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Partially paralyzed 19-year-old sets goal to make his voice heard in 2020 election

This election day, plenty of people will be voting for the first time and for one teenager that will be the easy part.

News 12 Staff

Oct 3, 2020, 1:52 PM

Updated 1,523 days ago

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This election day, plenty of people will be voting for the first time and for one teenager that will be the easy part.
It was March of 2018 when Morris Heights native Aboubakar Konate collapsed while playing basketball. A brain hemorrhage and surgery after it left him partially paralyzed.
"It was really hard for him to just communicate basic wants and needs, to tell us what was going on, and now we're starting to notice this great personality. If you tell him he can't do something, he will show you that he can,” said language pathologist at Blythedale Children's Hospital Stephanie Sala.
Recently, the goal has been to make his voice heard in the upcoming election, something the 19-year-old took a big step toward on Friday -- officially registering to vote.
As part of his rehab at Blythedale Children's Hospital in Westchester, Konate has been educating himself by reading, writing and talking about what issues are most important to him, like health care.
Aboubakar has been so inspired by the experience, that he's recommending it now, telling other patients that are 18 years old that they should educate themselves and register as well.
He says he’s not sure if he’ll be voting by mail or in person yet, but he is sure that on Nov. 3, he will be voting.