MND Patient Regains Independence
October 06, 2011
RSLSteeper Assistive Technology Division recently installed latest eye tracking technology PCEye for MND patient, Sarah Ezekiel. Sarah describes the impact this has had on her life, allowing her to communicate and take control of her life again.
“I was diagnosed with MND (motor neurone disease) in 2000, at the age of 34. Within one year I had lost the use of my hands and couldn’t operate my computer, my speech deteriorated quickly. Initially I tried various equipment to allow me to use a computer and communicate including on-screen keyboards and a Lightwriter linked to switches; however, I found it very difficult to operate the switches and as a result couldn’t use the equipment.
Feeling entirely cut off from everything I spent every day with my young baby and my carers who couldn’t understand me very well. I became incredibly isolated and depressed.
For several years, I managed to regain independence with EZ Keys using a chin switch, this allowed me to email, surf the net, read and communicate again. During this time, I actively used the internet to raise awareness of MND, created my own website, organised my care and did as much as possible to live a normal life again!
Last year, I started experiencing severe neck pain and knew I had to find another way to operate my laptop as life without a computer would be impossible for me now. On doing some research I found most people in America and Europe were using Tobii eyegaze computers so I arranged to trial the new Tobii PCEye from RSLSteeper.
Despite being dubious that I would be able to do everything with my eyes I’ve been pleasantly surprised because I can do everything and it’s much faster! There were some things that I can’t do with my switch, like login to my bank account and edit my website, which I can do with eyegaze. I’ve just written this piece very quickly and painlessly.
I’m looking forward to getting some environmental controls soon so that I can use eyegaze to open my front door and change TV channels again. Using eyegaze is so much easier and quicker, I feel that I have more energy to do more. I’ve had MND for 11 years and became dependent on other people for everything. Now I just need someone to switch on my laptop and I can do anything on my own.”
To find out more about Sarah visit www.sarahezekiel.com. Find out more about PCEye here or email or call on 0113 207 0449.
To find out more, or to arrange a visit with your local Assistive Technology Product Advisor, email or call us on 0113 207 0449 today.