Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!290!5!Dan.Payne
From: Dan.Payne@f5.n290.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Payne)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: software for the disabled
Message-ID: <10486@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 2 Mar 90 05:22:57 GMT
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Index Number: 7037

 AP>Sounds good except for the fact that adaptive software ISN'T 
 AP>SHARE OR FREE WARE. 
 AP>The folks who make the stuff want to get MONEY from such a small 
 AP>market. It 
 AP>isn't a matter of "Why are they doing this to us because we're 
 AP>disabled?" It 

I have been constantly searching for challenges as a programmer,
and have been looking for new ideas for software for the
disabled/handicapped/whatever (I still haven't figured out the
proper label, and that is probably good).  After a nasty car
accident in '84 I lost the company I had built up (started a photo
studio in '76) because I couldn't lug the equipment around.  Since
then I have gone from cane, to crutches, a back brace, knee braces,
surgery on both legs, and now I have a wheelchair.  I also spent a
couple YEARS feeling srry for myself because the pain that I am in
limits the amount, and type of work I can do.  I finally decided to
re-train myself as a computer programmer, and since getting
involved with others who are "physically challenged" as I am have
found a definite lack of computer software available.  Right now I
am writing software as a hobby and releasing it as shareware over
my bbs (even started a tech support echo for it), and IF anyone has
any type of software that they would like to have written I would
like them to contact me.

I would enjoy the challenge....Anyhow for the rest about me I will
graduate from a local 2 year business school in november with an
associates degree in computer programming & business administration
, and then I hope (!) to be able to finish my B.A. & go on to a
Masters in computer science...my ultimate goal is flexible...I
would like to either go into secondary education (teaching computer
related courses) or start my own software development
company....right now I am kicking around the designs for a weird
shaped keyboard to help eliminate or at least minimalize carpal
tunnel syndrome...

let me know If there is anything I can be of assistance on...

later

dan

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