Caroline Combs

Caroline Combs

  • Age: 40
  • Media use at home – Type: Personal computer, Smartphone
  • Media use at home – Frequency: ★★★★★
  • Current use assistive technology: Voice recognition – MS Windows, Shortcuts – MS Windows
  • Diagnose: Muscular Dystrophy (MD)

Caroline Combs lives near London, UK, with her husband Marc and two brothers, Anthony and Robert. She is an Ancient History academic at the University College of London. Caroline has muscular dystrophy, which causes weakness and stiffness in the muscles of her upper limbs. Caroline is always on the go, and when she does have some downtime, she enjoys to spend it in her garden.

Capacities to support

Caroline experiences muscular dystrophy, causing weakness and stiffness in her upper limb muscles.

Advice for Assistive Technology:

Chester mouse

Description A small computer mouse with no scroll wheel, about half the size of a standard mouse with one large green button that serves as the left-click. Helps young users or anyone just learning mouse skills understand what the left button does on a mouse without the fear of opening menus, etc. (source: https://www.ablenetinc.com/chester-mouse/) Manuals […]

Big Mack switch

Description The BIGmack is a simple communicator that has lots of uses! Record up to a 2 minute message and press the large activation surface for playback. (source: https://www.ablenetinc.com/bigmack/) Manuals – online support Where to find & pricing https://www.ablenetinc.com/bigmack/ Indicative price: $ 135.00 Instruction/information video

Grid 3

Description Grid 3 is a complete communication solution that enables people to have a voice, control their environment and live more independent lives. It’s designed for anyone with complex communication or access needs and includes a wide range of resources that you can control with touch, switch, eye gaze and pointing devices. You’ll find grid […]

Permobil Compact Joystick Lite

Description The Compact Joystick Lite provides a light force, reduced throw option in a compact package making it ideal for chin control applications. It also includes ports for remote on/off and mode functions.Windows Speech Recognition makes using a keyboard and mouse optional. You can control your PC with your voice and dictate text instead.(source: www.permobil.com/en-au/products/accessories/drive-controls/permobil-compact-joystick-lite) […]

Voice recognition

Description Windows Speech Recognition makes using a keyboard and mouse optional. You can control your PC with your voice and dictate text instead.(source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-use-speech-recognition-in-windows-d7ab205a-1f83-eba1-d199-086e4a69a49a) Manuals – online support Where to find & pricing Start Menu > Settings > Time & Language > Speech Free Instruction/information video

Change shortcuts

Description You can customize keyboard shortcuts by assigning them to a command, macro, font, style, or frequently used symbol. You can also remove keyboard shortcut. You can assign or remove keyboard shortcuts by using a mouse or just the keyboard.(source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/customize-keyboard-shortcuts-9a92343e-a781-4d5a-92f1-0f32e3ba5b4d) Manuals – online support Where to find & pricing Word: File > Options > […]

Filter Keys

Description Filter Keys is an accessibility option that you can use to control the keyboard repeat rate and ignore repeated keys.(source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/using-the-shortcut-key-to-enable-filterkeys-d9202e14-4ce5-84ed-582b-68ea1538fa59) Manuals – online support Where to find & pricing Start Menu > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard > Filter Keys Free Instruction/information video

Toggle Keys

Description Toggle Keys is an accessibility feature designed for users with vision impairments or cognitive disablilities. When Toggle Keys are on, the computer provides sound cues when the locking keys Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock are pressed. A high pitched tone sounds when these keys are switched on and a low pitched tone […]

Sticky Keys

Description Sticky Keys enables the user to enter key combinations by pressing keys in sequence rather than simultaneously. This will benefit users who are unable to press or have difficulty pressing shortcut key combinations.(source: https://www.disability.illinois.edu/academic-support/assistive-technology/windows-7-sticky-keys#:~:text=By%20Pressing%20the%20SHIFT%20key%20five%20times,Yes%20will%20enable%20Sticky%20Keys) Manuals – online support Where to find & pricing Start Menu > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard > […]

On-screen keyboard

Description Windows had a built-in Ease of Access tool called the On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) that can be used instead of a physical keyboard. It displays a visual keyboard with all the standard keys, so you can use your mouse or another pointing device to select keys, or use a physical single key or group of […]