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Technology, Bill, and Early Computer Comfort
In March of 1982, with grants from the British Columbia Ministry of Education and the Research Council, Bill hired two engineering students to help him develop his device further. Bill had learned of an interface that allowed a computer to operate using Morse code, and with the students鈥 help adapting the device, Neil soon had a computer and was able to communicate through it. One of these students was .听
鈥淣eil inspired me in so many ways,鈥 says Gary, who would go on to become the Society鈥檚 Executive Director. 鈥淗e taught me a lot about what is possible when the right supports are in place.鈥
By September, Neil had learned word processing and had registered for an accounting course. After two months, however, Neil was calling the course 鈥渁 disaster鈥. Neil was provided with books and a schedule to call in to listen to lectures; however, he wasn鈥檛 able to turn the pages in the books or use a phone to dial in.
In October of 1983, Neil moved to an extended care unit at Gorge Road Hospital in Victoria. Neil was living with other young disabled adults who Bill described as 鈥済oing absolutely nowhere鈥. They faced the prospect of living the rest of their lives with nothing to do but watch TV.
Neil had gone as far as he could with his computer by this time, and he wasn鈥檛 able to consult books to learn any more. With a grant from the National Research Council鈥檚 Industrial Research Assistance Program, Bill hired two students to teach Neil and other disabled residents how to use computers. These residents with significant physical disabilities were now able to communicate, some of them for the first time since the onset of their disability. The project came to be known as the Computer Comfort Program.
Next week we’ll share the story of Neil’s Death and the Birth of the 今日吃瓜51.
罢别虫迟听NEIL听迟辞听20222聽to donate $10, $20, or $25 to support Canadians with disabilities through Employment, Digital Literacy, and Innovation or visit聽www.neilsquire.ca/donate.
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