I don’t subscribe to the notion that there’s a ‘best’ device when it comes to assistive technology – depends on the user, task, situation, size of your pockets etc. In this case one would ask things like

  • which hand?
  • How much wrist/arm movement?
  • What’s their finger dexterity like?
  • What for – e.g. does it need to be portable?
  • Mouse control via the keyboard?

 

There’s a few items to look at on the attached sheet.

 

The Cr8txt mobile phone keyboard is another option http://www.cre8txt.com/

 

As well as the AT suppliers like Inclusive and Keytools we buy stuff from http://www.keyboardco.com/ who are often cheaper and have a huge range of keyboards.

 

Some of the suppliers to sale or return to try some before they buy.

 

Paul

 

_______________________________________________

Paul D. Nisbet

Senior Research Fellow

Communication, Access, Literacy and Learning (CALL) Scotland

Moray House School of Education

University of Edinburgh

Paterson's Land, Holyrood Road

Edinburgh EH8 8AQ

Tel. 0131 651 6236     Fax 0131 651 6234

email [log in to unmask]

 

CALL Scotland:    http://www.callscotland.org.uk

SQA Digital Exam Papers: http://www.AdaptedDigitalExams.org.uk

The Scottish Computer Voice: http://www.theScottishVoice.org.uk 

Books for All:    http://www.booksforall.org.uk  

Books for All blog: http://pauln.edublogs.org/

WordTalk reader for Word: http://www.wordtalk.org.uk

 

The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.

_________________________________________________

 

From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Seale J.K.
Sent: 23 April 2009 13:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: 1 handed keyboards

 

Colleagues, as I'm a bit out of date with recent AT developments these days, iId really appreciate your help with a query I have received from a paediatric OT working in a school with 2 children who have malformations of an upper limb- he would like to reccommend that they use a one-handed-keyboard and has the go ahead to buy one, but before he does would like to know what is the "best" one to get.

 

Any advice much appreciated.

 

regards

Jane Seale

 

--------------------------------------------
Jane K Seale Phd, 02380 594784. [log in to unmask]     http://janekseale.blogspot.com/
Senior Lecturer in Educational Innovation in Higher Education, University of Southampton
Co-director of National centre for Research Methods: http://www.ncrm.ac.uk/
Member of LEXDIS Project team exploring disabled learners experiences of technology: http://www.lexdis.ecs.soton.ac.uk/project/media/LEXDIS_ProjectReport_Dec08final.doc
Co-editor of "Understanding and promoting access for people with learning difficulties: seeing the opportunities and challenges of risk". due for publication in July 2009 by Routledge