Customer Community
Giesbert
Giesbert Nijhuis was a talented photographer and graphic designer when he suffered a spinal cord injury due to a car accident in December 1995. Left paralyzed from the neck down he took up his old professions again replacing his pencil with a computer. Now he does all his artwork with his head, using a HeadMouse Extreme to control his cursor. To write and control Photoshop and all those other applications that rely on keyboard shortcuts and modifier-key click combinations he uses KeyStrokes on-screen keyboard. He has a beautiful, head-designed web site chronicling his "first" and "second" life and designs t-shirts, CD covers, film posters, application icons and much more using his head and his Apple Mac.
Marie-France
Marie-France has Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Other names for this disease are Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Lou Gherigs Disease and Maladie de Charcot. Marie-France uses SwitchXS to access her computer and KeyStrokes for word prediction and Proloquo for communication.
Walter
Walter Pfrommer was a pediatric surgeon when he was diagnosed with ALS in 1999. Despite losing his mobility and speech he continued to work: first as a project manager on a hospital IT project, later as consultant to another person who took over his role as project manager. Using his Apple laptop with AssistiveWare's Proloquo augmentative communication software, AssistiveWare's KeyStrokes on-screen keyboard and an Origin Instruments HeadMouse Extreme, he communicated with co-workers, family, friends and other people through email, chat and an Acapela Group synthesized speech voice. Walter wanted to make the best of life. In the video, shot in November 2005 he takes us along to his work, to a museum and to cinema. After his condition worsened he died in February 2006.
Elina
Elina was born with athetoid cerebral palsy. When she was 9 years old, she got a computer and in this 4 minute video she demonstrates how it has revolutionized her life. The computer has given her independence as she can now draw and write by herself. She accesses her Apple iBook with an adapted joystick and uses AssistiveWare's KeyStrokes on-screen keyboard with word prediction for writing. She is also experimenting with Proloquo and the Infovox iVox voices for speech feedback while she types. At home and at school her computer means life to her! Elina lives in California, United States of America.
Vanessa
Blossoming as a Child
Vanessa is three years old and was born with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), a form of autism. Her parents noticed that she was very to herself and knew right away that something was off. About three months ago, Vanessa started using Proloquo2Go on an iPad. Even though her parents were concerned that using a communication solution might further delay her speech development, they trialed Proloquo2Go through the Young Autism Program of DDI. Everyone has been amazed by Vanessa’s approximations and increased attempts to communicate. The app has given her a voice. Now she can finally say what she wants, making more verbalizations and babbling more than before. Vanessa’s speech is growing, and most importantly, she is blossoming as a child. Vanessa lives in New York, United States of America.
Disclaimer: Note that this video presents an unscripted case study and any statements made in the video pertain to this particular case and are not intended as a comprehensive product evaluation or recommendation. Different people have different needs and it is always recommended to get an AAC evaluation from an expert.
Nick
Tell Us, We Want to Know
Nick is ten years old and was diagnosed with autism. His progress in speech has been extremely slow. Picture symbols, picture exchange communication techniques and photos were tried but did not work out for him, as Nick was not really interested. When Nick started using an iPad, he immediately understood how it worked and really wanted to use it. The device was reinforcing and he sensed it was a powerful tool for him. Now that Nick is using an iPad with Proloquo2Go he no longer has to try to be what other people want him to be, because he can now initiate communication and say what he wants and needs. Nick lives in New Jersey, United States of America.
Disclaimer: Note that this video presents an unscripted case study and any statements made in the video pertain to this particular case and are not intended as a comprehensive product evaluation or recommendation. Different people have different needs and it is always recommended to get an AAC evaluation from an expert.
Origin Instruments Corporation
854 Greenview Drive
Grand Prairie, Texas, 75050 USA
Email: support@orin.com
Voice: 972-606-8740
FAX: 972-606-8741
HeadMouse is a registered trademark of Origin Instruments Corporation. PageBot, Swifty, Beam, Orby, Breeze, SofType, Dragger, and AirVoter are trademarks of Origin Instruments Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.