Could Hands-Free Computing enable you?

Dee, 45, is a Chartered Marketer with 23 years experience. Her Sussex client base is diverse ranging from Disability Equals Business to the Enterprise Gateways. Although writing has always been her passion, in May 2006, Dee was officially diagnosed with chronic repetitive strain injury (RSI) in her upper body.

"For many months up to my diagnosis of RSI, I had been experiencing growing discomfort in my shoulders, arms and fingers whenever I used a computer keyboard" says Dee.

 "What started as the odd pain in my shoulders progressively turned into an intense, throbbing pain that could last for days. It reached the stage where I couldn't even type one email."

A meeting with Hands-Free Computing, proved to be a turning point for Dee. Based in Hickstead, the business provides Dragon Speech Recognition software and one-to-one training in how to use it. Lawrence Howard, the Managing Director sign posted Dee to Access to Work in Shoreham for help and advice.

"The team at Access to Work were really helpful and arranged for an assessor to visit me. I was relieved when he confirmed that I had RSI. He recommedned Dragon speech recognition software, an ergonomic chair and a footrest. I would also receive two days of one-to-one training from a Hands Free Computing trainer, Neil Judd, so that I could hit the ground running with the technology. Because my RSI is classed as a disability, that impacts on my ability to run my business, I received all of this support for free."

Using a microphone, Dee now dictates her work.

"Hey presto the words appear on screen. I can edit, cut and paste, file and save, open emails...in fact do most things that I did using a keyboard, but instead I use my voice. Because my dictation is double the rate of my typing speed, my business has really taken off."

In the coming years, the number of people with RSI will increase because of the growing reliance upon a laptop.

Dee added: "There is help available so don't ignore the symptoms!"

Dee Blick,
Chartered Marketer, The Marketing Gym
www.themarketinggym.org