Title: [Computer Programming]
A man is using a mouthwand while facing a computer in his office.
An on-screen phone keypad is shown close-up.
Caption: [phone dialing]
Narrator: “At Todd’s first job interview, he hadn’t
mentioned his disability over the phone.”
Todd is shown moving the stick mouse to select the phone numbers.
He dials a number and the phone conversation is overheard.
John: “This is John.”
Todd: “Hey, John, this is Todd with Cortex.”
John: “Todd, my man, how are you?”
Todd: “Doing good, how are you doing, bud?”
John: “Good.”
Narrator: “When he arrived, there were some awkward moments
as the interviewer rearranged his office to accommodate Todd’s
wheelchair. But the interview quickly moved to the important questions.”
Todd: “And the second question was, 'Well, how do you use a
computer? How do you…how can you program?' So once I told him
about my assistive technology, then the third question was, 'How much
do you want?' And once I told him, it was, 'You’re hired. Can
you start tomorrow?'”
Todd is shown using the mouth stick to access files on his computer.
Narrator: “Todd chose computer programming because he knew there
would be a great demand for his services. He also wanted to make money
was quickly as possible so that he could support himself.”
Todd uses his power wheelchair to go up a ramp and he enters the front
door of his office after the door opens automatically.
Narrator: “Technology is vital to his career, helping him perform
a job he likes.”
Todd: “One, obviously I can’t open the door, so basically,
you know, you can set up automatic doors off of switches and things,
so they set that up on my wheelchair, and that’s how I open a
door at home, and at the office. And as far as computer working, it’s
real simple, on-screen keyboard with sort of a stick mouse, sip and
puff, you know, one puff single click, two puffs double click; and that’s
what I use. And then it’s just a simple book stand and a mouth
wand magazine turning, paper turning, that’s really it.”
[Used with permission from:
DO-IT
University of Washington
206-685-DOIT (Voice/TTY)
206-221-4171 (FAX)
[http://www.washington.edu/doit]
[doit@u.washington.edu]
Director: Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.
This clip is from “Taking Charge: Stories of Success & Self-Determination”
Copyrighted 2001]
