Going to College: One-handed keyboard, voice recog. software, help!
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jennyb
- Posts: 1183
- Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2001 5:24 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: January 1980 Yamaha RD200 vs 16 wheeler truck, result, 1 totally paralysed right arm. I was 21, now 54. I had no surgery, I don't regret this. Decided to totally ignore limitations (easily done aged 21) adapted very quickly to one handed life, got married, had 3 kids, worked- the effect of the injury on my life (once the pain stopped being constant) was minimal and now, aged 54, I very rarely even think of it, unless I bash it or it gets cold, then I wish I'd had it amputated :) Except for a steering knob on my car, I have no adaptations to help with life, mainly because I honestly don't think of myself as disabled and the only thing I can't do is peel potatoes, which is definitely a good thing.
Re: Going to College: One-handed keyboard, voice recog. software, help!
I too use a normal keyboard. I worked full time and had to write lots of letters, I managed fine. Just like you xiggers I now get back and neck stuff if I type a long time but i too put that down to my age rather than the bpi.
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Christopher
- Posts: 845
- Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2003 10:09 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Date of Injury: 12/15/02
Level of Injury:
-dominant side C5, C6, & C7 avulsed. C8 & T1 stretched & crushed
BPI Related Surgeries:
-2 Intercostal nerves grafted to Biceps muscle,
-Free-Gracilis muscle transfer to Biceps Region innervated with 2 Intercostal nerves grafts.
-2 Sural nerves harvested from both Calves for nerve grafting.
-Partial Ulnar nerve grafted to Long Triceps.
-Uninjured C7 Hemi-Contralateral cross-over to Deltoid muscle.
-Wrist flexor tendon transfer to middle, ring, & pinky finger extensors.
Surgical medical facility:
Brachial Plexus Clinic at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN
(all surgeries successful)
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
~Theodore Roosevelt - Location: Los Angeles, California USA
Re: Going to College: One-handed keyboard, voice recog. software, help!
Hi Ellen,
The company that makes the 'half-qwerty' keyboards just responded to me email about the software. They stopped making it about five years ago, because they couldn't afford the up keep and constant conflicts with other PC and Mac software. So that one is out of question unfortunately, I really liked that idea personally.
This other site recommends a laptop that makes a lot of sense to me, since I always type with my laptop twisted toward my uninjured arm...
http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/laptops.html
Good luck in what ever you choose!!!
The company that makes the 'half-qwerty' keyboards just responded to me email about the software. They stopped making it about five years ago, because they couldn't afford the up keep and constant conflicts with other PC and Mac software. So that one is out of question unfortunately, I really liked that idea personally.
This other site recommends a laptop that makes a lot of sense to me, since I always type with my laptop twisted toward my uninjured arm...
http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/laptops.html
Good luck in what ever you choose!!!
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CarolynfromLA
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:15 pm
Re: Going to College: One-handed keyboard, voice recog. software, help!
I use a regular keyboard and type 1-handed. Instead of resting my hand and just moving fingers, my whole hand darts around, and I do fine. I used a laptop in law school, and even typed exams, and was at no disadvantage whatsoever.
That said, when I injured my working hand a few years ago I was really in trouble. So I got Dragon Naturally Speaking, I forget what edition but I know it wasn't professional, and it was great. I don't use it now that I'm healed because, though its good for typing from scratch, its really annoying for editing, which I tend to do a lot more of.
Be sure to have your son go to the Students with Disabilities office. Its imperative that he self-identify, or else he won't get any help, and you can't get it retroactively, like after you don't do so well on a final exam because you didn't have a special set up - they won't let you re-take it. My philosophy is that if there is help to be had, like note takers, get it! Even if he can type as fast as I can (and I'm really fast), the stress it puts on your good hand can lead to problems of overuse, like I had, and no o ne wants that!
That said, when I injured my working hand a few years ago I was really in trouble. So I got Dragon Naturally Speaking, I forget what edition but I know it wasn't professional, and it was great. I don't use it now that I'm healed because, though its good for typing from scratch, its really annoying for editing, which I tend to do a lot more of.
Be sure to have your son go to the Students with Disabilities office. Its imperative that he self-identify, or else he won't get any help, and you can't get it retroactively, like after you don't do so well on a final exam because you didn't have a special set up - they won't let you re-take it. My philosophy is that if there is help to be had, like note takers, get it! Even if he can type as fast as I can (and I'm really fast), the stress it puts on your good hand can lead to problems of overuse, like I had, and no o ne wants that!