Office Makeover by Kathy Wechsler How assistive technology saved my career

Occupational therapist Pat Trossman helps the author position her new keyboard.

Using the keyboard and mouse were becoming increasingly difficult for me. For a writer, that can spell the end of a career.

But does it have to?

I knew I needed to learn how to work more efficiently at my desk, so I saw my vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselor and explained my situation.

Specifically, coordination, strength and vision problems associated with Friedreich’s ataxia were causing: •;too-slow;typing;

•;difficulty;reading;words;on;the;moni-tor;

•;frequent;“losing”;of;the;cursor;on;the screen;

•;difficulty;reaching;the;mouse;

•;difficulty;keeping;the;mouse;on;the mouse;pad;

•;accidental;clicking;of;the;right;mouse button;

•;sliding around of the mouse pad, phone;and;keyboard;;and

•;discomfort;due;to;an;awkward;typing position.

My VR counselor sent me to the Technology Access Center of Tucson (TACT) for an assessment. During my two visits to TACT, I learned that the problems I was having could be solved by changing the way my desk is set up and using alternate methods of accessing the computer.

Assessing the problems

Because people have their own sets of capabilities and limitations, what’s accessible for one may not be accessible for another, says Pat Trossman, an occupational therapist (OT) and director of professional services at TACT.

To make sure the desk and all its