How Assistive Technology has impacted my life.

For my new job, I was asked to create a Blog for myself and later one that will be related to my work. I am working as a Co-ordinator/Manager for the Brock-Niagara Assistive Technology Initiative. When considering what topic I should start with, I thought about my journey through using assistive technology from when I received my first typewriter until now and how it played an important role in my education and life.

I have Cerebral Palsy (CP) which affects my fine and gross motor skills. My speech is also affected and can sometimes be unclear. Technology became a part of my life at the age of eight when I was given a typewriter to help with writing tasks. My parents would have liked me to have the typewriter much sooner but the school felt it was important that I learn to print, despite the struggles I had in holding a pencil without dropping it twenty times a day.

Finally, in Grade 3, I was given a typewriter. Of course, I now needed to learn how to type. From what I remember this was a much more enjoyable task then learning to cursive write as that was what the other students were doing while I had typing class. I became quite the typist and even to this day my Occupational therapist is always impressed at my speed and accuracy for someone with fine motor difficulties. Writing tasks now became much more manageable as I was able to keep up for the most part with my peers.

My parents purchased our family a Commodore 64 when I was in Grade 5. Although we used it mostly for games and fun there was a word processor called GEOS. This was my first time using a computer mouse and believe me when I say it was an adventure each time I used it. Other then the frustration of getting my hands to cooperate in using the mouse, the commodore was a great asset. I was able to edit my work on screen. One of my biggest problems was having double letters where they did not belong because I left my fingers on the keys to long. You could not adjust the keyboard like you can now.

In Grade 7, I got a new typewriter for in class work. It was a lot quieter and had a small screen that you would type a line out and then have it type on line. This typewriter would do for Grade 7 and 8 but high school was right around the corner and a typewriter that still made noise was not going to cut it.

Follow my blog to see what happens in Grade 9 and beyond.