CP and computers

[WorkBoundDana]

Hello,
my name is Dana. I am trying to figure how to use the computer by
myself without caregivers help typing. I have severe CP which affects
my voice. Dragon Dicate doesn't work for me. I tried it on my computer
and it would not recognize the intro sentence "Welcome to General
Training". It understands my caregiver's voice just fine. What do you
guys recommend for a person who can talk pretty clearly which a slight
speach impediment. I'm trying to figure out how to be more independent
before I go to work after college. Please email me if you have ideas.
woa...@gmail.com
Thank you

[DR...@comcast.net]

Hi Dana

As you have a speech disability, I want to be sure that you know about
STS. See below. - Bob


FACT SHEET: TELEPHONE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH SPEECH DISABILITIES by
Bob Segalman, Ph.D.

Do you have a speech disability and live in the USA (including the
Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico)? If so, you can now use a free
telephone service 24 hours a day. “Speech to Speech” (STS), provides
communication assistants (CAs) for people with difficulty being
understood by the public by telephone. The Federal Communications
Commission in Washington DC regulates STS: STS is a form of relay
service. STS is also available in Australia, New Zealand and Sweden.

STS is provided through the TTY relay in each state. Unlike TTY, STS
users communicate by voice through a CA as many people with speech
disabilities have difficulty typing.

People with speech disabilities can dial toll free to reach a patient,
trained CA who is familiar with many speech patterns and has excellent
language recognition skills. This CA makes telephone calls for them
and repeats their words exactly in a 3-way calling environment. Every
month users make about 12,000 calls nationally. STS is the only way
for many people to telephone others not accustomed to their speech.

Many STS users have Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, ALS, multiple
sclerosis, muscular dystrophy or stroke. Other users stutter or have
had a laryngectomy.

STS helps speech synthesizer users, users of Augmentative and
Alternative Communication (AAC). AAC users may ask the STS CA set up
the call, negotiate the menu, introduce the call explaining AAC and
then go into the background. This enables AAC users to communicate
independently once the other party is on the line.

I had cerebral palsy and developed the concept of STS. Now it makes
telephone use much easier for me . To try out STS, report problems or
request information: Call 711, request STS and ask for me at
916-448-5517. Visit the STS website: www.speechtospeech.org where you
will find the Speech-to-Speech 800 access numbers.

You can also access STS by dialing 711 and asking for Speech to
Speech. If the CA can not place an STS call for you, please e-mail me
(dr...@comcast.net).

[Laura K Vogtle]

Dana, there is a device called a head tracker that might work for you.  It sits on the top of your computer, you use a little dot placed on your forehead, on your glasses, on a cap, which manages the cursor.  If you find an item you want to activate, you "hover" over it and it will click or double click.  The hover time can be adjusted to fit your needs.  Not sure where you are, but usually vendors who sell augmentative communication devices are familiar with this tracker, or voactional rehabilitation technology specialists know about it as well.  An occupational therapist or speech language pathologist who works with assistive technology should also be able to help.

 

Laura Vogtle

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From: THECP...@googlegroups.com on behalf of WorkBoundDana
Sent: Fri 9/26/2008 11:21 PM
To: THE CP GROUP
Subject: CP and computers