[ecpioneer]

I am looking for advice on what computer equipment is available for a quad who can move hands but cannot type (no refined finger movement). Can anyone help.
Email me please at steve.t1hero.com

[Bob Clark]

Hi Ecpioneer,

Some quads type with their knuckles or use a mouthstick etc. And some use voice activation/recognition software and speak into a microphone and the computer will type it out. Every function on the computer can be controlled by voice from start up to shut down. And the computer can be used to activate things around the house like electric beds, curtains, doors, TVs, telephones etc. The newer voice activation/recognition programs work surprisingly well after a good voice profile is made. It may take some practice to learn how to do it and get the software finely tweaked but it can be done.

Check out this thread for more information and links.

You may want to contact your state's Vocational Rehabilitation Service and ask them about equipment and training. There's a list of all the Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the US listed by state at the above link.

Good luck.

This post has been edited by Bob Clark: 25 November 2005 - 06:49 AM

[Apparelyzed]

Hi ecpioneer,

I'm a C5/6 quad, and as you can see, I use a computer!

It's not really the computer which is important to quad's, but the input devices you use to communicate with the computer.

I run an Apple Mac, and have never had any problems with it. I use a typing stick velcro'd to my hand so I can type. I have also replaced the mouse with a Kensington Turbomouse, which is basically a tracker ball.

Those are the only pieces of "adaptive equipment" I use on my computer.

The operating system on a Mac also has a few disabled access features built in so you don't have to use two hands when wanting to type characters such as !@£$%^&*(.

You can see my setup below.

Regards

Simon.

[Simon]

Simon
Glad to hear you're a mac user, so am I. The accessibilityy controls are exccellent on the Apple Mac and we don't have the virus issues pc users do.
I use a mouthstick to type as I'm c4 complete and have no arm movement. Have tried voice rec 3 times now and just get frustrated by it. I can type this much faster with my mouthstick.
I to use a Kensington Turbo Mouse they are the best trackball as the size of the ball make moving the cursor much easier, plus you can program the keys on it to jump to things quickly.
My advice would be buy and Apple mac, you will have much fewer, if any probs with it. Get the Applecare warrabtyy too just in case.

[Apparelyzed]

Hi Gary,

Well I'm a C5/6, so I can move my arms but have no finger function. I rest my hand on the ball, and very small movements in my arm will be sufficient to move the ball. As I have the sensitivity of the ball turned up, I only have to make small movements to move the cursor from one side of the screen to the other.

I can press the button with my thumb by twisting my wrist, or use the whole of my wrist to press the buttons.

Hope that makes sense!

Simon.

[Simon]

If you mean me (another Simon), Use a mouthstick which has a pencil rubber on the end to control the ball

[Simon]

Normally you can attach a strap to a hand and that holds the cutlery or the fengerrs maybe curled enoughh to grip a fok/spoon with an extra wide grip on it. He may need food cutting up for him as he may not be strong enough to cut it.

[AHolland]

To further the question on computer use. I spent a long time in a group home where everyone was disabled. One person had a severely enlarged keyboard that he could type with, although he could not move his fingers. Another lady, who could only move from the chin up, had a rf headset whereby she could move her head to operate her computer. If I can ever get off my butt and take some pictures, I will post them as examples. I am just in the process of getting a Kensington Trackball for one Quad who has no finger movement. He can move his arm and tap the keys. It is the "expert" mouse as follows

http://us.kensington.../html/2200.html