Using FG When Disabled and Liceanse Question

[Jay_NOLA]

hey,
I've got two FG questions, both are the result of major health problems that have happened to me recently.

1.) Is there any advice ir recomendtion on using FG or pairing it with some other software or hardware to help if you currently have no functionality in your primary hand and arm. I haven't used FG in the last few weeks as I have lost all functionality with my right arm and hand. The function loss has gotten worse.

2.) Can you will a FG license to someone in the event of death. I've been in and out of ER and have collapsed several times and blacked out in the past few weeks due to extreme pain. This has gotten worse in the past two weeks and I'm afraid I may not have long to live or might get serious hurt due to a fall an die given how things have been. So if i can leave my FG license if I can get a will done quick enough.

All the health problems are the result of and angiogram and complications that occurred from it. I've been hospitalized twice so far. Had to have surgery done at the end of July and got deliberately lied to by medical doctors who chose to ignore several ER and ultra sound reports that my right radial artery was blocked as a result of the initial angiogramn May. I got hospitalized a week after the initial angiogram. Had it treated and was in ICU if anyone remembers an old post from a few months back. The blockage got worse when I was taken off the blood thinners. and doctors delayed treatment, gave deliberate false diagnosis, and the artery got blocked fully. I had to have surgery done on July 30th to try and fix things. And I have it looks like I have nerve damage and may have even have had sevral micro strokes/seizures. Functionality and pain has gotten worse. (Can't hold a pencil, spoon, type, lift, etc. with that hand and now arm. Various doctors are not wanting to say any wrong doing was done and have tried to pass off the problem as something else and ignore lab reports, etc. I even got turned away from an ER a few days ago and have collapsed several times. I don't think i have much to live given that my entire right side of my body is now starting to be impacted, losing functionality on right arm and eg now and having massive neck and bac pain in addition to the extreme hand/arm pain and I can get proper treatment and care. have been passing out and collapsed and fell several times due to extreme pain in the past week.

I'm trying to use my off hand to type this at library right now. I'm going to try and get a will done in the next week or two if i can and try to enjoy the little time I may have left given my failing rapidly deteriorating health.

[LordEntrails]

Hey Jay, so sorry to hear about your troubles :(

As for #1, I don't have specific info on FG, but in general I can say that you may want to look at a few alternate devices just for general computer use. Instead of a mouse, you might want one of these; a trackball, 3D mouse, or tackpad.

Trackballs are generally like mice, but they have a ball you move with your thumb rather than moving the device itself. Many of them have a bunch of buttons that you can program for things like CTRL, ALT, Shift, etc so you can do all your curso things with one hand.

3D mice are generally only from Logitech, I've used them for years for 3D CAD work, but then also are like trackballs in that you do not move the device and have lots of programmable buttons. They can be pricey though. You can take a look at them here; https://www.3dconnexion.com/products/spacemouse.html

Trackpads are like what you find on a laptop, not sure it's any better than one of the other options though.

EDIT: oh, voice recognition software is pretty good today, so for writing you might want to go that way. Other than my phone though, I have no experience with it.

As for your second question, that's going to in part depend upon where you live. Some countries (EU?) now consider software a tangible asset, which therefore can be re-sold and transferred. Other countries only see software like FG as a license to use, which depending upon the license is not transferable. I think you're going to have to contact SW directly for their take on it.

[damned]

Hey Jay_NOLA hoping for the best man! Hoping someone competent will end up on your side real soon.

[Bidmaron]

Jay_NOLA, my prayers are with you. The medical community sure has a problem admitting mistakes.

[Valyar]

I hope things get better, Jay_NOLA.

On question N1, I recently watched a video for devices that are controlled by your foot/feet. They even can be used for gaming. Link below.
https://youtu.be/oh0Gq6pDnwY

[GavinRuneblade]

Jay_NOLA, I am a vocational rehabilitation counselor by trade. My job is to help people with disabilities get the support they need to work competitively. The best site for researching options for any given functional limitation is askjan.org. Here is a direct link to the page for people who have lost the use of one arm:
https://askjan.org/limitations/Use-of-One-Hand-Arm.cfm There are one-handed keyboards and combined with voice control or touchscreen commands for one hand, there are quite a few options I've seen for people with various gross motor skill issues like you are experiencing.

Do spend some time exploring around askjan.org they have good information. Also, I see that you are in Louisiana. Every state in America has a non-profit organization assigned to provide services under a law known as the "tech act". This is a grant to provide accommodations to people who cannot afford them. There are also "statewide independent living councils" or SILC in every state. These exist to ensure that you get services so that you can remain functional and independent in your home life. Here is the direct link to your SILC: https://www.gov.louisiana.gov/page/silc. SILC doesn't provide services directly, they set policy and make sure providers do their job, but they can help you find the contact information for your local tech act provider and any other non-profit organizations who should be able to provide you support directly.

When doing research on support for your situation the industry term to look for is "switch". That is what we use to describe any method of interacting with a computer that doesn't use the usual keyboard/mouse. It might be a foot-pedal like Valyar mentioned, eye tracking devices, or a custom muscle detection device (for example one person with ALS like Stephen Hawkins would flex a cheek muscle, and I know a person who can only move her left foot, but can still control a computer). The most advanced devices are made by companies like Emotiv and use thought control. Here are some videos on how the thought control devices work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4YJ8-nKlvM, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqWjklEqX00, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bposG6XHXvU The headsets cost $300 US. People use them to fly drones, drive wheelchairs, speak, use computers, control TV, etc.


Finally, Microsoft has an accessibility hotline that bypasses the usual automated call tree hell and gets you directly to a live customer support person who knows how to handle accessibility issues. Windows 10 also has some amazing built-in capabilities for voice control and using switches and other devices. specifically, Windows 10 has built-in eye control so you can type with your eyes and not use the keyboard at all: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/features?activetab=pivot_1:primaryr6 and here is the link to the different ways to reach them for accessibility help: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/disability-answer-desk

If you cannot find anything that works for you at askjan.org, Microsoft or with your local SILC's help, please let me know and I can look into some more specific sources of support for you. I have a few contacts in northern LA's vocational rehabilitation community. I know that's not right near you in New Orleans, but they might know some sources of support statewide or at least who the local Tech Act provider is. And who knows, my state's tech act provider is pretty resourceful and they might know who you can talk to for help.

[Bidmaron]

Gavin, Jay is not on much these days for understandable reasons but I know he will appreciate you taking the time to provide this incredibly useful post. Thanks for looking after our own.

[GavinRuneblade]

Gavin, Jay is not on much these days for understandable reasons but I know he will appreciate you taking the time to provide this incredibly useful post. Thanks for looking after our own.
I figured as much, but I am hoping that he checks back in the next couple days to see the answers to his questions and maybe catches the information that way. Plus if anyone in the future has a similar question, now the answers are available for searching.

I did ask my contacts and the Tech Act vendor for LA is https://www.latan.org/ So, there is that as well.

[Bidmaron]

You are a good soul, Gavin. May God bless you.