Inspiring ability in young Jamaicans with disabilities

WhenDonna Koolmees introduced the computer to a teenager with speechproblems caused by cerebral palsy, a sceptical teacher remarked that itwould be futile. ‘This boy is very low functioning – he can’t doanything with the computer’, said the teacher.

But as anoccupational therapist, Ms Koolmees knew differently. She used anadapted keyboard and positioned the teenager, a wheelchair user, in away that enabled him to type. Within minutes, the boy had typed hisname.

‘He had the biggest smile ever’, Ms Koolmeesrecalls. Using assistive devices such as a specially designed computerkeyboard with larger keys or mouse, she was able to draw out thepotential of the student with disabilities.