Introducing Isabel's New Laptop

Isabel has got herself a laptop. This latest acquisition is providing her with increased independence and the opportunity to learn yet again.

In early June, her Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) suggested that she try a "NEO Alpha-writer" to keep To Do lists for her daughters, and to write letters to friends and family. Isabel has continually rejected the idea of a specialized computer with voice function as not being what she needed for communication. As she said to a friend this spring, "my letterboard is my computer". However, the suggestion of a simple word processor without all the bells and whistles is what captured Isabel's fancy.

Within 15 minutes of the SLP's suggestion, Isabel had a borrowed one on her wheelchair table and was pecking out her first message. She now has a NEO Alpha-writer of her own and can write letters with her laptop on her new slanted laptop table any time she desires.

This simple machine saves every letter (A,B,C etc.) one types so there is little chance of losing your efforts. With wireless printing capability (soon to be hooked up) and a USB cord to download one's work to another computer, Isabel is set to go. The lists to the daughters get longer and longer, and the letters to friends are beginning to emerge.

Mum has never typed and with only one finger that "works" (left index) typing a letter is no small task. We are grateful for the research of friends and family who recommended that we convert her keyboard to Left-handed Dvorak. This placement of the letters means that someone with use of only the left hand (or one finger of the left hand as in Isabel's case) can type more easily than with a standard QWERTY Keyboard. The most-commonly used letters are placed together within easy reach of the left hand. (Yes, we used the equivalent of a kitchen knife to pry off the keys! Don't try this until you convert your keyboard internally first!).

Isabel's Occupational Therapist then added the "sticky key" function which allows Isabel to press the shift key and have it remain active until another key is pressed (for example, the question mark). As Isabel has use of only one finger, she needs "sticky keys" as she can't press Shift and Question Mark at the same time.

Does all this sound like Greek to you?

We'd suggest that you "google" the following to get further explanation:

* NEO Alpha-writer

* QWERTY

* Left hand Dvorak

* Sticky Keys

Oh, what we haven't learned these last 23 months!!!