BOSTON -- A young man unable to move or talk who was thought to be mentally retarded has found a new way to express himself through cutting-edge technology.

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Michael Nash, 21, has severe cerebral palsy, which prevents him from talking, controlling his movements or feeding himself. But a technology called EagleEyes empowers him to learn and express himself through his eyes.

The Boston College Campus School, which provides educational programs to severely impaired students, introduced the Nash family to EagleEyes. Electrodes enable a computer to read Michael's eye movements, which then control the cursor, like fingers to a mouse.

Maureen Gates has been Michael's teacher and driver for eight years.

"When I first met Michael, he was over in a corner with kids functioning at three months. Interaction was limited. All of a sudden, we get this machine and Michael is able to show his humanity on the machine. There's a human being in there," Gates said.

Before Michael's mom heard about EagleEyes seven years ago, her son was believed to have the mental abilities of an 18-month-old. In fact, he was certified as retarded. But Kathy Nash knew there was a healthy mind inside, waiting to get out.

"He always had a spark, whatever we were showing him, whether reading a story to watching HBO and movies, he was fascinated. We knew there was intelligence there," she said.

So, the boy in a wheelchair who was once a spectator in life, not a participant, entered a mainstream classroom at age 12. This past spring he graduated with honors from Marshfield High School.

While in school he would spend half his days in Marshfield, and half at the Boston College Campus School, honing his EagleEyes skills with his teacher. Today he continues his studies, focusing on government and Spanish.

"Michael has finally entered into what we call human expression through the technology. He can express his ideas, his thoughts, maybe just through multiple choice, but it's better than what he was exposed to before," Boston College Campus School Dean Dr. Philip DiMattia said.

Michael's story is the first of a documentary series about disabled people called "I'm in Here."

One of Michael's favorite activities is spending time at the Boston College store, buying clothes, or anything with BC branded on it. His room at home is a shrine of sorts to the place that brought him out of darkness. But there's little doubt that if he could talk, the first person Michael would thank would be his biggest supporter -- his mom.

"We always thought that he was amazing, the blue eyes, the smile, the expressions that he gives you. He lights up the day. I'm very, very proud of him," she said.