Plexiglas<\/a> see through board with all the letters of the alphabet on it. The person talking with me would hold this board up between the two of us, I look at certain letter and she\/he says it out loud and as we go on.With the letters, they start spelling out the words and of course the sentences. Family, friends and assistants who already know the position of the letters don\u00b4t use this board anymore. They would spell the words out just by looking at the position of my eyes and guessing the letters. If they get the letter right, I move on to the next letter. If they get it wrong, I would shake my head and continue staring in the same direction. Saying all the wrong and right letters out loud in a strange sequence sounds like some strange language. It looks weird to people who don\u00b4t understand what is going on. Many times people asked us; \u201cwhat language do you speak?\u201d One great thing about the spelling is that I can tell the speller anything I want in presence of strangers, and they would not understand a word! \uf04a. The person who came up with this chart is a genius and he\/she deserves a Nobel Prize.<\/p>\nOne of the most common questions I get is: \u201chow do you use a computer if you cannot move?\u201d Well, by medical terms I am 95% paralyzed. I can blink my eyes; I can chew a little, I can move my arms and legs a little and I can move my neck a little. You would still ask; \u201cbut how do you do it with so little movement?\u201d\u00a0 My computer has a program called \u201cthe Grid.\u201d Mounted on my screen is a small infrared box (looks like a webcam). A small metallic kind of sticker is set to my forehead (this is my mouse). The infrared box catches the reflection of the sticker and moves the arrow on the screen in the same way you would move the arrow with your hand held mouse. On my screen, I have a keyboard and by just going to the letters I spell the words just like anyone else would do on any PC. I use a computer daily for it is a very important way of communication for me. I write to my mother all the time and to Henning when he is at work. It is great because I can keep contact with all my friends where ever they are. And not to forget about this blog and a new book that I am writing together with a ghost writer.<\/p>\n
Several years ago I was approached by the University of Tampere (Finland) to take part of the EU funded high technology COGAIN-network.\u00a0 The purpose of COGAIN-network is to develop an eye tracking device for people who have a speech impediment and are also immobilized. I was honored to take part with this research even though It was just to be a \u201cguinea pig\u201d. Last year I got a request from the \u201cTIKOTEEKKI\u201d (FAIDD, stands for Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities), to take part with their seminar about communication for people with complex communication needs. I had the pleasure and honor to open the seminar with a speech about the importance of communication technology. Next to communication I also give life experience and inspirational speeches.<\/p>\n
The help of technology has been enormous in my life! Computer has changed my life completely. It has enabled me to keep up with the world all by myself. Like all invention, it is a blessing if used in a proper way and for good cause. One of these motives being to communicate with others. It makes me wonder; why are there so many problems in our societies these days. All problems that can be very simply solved with a little more communication. It has never been easier to talk from one to another as it is now.\u00a0 Communication borders are at this moment in time almost nonexistent. So why should you drown yourself silently in a pool of self-pity? Open yourself up, talk, listen, and communicate. Live your life at the fullest. Take this from a paralyzed blonde that cannot speak; \u201cno matter in what kind of situation you are in, you are blessed with choice of what attitude you are going to have\u201d, \u201cchoose the right one\u201d<\/p>\n
Kati<\/p>\n
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