Technology

Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella description for a group of disorders related to muscle and movement control, visual disorders, seizures, and various sensory disabilities believed to originate in the brain (Goldman, 2002, p.143. Some individuals with cerebral palsy have to attend special school and have access to special services depending on the severity of there case.

Background and Assessment
In this interview I will be talking with Isabel Jones a Research Associate at the University of Kentucky. Ms. Jones has cerebral palsy that affects her fine motor skills and she uses a wheel chair as a walking aid. My questions to Ms. Jones were formulated around the challenges that she faces in life and work, and how those challenges have affected her career ambitions.

Did you face any challenges when you first started school Did the community treat you any differently

Being different from everyone else is a very challenging situation and especially when the person who is different is a child. I need to find out from Ms. Jones was ever discriminated by other students for being different and how the community supported her disability.

In every day life you face tests all the time, effortless things like open the door, doing your laundry and other ordinary tasks comprise a challenge for you. How do you find the power to struggle and not get bitter

There are things that we take for granted which until they are taken away from us we see the real value of them. I for one never think to be thankful for being able to open the door for myself. Until we meet or talk to someone who experiences these challenges on a daily basis, it makes me curious and would want to know how they manage to deal with them.

Did your disability prevent you from becoming what you always wanted to be career wise
We all have dreams from when we are young of what we want to become when we grow up. Did Ms Jones have to make an alternative choice due to her disability

What do you think needs to be done or changed to make your working conditions better
Due to Ms. Jones disability her working conditions have to be different than any other normal person. I would like too know what the university can do or change to make her working conditions better. Recommendations

Most individuals with disability need some sort of monitoring to determine what can be changed to make there life as easy and manageable as possible. Depending on the severity of the disability some will require long-term monitoring and some short-term. Frequent reviews and follow-ups have to be done with such individuals to find out what needs to change because there situation changes everyday.

Work Place
The university should make sure that the office is re-arranged to enable Ms. Jones to move around with ease. There is too much furniture which she does not use and is on the way of her moving around using the wheel chair. Since she sits on the wheel chair there should only be a table, phone and probably a cabinet for storing files in the office.

The university should think of investing on a wireless headset phone. Since Ms. Jones phone rings off the hook most of the day she does not have to keep stretching her arms to reach for the phone. Alternatively the staff assistant should handle most of the phones and if necessary or urgent she can then transfer the calls to Ms Jones. And this will allow Ms. Jones to focus on creating the surveys needed.

A Ramp should be placed at every doorstep in the university that Ms. Jones accesses during school hours. Since she has problem getting to the house at home, the university should also investigate if she is having the same problem getting to her office and then they can adjust the doorknobs lower for easy access.

Transportation
The university should offer to either fully pay or partially pay for private transportation. If they pay half Ms. Jones can then pay the balance and she does not have to wait for long for the public paratransit system. Make sure that the van Ms. Jones will be using is equipped with the modern technology that makes life easier for the disabled.

Such as the door opening electronically, a ramp that Ms Jones will drive up to the van on her on, enough space in the van so she can move around too her destined place of sitting.

Home Environment
The landlord should be advised on the challenges that Ms. Jones is experiencing with the entering or leaving the house. The doorknobs in the house should all be adjusted to a height that is conformable for Ms. Jones to easily open and lock the door when entering or leaving the house.

When Ms. Jones gets to the house or leaves the house, she has to go to the end of the building to access a place that has no stairs so she can navigate with her wheelchair. The landlord should put a Ramp at her door step to make life easier for Ms. Jones. This will save her the time of having to go round the building and her energy as well.

Ms. Jones will invest on a laundry machine and drier that she can easily load and dry her clothing without having to strain.  These washing machines have a door at the front that is opened sideways and since Ms. Jones is constantly on the wheel chair she can easily do her laundry without having to depend on anyone for assistance.

Once the school assists with private transportation Ms. Jones does not have to worry about waiting for over an hour and half for the van to arrive. She can then have ample time to do other things which she might have neglected.

Rehabilitation
Ramps
Wheelchair ramps can be ordered from several vendors either online or by calling the company. There are several choices of the ramps, one can get a portable or non-portable ramp. One company that sells such ramps is Ramp Solutions which has its head office in South Carolina. The ramps start from 350 dollars onwards depending on the size. Order online by visiting  HYPERLINK httpwww.rampsolutions.netpathwayramps.html httpwww.rampsolutions.netpathwayramps.html or you can call them at 1-800-630-4713.

Washing Machines
The front load washing machines can be purchased from bestbuys, sears or any other store that sells electronic equipments. The cost of this machines range from 500 depending on the model and size.

Wireless Headset Phones
Most companies prefer the plantronics model . These types of phones can be purchased in any store that sells electronics. No technician is required to install the phones they are just plug and play. The cost of this phone ranges from 250 dollars depending on the model being purchased.