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Case studies at home
"I cannot imagine life without my computer – it’s a good friend and has made an enormous difference to my quality of life."
A nurse when she was diagnosed with MS in 1996, Laura soon began to lose her mobility and sight – a tremendous shock for the fiercely independent and active person she was. With the help of family and friends and the support of the MS Society and AbilityNet, Laura is now an enthusiastic computer-user with a zest for life that impresses all who meet her. In addition to undertaking a BSc Hons in Social Sciences and now an MSc in Social Research Methods, her new found friend enables her to access a whole range of other activities, from watching DVD´s and TV, to playing games and listening to music, as well as keeping in touch with an ever increasing number of friends across the globe.
An adapted PC with zoom text, an Intellkeys keyboard and voice recognition software means that she can focus on her potential, widen her horizons and look forward to completing her studies and working from home:
"At my computer I can forget my disabilities and concentrate solely on my capabilities – I can travel, shop and go to the cinema all in the same day – now that’s what I call progress" she says.
"It has made a terrific difference to our lives – our mobility problems used to make shopping a nightmarish experience."
Both in their seventies, Hazel and Geoffrey enjoy an active retirement.
Geoffrey is blind and so Hazel was the family ‘scribe’, until rheumatoid
arthritis made both writing and typing impossible.
With AbilityNet´s advice, they have acquired a computer specially adapted to meet their differing requirements – a screen reading system with voice output and a scanner enable Geoffrey to ‘read’ his own mail and listen to his favourite magazines, whilst voice recognition software allows Hazel to write ‘hands free’ as well as indulge her passion for art and design. And a trip to the supermarket is hassle free!
"Having an adapted computer is opening up Luke´s world"
Luke is nine years old and as a result of macrogyria – a genetic condition – he is quadriplegic and has no speech. Following AbilityNet´s recommendations, he is now benefiting enormously from having a computer at home, much to the delight of his mum, Jane.
A touch screen and a large switch enable him to access specialist software
and scanned images and as a result he is learning new concepts like colours,
numbers and sentence construction. The prospect of achieving effective
communication with others is becoming a reality – a widening of his horizons,
which would not have been possible without the right technological help.