How I Do It

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Sometimes when people look at me they can’t figure out how I can operate a computer or compose the literary works that I do. They are often afraid to ask questions and go away making some very incorrect assumptions, such as: “Oh, someone else must actually do the creating and then they just put her name on it.” –  Let me assure you that is most definitely not the case.

Ok, so how do I use a computer?


From a very young age, (probably around 5 years or younger) I was introduced to what is commonly known in the disability world as a “head-pointer,” (also called a “head-piece.”) As you can see in these photographs, it is a device which I wear on my head, that has two straps (one going around my head and the other going under my chin) to hold my head-pointer securely in place. The device also has a long rod coming down the front of it. Users can customize the tip to whatever their preference is. For years I preferred to have a pen taped to the rod, with a  rubber thimble (commonly used in offices to sort through high volumes of paper) taped to the lid of the pen, so that I could pull off the pen lid and use it to sign my name, or cross something off a list, but now that also use a tablet and other such devices, I now actually use a “vacuum cap” because of its conductivity. I also used to use my head-pointer to hold books open, turn pages, sort through papers, etc., whenever necessary, although this was awkward and tedious. Also in years gone by I was also known to have had a paintbrush taped to the head-pointer for art work, and cooking utensils for cooking.

Yeah, but sometimes one has to use two or three keys at the same time when using a computer. How do you do that Gerianne? – And what about using the mouse?

Way back in the mid-eighties, Dr. Neil Bennett and Mike Hryekewicz, at Center for Computer Assistance to the Disabled (C-CAD) developed an assistive program called C-CAD Stickey. The program enabled the Alt, Shift, and Ctrl keys to be hit in any consecutive order. These keys could also be “locked on” by hitting the desired key twice. Also with this Stickey program, the numeric keypad on any keyboard could take on the functions of a mouse. The # 1,2,3,4,6,7,8 and 9 became directional keys to move the mouse. The #5 key equated a single click, the + key became a double-click, the Ins and Del keys were used to lock and release the drag function of the mouse, and the “/” and “-” keys allowed the choice of left or right mouse buttons, respectively. Starting back with the release of Windows 95, Microsoft incorporated the C-CAD Stickey program, plus other “accessibility” features into its operating systems and they seem to keep adding more and more accessibility features, which is great!

Giving credit where credit is most definitely due.

While the creative process is certainly my doing, I absolutely give much appreciation to my attendants, who with their iphones are always willing to take pictures of whatever I want photographed. They always take several shots of the same thing, so that I can select, lighten, darken, crop, or manipulate the image that I like best. They also have endless patience with my frequent requests to have “this kind of paper” or “that kind of paper” put in my printer and to have my various products cut to size, put into bags, etc. Yet, as much as I appreciate their physical help with all of these things, their faith and belief in me, often astounds me and means more to me than I can ever express. My attendants become my family. I am immensely blessed to find such incredible people.