregivers. With his eyes, Osiel can:
Vacuum and mop the entire house with a couple of clicks
Adjust the thermostat the moment someone says they're too hot or cold
Start the laundry or dishwasher and preheat the oven
Check what's in the refrigerator and reorder what's running low
See who's at the door, let his family or caregiver know if it's safe to answer, and lock or unlock the door
Track when caregivers arrive and leave, and send them exact times to simplify their timesheets
"In the past 9 years that I've had ALS and the past 6 years that I've been living with quadriplegia, I've never felt more independent, involved, and helpful than I do now."
Osiel Mendoza
His advice to others living with quadriplegia is simple: think about where you want more independence, or how you want to be more involved and helpful at home, then research the smart products that can get you there. Financial help exists, too, including home modification and quality-of-life grants that can make a significant difference. And above all, he says, focus on what you can do and control, not what you can't. That mindset has changed how able he feels in nearly every part of his life.
Why Osiel Matters to InSpirit
At InSpirit, we exist to support people like Osiel: individuals who face profound challenges and meet them with grace, determination, and an insistence on living fully. His story is not one of limitation. It is one of persistence, of community, and of what becomes possible when people refuse to give up on each other, and when the right tools and support are within reach.
We are honored to count him among our recipients, and we invite you to watch his KTVU feature and learn more about the scholarship that continues to carry his legacy forward.
https://www.ktvu.com/video/fmc-5qvdnou80wrczfd7