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Vol. 4, Issue 6, Nov/Dec 1996 |
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Vandella's Gaining Independence!
as dictated by Vandella
My name is Vandella Dorsey. I am 48 years old. Right now, I live with my brother and his wife. I go to an independent living program three times a week, and am going to get a G.E.D. I have cerebral palsy. I use a communication device to talk and a wheelchair to get around.
Before I got my Vois 160 (an augmentative communication device with voice output) about six years ago, I had a hard time getting people to understand me. When I first started to communicate, I had letters on cardboard. Then my family put letters on a cloth. When I received my Vois 160, I had words on four pages. Now I have sentences on four pages, but I have trouble turning the pages; I use my memory and I remember where all the sentences are programmed in my device.
I like my communication system, because I can talk to people and tell them what I want and they understand. What frustrates me the most about my Vois 160 is that the target areas are too small. Six years ago I wanted to use my hands, but now there are more choices to use other methods, so using my hands may not be the best way. The price is also too high. Sometimes technology breaks down, and then I have to rely on the cloth and the letterboard. It takes more time to tell people what I want, and it would depend on someone else knowing where I place my fingers.
I have a power wheelchair that I operate with my right foot. I can go anywhere I want. Someone has to help me turn on the wheelchair, and it is too big to use at home in my brother's house. Once the battery is charged, my chair is reliable and comfortable. What I want others to know about technology is that it can make you independent. One day I hope to live in my own place with aides.
For the past few months, I have worked with the Occupational Therapist on learning how to use Morse Code to operate the computer and appliances independently. Although I have used Intellikeys alternative keyboard and WiVik (an on-screen keyboard) with scanning, Morse Code is easy to remember and faster. I use the bottom on my left foot to make short and long sounds, and I have learned the entire alphabet. I can't wait to try the No-Hands Mouse!!
