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Dear Simon How good is this person's hand movement while laying in bed? If hand function is not sufficient, this eliminates a number of posssibilities. I believe that in general projecting an image on a screen mounted over his head or even at the ceiling above him is quite possible. I would recommend you discussing this with RNIB. There is a whole range of projection equipment and I am sur ethey could point you to the right direction. Another suggestion (if this person has no hand control) is computer control via eye movement by tobii. I hope this helps a little bit. Chris Christoforides www.recreo.gr On Feb 14, 2008 1:39 AM, Ian F. <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hi > Thanks. I should have clarified, I'm an assessor at an HE assessment > centre, > and I did his original assessment. His condition has deteriorated since I > saw him. I've specialised in identifying assistive tech aids for student > with complex physical disabilities for several years. I used to have the > luxury of having a very small, local client base that allowed me to visit > students with complex disabilities at home on several occassions during > the > assessment process - co-ordinating evaluations of equipment, working with > specialist suppliers and even getting local carpenters and IT bods > involved > in designing solutions that could be tweaked and adjusted on an on-going > basis. At the moment, I can't offer this level of support, as the numbers > of > students coming through for assessment makes it impossible. I was hoping > there might be a local, specialist assessment service capable of spending > time identifying custom solutions I could refer him to. > Ian > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Simon Judge" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 10:33 AM > Subject: Re: Advice please - spinal injury > > > > RE assessments - he should be entitled to an assessment through an HE > > assessment centre. > > > > http://www.nadp-uk.org/resources/links.php > > > > EA from emptech.info was also compiling a map of centres, but this > doesn't > > seem to be public yet (EA?). Also, http://www.techdis.ac.uk/ may be > able > > to help find an appropriate centre. > > > > > > Cheers. > > > > Simon > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals. > > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ian F. > > Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 10:23 PM > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: Advice please - spinal injury > > > > Hi > > Wonder if anyone can offer any advice. A student with a spinal injury > > contacted me today. He says he cannot attempt to sit and read or use a > > computer for even brief periods because of chronic pain, and that he is > > only > > comfortable when he is lying flat on his back, when there is "no > pressure > > on > > the spine". I don't have access to the details of his condition at this > > time. > > > > He asked for advice on aids that could allow him to read and undertake > > computer based coursework tasks while lying flat on his back. He thought > > some way of "projecting the pages of a book onto a screen over his head" > > might work. I made some basic suggestions he didn't think would help. In > > the > > end, I could only suggest some specialist equipment suppliers he could > > investigate and that he might want to contact AbilityNet or local > British > > Computer Society volunteers. > > > > The student studies at University of Essex and I think he could benefit > > from > > expertise I'm not able to offer. Is there a specialist assessment > service > > I > > can refer him to, or tell him to ask to be referred to by his GP or > Social > > Services, where he can try out potential aids and adaptations that allow > > him > > to use computer equipment and read in bed that take into account any > > medical > > implications of his condition, ideally in the London or Essex area? Any > > suggestions on how best to advise this student will be gratefully > > received. > > > > If necessary, I can approach his local education authority to pay for a > > specialist assessment. However, I'm concerned that the nature of the > > assessment might require involvement of medical specialists, which might > > not > > happen if a private assssment is arranged. It wasn't possible to explore > > his > > current treatment but I got the impression he is struggling to get > medical > > support that he's happy with, as he also asked if I knew of any > charities > > he > > could approach to pay for surgery. > > > > Maybe people know of a good spinal injuries organisation I can refer him > > to > > that can provide practical, realistic advice and support e.g. arranging > > appropriate treatment through the NHS, understanding why treatment isn't > > being offered, pursuing alternative options etc? > > > > Thanks in advance for any suggestions people come up with. > > > > Regards > > Ian Francis > > > > > > ********************************************************************** > > This message may contain confidential and privileged information. > > If you are not the intended recipient please accept our apologies. > > Please do not disclose, copy or distribute information in this e-mail > > or take any action in reliance on its contents: to do so is strictly > > prohibited and may be unlawful. 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