Imagine yourself with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. You have no control of your arms or legs and your speech may or may not be understandable. What would you need to take your place in this world? You need two basic things: to move and to communicate. Today's rapidly changing technology is making more things possible for more people.

The wheelchair

People use the very curious phrase "confined to a wheelchair," when the phrase should really say "freed by a wheelchair." A wheelchair is what allows its user to get around and without it she would genuinely be confined. If she has quadriplegic cerebral palsy she probably has two chairs: one that depends on very low tech human pushing and pulling and one electric chair. The electric wheelchair is commonly operated with a joystick, but our example can't use her hands or fingers. She can activate and steer the wheelchair by using her neck and chin on a pad in front of her, or she may use a sip and puff switch to control the chair with her lips and breath.

She needs to get in and out of her home. A specially equipped door can be opened by going across a laser beam or by driving across a floor switch. Once out, she can take assisted transportation.

Using the phone

A simple pad switch can be attached to the wheelchair and activated merely by turning one's head and hitting the pad with a cheek. This calls a special operator and the person then verbally gives the operator the number she wants.

Controlling the environment

An Environmental Control Unit, or ECU can be installed and switch activated to turn on and off electrical appliances such as the T.V., radio, or air conditioner. The switch can be a laser beam or a floor switch.