THERE ARE SO MANY SWITCHING SYSTEMS AVAILABLE. EACH ONE DEPENDS ON WHAT AND WHERE THE PERSON HAS MOVEMENT (FINGER, HEAD, MOUTH, TOE). FOR THE BENEFITS OF OTHERS READING THIS POST, I WILL MENTION THE PRIMARY ONES THXS 2 TINA, IN MY STROKE YAHOO GROUP:
• JELLY BEAN SWITCH
• HEAD-STICK
• FOOT SWITCH
• JOYSTICK
• LASER POINTER, EITHER HELD IN HAND OR WORN ON GLASSES
• TRACKBALL
• SENSOR TRACKING, USES A TINY REUSABLE DOT WORN ON THE FOREHEAD OR ON GLASSES.
• TOUCHPAD
• SIP AND PUFF (WHICH MOST LIS/BSS CAN’T USE BECAUSE THEY CAN’T CONTROL EACH BREATH)
• ONE THAT MANY PEOPLE AREN’T AWARE OF IS THE LAR-PAM. IT WAS DESIGNED BY A BSS/LIS MAN NAMED LARRY. HIS WIFE PAM BUILT IT BASED ON HIS DIRECTION.

I TYPE W/1 FINGER & HAVE DOUBLE VISION, SO I, TOO, HAVE ADAPTED. LOL

IN ORDER 2 TYPE:
1. MY KEYBOARD IS “NORMAL”, JUST WIRELESS & SMALLER. MY KEYBOARD IS ON MY LEFT, SIDEWAYS (IT GIVES MY MOUSE MORE ROOM, & IS EASIER 2 SEE, 4 SOME REASON!) (PICTURED)

2. I HAVE A KEYGAURD (PICTURED)–IT HELPS SOOO MUCH! IT’S A NECCESSARY EVIL.

A KEYGAURD IS ESSENTIALLY A PIECE OF PLASTIC SO MY HAND CAN REST WHILE I TYPE & NOT PUSH KEYS. IT HAS HOLES DRILLED FOR THE THE KEYS LIKE THE (LETTERS, NUMBERS, SPACE, SHIFT, ETC.), BUT KEYS I DON’T USE (LIKE F1) STAY COVERED . MAKE SENSE?

SAW IT ON A TALKING MACHINE, & LOVED IT, BUT IT WAS $60. MY HUSBAND IS A WOODWORKER, SO HE SPENT A FEW BUCKS 2 BUY THICK PLASTIC, MARKED WHAT KEYS I WANTED 2 USE, & USED A DRILL PRESS, 2 CUSTOM MAKE 1 FOR MY COMP. IT’S VELCROED ON, SO OTHERS CAN USE MY KEYBOARD W/THE KEYGAURD OFF.

I DO OK W/O IT NOW, BUT I HAVE “WEAK” DAYS, & NIGHTS R HARD, SO I CHOOSE 2 ALWAYS USE IT. ALSO, W/DOUBLE VISION, I HAVE A TENDANCY 2 ACCIDENTALLY PUSH A WRONG KEY. THIS ELIMINATES THAT, BECAUSE ANY KEYS I DON’T WANT 2 PUSH, STAY COVERED W/PLASTIC.

3. DESKS ARE 2 LOW 4 MY CHAIR, SO I HAVE A COMPUTER DESK THAT MY HUSBAND MADE ME. (PICTURED) IT’S BASICALLY LIKE MY WHEELCHAIR TRAY, COVERED WITH A GLUED ON MOUSE PAD, & THINNER (SO IT FITS BETWEEN MY ARMRESTS), & SUSPENDED IN THE AIR…SO I CAN JUST ROLL IN, & PARK…NO WAITING 4 A TRAY 2 BE PUT ON ME!

4. I DROOL, SO I SARAN WRAP MY KEYBOARD.

5. I USE THE ACCESSIBITY OPTION CALLED “STICKY KEYS”—IT BASICALLY HOLDS DOWN SHIFT, CONTROL, OR ALT, WHILE I PUSH ANOTHER KEY OR CLICK MY MOUSE. IT’S A MUST!

6. SINCE I HAVE DOUBLE VISION, I USE A LARGE LCD SCREEN 4 MY MONITER, & PEOPLE ENLARGE THEIR FONT, IF THEY CAN, OR I USE “READ PLEASE”–A FREE PROGRAM INTRODUCED 2 ME BY ANOTHER STROKE SURVIVOR (THE LINK IS ON MY BLOG).