IT Focus on Disability
Enabling
people with special needs and disabilities to access IT
June 2006
Welcome
to Issue 6 in this series of newsletters. We will be dealing here with the issue of
Multiple Sclerosis (MS). We will
demonstrate ways in which adapted computer equipment can help MS sufferers and
their employers.
We
would appreciate any feedback about layout etc., or suggestions for future
articles. To contact the editor or
if you wish one of your colleagues to receive this newsletter, please send an
email to news@adapt-it.org.uk
If
you wish to view this newsletter in large print format please click here
CONTENTS
1.
Coping with Multiple Sclerosis at work
2.
Hints and Tips
3.
Administrivia
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1.
COPING WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AT
Multiple
Sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling neurological condition affecting
young adults. Around 85,000 people
in the
Because
of this unpredictability, it is impossible to state with any confidence whether
or not Aid ‘X’ or Aid ‘Y’ would be the best for someone with MS as it would be
with many other disabilities. However, because of our experience in
catering for the varying needs of people with a wide range of disabilities, we
are able to advise on, and provide, IT solutions that will assist people who
have MS whatever the severity or nature of their
disability.
Neither
space restrictions nor the wide range of disabilities that can occur allow us to
deal with any of these topics in more than cursory detail so the following list
contains just a few of the solutions that are available to people with
MS.
A.
‘Large key’ keyboards and/or special keyboard guards
Some
sufferers have motor control problems in guiding their fingers to the keys and
preventing multiple key presses. Different shapes, sizes and
configurations of keyboard can be tried if standard keyboards are unsuitable. A
variety of ‘Large key’ keyboards are available. (Fig A) The keyboards have many fewer keys than a
standard keyboard because of space considerations and come in many different
colour combinations ranging from standard black/white (Fig A), to multicolour
depending on whether the user also has a visual impairment. (Fig B)
(Fig A)
(Fig
B)The
addition of a keyguard; a metal or plastic plate with holes for each key, can
make it easier to avoid unwanted key presses and provide a hand rest between
presses. There are a selection of
keyguards to fit certain standard keyboards; (see below – Fig C), but to ensure
compatibility it is best to buy a customised keyboard and keyguard
combination, a number of which are available. These have all been designed
specifically for people whose disability or tremor would otherwise restrict or
prevent them from using a standard keyboard.
(Fig C) B.
Armrests
These
are well suited for someone with weakened muscles in their wrists and forearms
to help support their hands on a
keyboard. (Fig D). With a variety of different styles
available for desk or wheelchair mounting and with extremely flexible joints,
this sort of device can reduce fatigue and strain and help
improve
arm mobility and dexterity. Ideal for computer use as well as other
uses,
providing the answer for those
who require support for their forearm whilst
eating
or
just
working at
a table.
(Fig D)
C.
Switches
In
general switches are designed to enable a person with a physical disability to
operate an electrical appliance or device. These can be particularly useful where
the individual’s ability to use a mouse or keyboard is severely limited or
impossible. Switches need to be
tailored to an individual’s needs. There are numerous different types of
switches designed to be activated by whatever controlled movement the user has
whether this be simply pushing a pad, nudging a lever with an elbow, blinking,
making any recognisable noise or even blowing a tube. Before embarking on a switch solution it
is advisable to get advice from someone who is not only aware of your condition
and needs but is also familiar with what is available. There are many examples of switches, such
as:
Fig
E
Fig F
D
Laptrays
For
wheelchair users trying to work on a non-height adjustable computer table can
often be uncomfortable. Adjusting
the height of the table is obviously the best long term solution but bringing
the keyboard and mouse to the wheelchair can sometimes be an short term
solution. A simple Laptray which
moulds around the shape of the knees can usually accommodate a mini keyboard and
mouse. Integrated keyboard mouse
devices can reduce the amount of space needed and wireless versions make the
solution more elegant. Below is an
example of a wireless keyboard with built-in roller ball mouse.
Fig G
E.
Voice recognition software
Good
voice recognition software should allow you to almost completely voice enable a
computer. This would let you
navigate menus, dictate letters or browse the internet without lifting a finger.
Modern versions are user friendly
and with the added computing power now available on most PCs, allow better
recognition and continuous speech.
So software programs are much less ‘stilted’ than their
predecessors.
F.
Other steps available
People
who have problems in pressing and releasing keys quickly enough to avoid
repeated and unwanted characters can be helped by having the key response
changed.
Minor
changes can be made using standard keyboard configurations. Major changes can be
done by using the Accessibility options in your computer's operating system.
For
further information about the Accessibility features available on your computer,
please choose your operating system.
·
Windows
to
link to individual pages.
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2.
HINTS
This
tip is so useful for many types of disabled people who have hand dexterity
problems or the use of one hand only, that we make no apology for outlining it
once more.
It is
often extremely difficult, or even impossible, for some people to hold down
certain key combinations. For example, ‘Ctrl-Alt-Del’, (to bring up the Windows
Task Manager), ‘Ctrl-Shift-E’ in Outlook Express, (to bring up the ‘Create
Folder’ dialogue box), or when a shortcut requires a modifier key, such as
Shift, Ctrl, Alt, or the Windows Logo key plus another, for example ‘shift + t’.
If
that is the case, here is what you should do:
1. Go
to 'Control panel' and, click on Accessibility Options.
2. In
the box that appears, choose the Keyboard tab and tick the box marked Use Sticky
Keys.
3.
Then click on the Settings box. These are further options. We recommend that you select the first
two and last two but not the middle group of two because selecting these options
as well would mean that anyone else using your computer could cancel the ‘sticky
key’ option without realising it, just by using any shortcut key
combination.
4.
Click OK for Settings and then OK again.
An icon (a group of four boxes)
appears in the Taskbar area in the bottom right hand corner of your screen. (This is purely to tell you that Sticky
Keys is active – neither a left or right click actually does
anything.)
The
effect of this can be seen if you type the word ‘the’ as it would appear at the
start of a sentence, i.e. ‘The’. Normally, you would hold down the shift key and
hit the ‘t’ – the result would be ‘T’. With Sticky Keys activated, however, you
hit the ‘shift’ once (i.e. without holding it down), followed by the ‘t’ key.
This gives ‘T’.
Another
example is ‘Ctrl-Alt-‘
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3.
ADMINISTRIVIA
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Adapt-IT
Churchill
House,
Tel:
0845 644 1712 Fax: 0871 247 1207