Bob Hills "Computability to Keep Working"

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Bob Hills "Computability to Keep Working"

Bob Hills "Computability to Keep Working"

This was published in the UK YAPP&RS "YAPMAG" in October of 1997. Thanks to Bob for making it available.

C:\Myfiles\PD_DDAct.wpd Article for YAPMAG 1
Author Bob Hills Date 3 October 1997
COMPUTABILITY TO KEEP WORKING ?

I was pleased to see the article in the new style magazine dealing with the Disability Discrimination Act and (at last) some recognition of IT and the World Wide Web/ Internet. I thought that you might like to hear how my disability assessment was carried out and the response to this from my employer. I have been suffering the growing inconvenience of Parkinson's Disease for last five years (I am now 45 years old). I have a responsible job and one that I do not want to give it up until absolutely necessary.

The initiative for the assessment of my needs was prompted by our Equal Opportunities Team. They arranged for an organisation called The Compatibility Centre to visit me and discuss my problems. The Compatibility Centre is a registered charity specialising in giving advice on the application of Information Technology to help solve or mitigate some problems of disability. The assessment took place in March of this year and I am now getting to grips with the equipment and software provided.

It was with some trepidation that I put my head around the door of a room in which the Compatibility Centre had arranged to meet me. I still do not know how the two people managed to bring so much equipment, with three PCs, a myriad of different mice, keyboards, tracker balls and a document scanner.

I was first asked about my condition and the impact that it was having on my work. Then I was asked to sit at the keyboard and type some words into the PC. They watched from the side and behind me! To my surprise the simple things like the chair being higher and closer to the keyboard, meant that I felt more comfortable typing. The assessors also suggested that I used a rest support with a smaller but more tactile keyboard. So far so good. I was offered various tracker ball styles but still preferred the mouse, but in my left hand. We discussed the benefits of the larger monitor but I did not feel this to be critical then

The assessment then moved on to look at the use of the Access Pack produced by Microsoft. For those that do not know about this package it is a piece of software that can be used to tune the keyboard and mouse to suit the individual. On the keyboard for example it can be set to ignore repeated keystrokes that do happen when the tremor is present. It also provides facilities to hold down multiple keystrokes without having to use difficult hand movement. I already had the Access Pack on my PC at home but discussing the settings with the assessors was very helpful.

Finally we looked at the opportunities for voice input into the PC. IBM and Dragon Dictate were two systems on offer at the time, . They were both impressive tools to overcome many disabilities other than Parkinson's Disease. They both require a small time to allow the compute to recognise your voice. Having tried both of the systems I favoured the Dragon Dictate because it allowed me to not only enter text by dictation but the opportunity to control the PC without the use of the keyboard or the need to cut and paste text from the voice dictation software.

Within a month the consultants from The Compatibility Centre sent me a draft report giving details of the assessment, a set of recommendations and the list of equipment and suppliers. The report was sent direct to me for my agreement before a final copy was passed to the Equal Opportunity Team. Overall I was very impressed with the consultants' manner and recommendations. I am pleased to say that my employer has accepted all of the recommendations and I am now looking to gain experience with the software (and convince my colleagues that I am not talking to myself).

Voice dictation is only one of many things that I have tried to minimise the impact of PD. The attached table shows the support that I have tried and many I still use, to make life easier and maintain an acceptable standard of work to play a an important role within my orgaanisation . You will see that the options for support, within the context of the Disability Discrimination Act, are considerable and my list is not exclusive. I recognise I have a good job and an enlightened, large employer and that many will not be so fortunate. But I think they agree or compliment Patrick Tolfree's examples.

SYMPTOM	IMPACT ON MY WORK	SUPPORT
TREMOR	Writing illegible Unable to take meeting notes Nervous manner Perception of colleagues Perception of business contacts Giving presentations	Desktop PC PC Systems, eg word processor Use of Laptop computer Palmtop PC (eg PSION) "Walkman" Tape Recorder (Note taker!) PC Voice Dictation Focus audience on 35mm slides or PC projection and use lectern (for papers and to hold on to0 in darkened room.
VOICE	Soft/inaudible/poor projection Appear lacking confidence Participation in meetings affected Giving presentations Representing my organisation	Work time to attend speech therapy. Sit close to/ opposite chairperson. Use PA system (including personal PA if necessary)
RIGIDITY	Speed (Efficiency) Movement and posture (Appearance)	Use of PC Office Systems eg electronic mail. Seating and keyboard wrist support Time to "re-learn" posture via Alexandra Technique
DRUG EFFECTS	Drowsiness Memory	Flexible Working Hours Palmtop and Desktop PC with Diary/ alarm/ organiser software.

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