Case 5 - Emily

Background

Emily is eighteen and has cerebral palsy which affects her mobility and speech. She has to use a Dynamite communication device to speak and her poor gross and fine motor skills mean that she cannot walk and needs help with many tasks.

Aidis gave Emily a computer with access devices specifically designed for her needs. Since then she has been able to communicate by writing, which is impossible for her to do by hand.

Emily uses her computer to write her homework, obtain information from the internet and communicate by letters and email with friends and family. Of course, like all teenagers, Emily uses her computer to play games and music as well. Unofficially, she has been following Big Brother on the internet, and is a real expert. She is very proud that she can name everybody who has been in each series of the programme.

Without her computer Emily could not to do any of this. She could not do her schoolwork at home nor would she be able to communicate with anyone outside her home.

Latest Assessment report

Emily received a computer from Aidis some time ago and has also been re-assessed since then for access devices. The devices currently used are a standard keyboard and an Orbit roller ball, replacing the originally fitted rollerball and standard keyboard with guard. Emily still finds the orbit roller ball and keyboard without guard easy and comfortable to use.

Emily is finding that the computer is becoming very slow as it struggles to run more up-to-date software and since some software will not run, due to insufficient specifications (eg the latest AOL software which her mother wanted for the increased content protection for Internet sites).
Emily's printer is still working fine and wouldn't need replacing.

Emily's computer is running an older version of Word than that used by her school leading to incompatibility problems. A newer version should be provided with software that would enhance her schoolwork (MS Works Suite, with its version of Word, Works and Encarta).

An email from Emily herself

Dear Aidis,

Thank you for my computer. I have used it every day since you gave it to me. I do my homework on it and it really helped when I had to find out about the Eiffel Tower because Mum didn't have to take me to the library to look for a book.

I miss my big sister now she is away at University but I can email her using the computer. She says she likes it when I send letters but that takes ages and when I email she writes back straight away. When she came home for the holiday I did my new jigsaw faster than her. It was the first time I have beaten her. She said it was because she did not know how my mouse works.

My Mum says you are wonderful but could I ask if you would help get me a better brain for my computer. The printer is cool and so is my special mouse but I can't use the programmes that I do at school and it's pants when I cannot carry on with what I have been doing. If you can help me, can you ask the man from Manchester who showed me how to put pictures in my emails come and do it because he was fun

Love Emily