disabled internet access 15 January 2020 at 11:39PM in Disability money matters 6 replies 1.3K views

irene939

Hi, my husband's medication totally paralysed him 3 years ago. He now has limited upper limb movement. He really misses Facebook and being able to access the internet. Does anyone know of companies that may be able to help finding the right product? We have tried a few things but need specialist help. Our Occupational Therapists don't know where to go. Can you please help?

kingfisherblue

This charity was very helpful a few years ago when I needed help with assistive technology for my severely disabled son:
http://www.aidis.org/index.html

tehone

https://www.iansyst.co.uk

an excellent company used a lot in education

50Twuncle

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/disability-answer-desk
is a good start
particularly https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/


I would be looking at speech to text stuff ..

You say that your OT doesn't know where to go - I would change OT's - because they SHOULD know !
I assume that your hubby doesn't work - if he does, bring in Access to Work - they are experts at such problems

irene939

No he doesn't work. Tried speech to text but it doesn't pick up his voice very well. He's got dysarthia which effected his voice plus we're Scottish lol. We've asked hospital OT, Council OT, Another hospital OT from Fife Rehabilitation Service, doctors, nurses, consultants. They told us to check the internet.

leylie

Here's a list of organisations that may be able to help.

https://www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk/contacts_ict.php

I know of Abilitynet/ITcanhelp - the main problem I found was that they didn't have any 'local' Volunteers.

Also have a look at the Communication section of the Living made easy site.

I've come across the 'Large Key' keyboards (mainly used by people with sight problems), don't know how effective the 'keyguards' are but they might be helpful.

A lot of companies that supply specialist equipment do have a fairly good returns policy so the equipment can be tried out at home.

Another useful charity is https://www.remap.org.uk/

Good Luck!

50Twuncle

Theres head and eye movement detectors - like used by Stephen Hawkings