Consumer Success Stories

CONSUMER SUCCESS STORIES FOR AQUISITION OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY Doris using a 4ft reacher with double hook end

Doris, age 70, has a brain tumor and has lost sight in her right eye and is unable to stand.  Assistive Technology has helped her overcome daily living problems.  Doris needed to be able to transfer from her wheelchair to her bed.  Friends purchased a heavy metal pipe from a lumber yard and attached it to the floor and ceiling by Doris' bed so that now she can swing herself into and out of her bed, eliminating the need for a walker.  Doris was unable to safely turn on and off the knobs on the back of the stove.  A friend found a 3 foot, 3/4 inch aluminum pipe and attached a metal funnel to the end.  He attached a rubber grip to prevent Doris's hand from slipping on the pipe.  With the red funnel end, Doris can reach the controls.  Unable to make her bed or hang up and take clothes from closet, a 4 ft reacher with a double hook on the end was purchased to help solve this problem.  Because of her poor balance, Doris could not pull her slacks up and down.  Velcro wrap skirts were made from no-iron knit fabric which was turned at the waist with elastic.  6" of velcro was stitched on facing sides on the open waist band.  Doris was unable to get into the bathtub, so church friends purchased Doris a tublift which raises and lowers Doris into the water.  Thank you to Grand Gateway Area Agency on Aging for Doris' success story.

 Ron using an Optelec Spectrum 20" color CCTV

Ron, who is the chief of Police in an Oklahoma town, has a hereditary genetic defect which is causing him to lose his vision.  At age 47, he became legally blind in both eyes.  The condition is not treatable or correctable, and he thought he would have to give up his 20 year career with the police force.  He became a client of the Department of Rehabilitation Services and in that time his counselor provided him with medical diagnosis and information dissemination to help him undertand his medical condition.  The DRS counselor and the rehabilitation teacher worked together to provide low-cost adaptive consultation such as changing the lighting in his office, helping him obtain adaptive appliances to help him do his job such as talking calculators and low vision key caps.  They also referred him to the agency adaptive technologist who tried a series of technological devices.  Ron first tried JAWS for DOS, a screen reader, which did not suit his needs since many of the forms he needed to use were pre-printed and must be handwritten.  Then he tried a CCTV at the DRS lab in Oklahoma City.  He was instantly able to see the forms and could use it to write in the information.

Outcome:  The Department of Rehabilitation Services purchased an Optelec Spectrum 20" color CCTV with which he can read and complete forms, documents, and drivers' licenses.  Ron has indicated his joy and indebtedness to DRS for their assistance and knowledge of the technology that allowed him to keep performing his job duties.

Charles

Charles is an individual with moderate to severe cerebral palsy   He requires assistance with most daily living tasks.  He lives independently in a modified house to meet his needs.  The modifications incorporate all types of assistive technology.  With a desire to live as independently as possible, he sought different types of funding alternatives in order that his family not bear the brunt of disability-related expenses.  He has received assistance from the Department of Rehabilitation Services.

Outcome:  Through the acquisition of various types of assistive technology, Charles completed his bachelor's degree in education and is successfully employed as a disability advocate.  As a direct result of the assistive technology obtained through funding sources, he is an active member of the community in which he lives and works.

Barbara

Barbara, age 60, is visually impaired.  She borrowed assistive technology to assess for on the job skills such as a talking calculator from the Green Country Independent Living Resource Center.  The equipment allowed her to to know what would be needed to help her fulfill job requirements. This led to Vocational Rehabilitation Services purchasing the equipment needed.

Outcome:  Assistive technology enhanced Barbara's job skills so she could continue working and gave her more independence and self-confidence.

  Derrel -  Using a Brailler

Derrel, 19, is a young man with Spina Bifida who lost his vision due to the malfunction of a VP shunt at the age of 16.  He  has some hearing loss bilaterally and uses a hearing aid.  He is paraplegic from L-1 L-2.  For mobility Derrel skillfully uses a cane and a wheelchair.  He has used a wheelchair since the age of 5 and is using his fifth wheelchair.  His keyboarding and computer skills are even sharper since his vision loss and he uses a voice synthesizer with his computer.  He has learned Braille, and cassette tapes help him learn literature and other courses for graduation.

Outcome:  Derrel's unique disposition and attitude has enabled him to conquer most situations.  The skills he is acquiring in keyboarding and computer will prove useful in the future for school and employment.  His many accomplishments have given him the self confidence he needs to reach his goal of a being self-supporting productive individual in society.   He views his future as an opportunity and is willing to take the steps necessary to accomplish his goal, independence.

Lee

This is a picture of Lee, an individual with ALS, using his computer communication device. Lee was a pilot and flight instructor with the FAA who developed ALS in 1990. He very quickly lost his ability to speak, walk or use his arms. The laptop computer allowed Lee to "speak", both at home and away from home. Because of this device, Lee was able to communicate with his wife and 8 children, talk on the speaker phone to friends around the country, write letters, play games and go "on-line" where he communicated with other people with ALS from around the country. Lee lost his battle with ALS in 1995. His computer made a great difference in his quality of life during the last few years.

Grant

Grant, age 6, is a first grader who is hearing impaired with chronic auditory processing disorder and a learning disability. Grant had difficulty listening to his teacher or locating sound from the teacher. With a lack of concentration, he began to fall behind in his schoolwork and received low grades. An auditorial trainer loaned to the school improved his hearing and concentration.

Outcome: Grant's self-esteem and academic performance has improved as well as his progress in the classroom.

Grant and his family are consumer's of Progressive Independence in Norman, Oklahoma. Their phone numbers are 405-321-3203 V/TDD or 800-801-3203 V/TDD.

Gloria

Gloria, age 70, had lived in nursing homes for thirty-six years after having a stroke. She did not have her own walker or wheelchair. With the assistance of Oklahomans for Independent Living (OIL) she is now living independently at the McAlester Plaza with many of her friends. OIL was able to assist Gloria in the acquisition of her own equipment through Medicaid and helped her move into an apartment.

Outcome: Gloria feels better about her independence and having a means of mobility. She is pleased knowing she is able to socialize and make her own schedule.

Gloria has been a consumer of Oklahomans for Independent Living in McAlester, Oklahoma for eight years. They can be contacted at 800-568-6821 V/TDD or 918-426-6220.

Darla

Darla, age 37, is a person who is blind and was seeking employment as a receptionist. She discovered a problem in delivering messages to staff members. With assistance through the Department of Rehabilitation Services-Visual Services, Ability Resources provided an evalution of her situation. After the evaluation was complete, Darla and Ability Resources decided that a Braille-N-Speak with a palm printer would allow her to take messages and print them out for staff members to read.

Outcome: Darla is now able to perform the job function with the aid of assistive technology and has since become employed full time.

Darla is a consumer of Ability Resources in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They can be reached at 800-722-0886 V/TDD or 918-592-1235.

Michael

Michael, age 19, has cerebral palsy and had to rely heavily upon his mother for assistance. Green Country Independent Resource Center loaned him a scooter as well as referred him to Medicaid for funding for a scooter.

Outcome: The scooter has allowed Michael more independence to accomplish tasks on his own such as doing his laundry and shopping at the store.

Michael is a consumer of the Green Country Independent Resource Center in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. They can be contacted at 800-559-0567 V/TDD and 918-335-0567 V/TDD.