Hi All,
Apologies for any cross-posting…
I’m hoping that some innovative soul out there will be able to point
me in the direction of some desperately needed support for a friend –
this is NOT DSA related, as my friend is not a student, and I am
guessing that any funding required will have to be sourced privately,
most likely through a charity or similar.
An old school friend of mine has a particularly aggressive form of
Parkinson’s and has recently entirely lost the ability to speak; she
also has very poor vision, and the characteristic tremors and muscle
weakness associated with the condition. She is still able to use a
mouse and to read from a screen – though the text has to be enlarged
(16 pt I believe). Keyboard use is very much more difficult, and
frustrating, so even though she does have access to a computer it is of
little use in her current situation.
I am wondering if anyone out there might be able to come up with a
means to enable my friend to communicate, as at the moment she is
practically experiencing ‘locked-in’ syndrome. My initial thoughts
were of ‘sight-gaze’ or similar, but with her vision issues would
this be feasible? What would your thoughts be on text-to-speech via the
mouse and some sort of on-screen virtual keyboard?
I would also be interested to hear – off list please – from anyone
who has experience of supporting an adult with these sorts of issues. My
friend is living with her elderly parents and they are frankly not able
to cope. Another friend is in touch with the
Parkinson’s Society, so that side of things should be covered, but
can you suggest any local organisations or sources of support? I was
thinking of the usual: GP / the council / Social Services, etc., who
could be brought in to advise and assist.
Those of us who know this lady are keen to help her to improve what is
currently a truly dire quality of life - not so much ‘quality’ as
mere ‘quantity’…
Replies OFF LIST please, to [log in to unmask]
Regards
K
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Karen Farmer
DSA Needs Assessor
Disability Support
University of Bedfordshire
Park Square, Luton
LU1 3JU
Tel: 01582 74 3422
Internal ext: 3422
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