The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group PC On Wheels Monika Merkes monika@melbpc.org.au

I met Craig through a common friend. Craig uses computers for everyday tasks like looking up in the Melways where a train station is located, reading newspapers in the morning, or using ICQ to communicate with friends. He used to have a cable connection to the Internet, but that became too expensive. So now he subscribes to GoConnect. 

How much time does he spend on the Internet? "In the summer months probably an hour a day on the Net, and maybe another hour to play games. During the winter, I am at home most of the time, it could be up to 5 or 6 hours. I tend to be on the computer more than I watch television". One game he plays is called "No One Lives Forever" where the player assumes the role of a spy. Another game involves driving fast cars. 

Craig doesn't visit chat rooms very often, he prefers to talk to people he knows. Occasionally he uses a chat room to find a solution to a computer-related problem or to discuss a new software program. Craig found that "you can exchange ideas, but it's very hard, sometimes when you mention you're disabled, suddenly they don't know you. It's not always like that, but it has happened."

Craig has a physical disability and he uses an electric wheelchair. He is in his early 30s and shares a house in one of the Eastern suburbs with five other people. Until last year, Craig used to play wheelchair hockey. He must have been quite good at it, as he went to competitions interstate and got numerous trophies. 

Craig's computer is a Pentium III with 600 MHz which includes a CD writer. He uses a remote control keyboard that he can pick-up and move around. His keyboard has a mouse, but he also uses a touch pad. I asked him where he learned to use computers. "I suppose at school I got the computer bug, and then I taught myself, it's not really that hard. Mostly it's trial and error". 

I asked Craig how accessible he finds the available technological devices. "I've managed to buy these, I don't know what you call it, all the parts here that were originally at the back of the computer, like headphones and joystick. There is no way I could reach these before - now I have all these jacks at the front. I've recently put wheels at the bottom of the computer. The only thing I can think of, maybe, they should have USB ports in front. It's very messy. If you look behind the desk, there are cords running everywhere". Craig found the appliances he wanted through the Internet and computer swap meetings.

He builds switches and other modified equipment for his friends. "Somebody might already have a Nintendo adaptor they are able to use. Or I build modified trackballs for my friend who hasn't got much movement in his arms and hands, and then I'd modify and use different pieces to access his computer. Say if I had a Nintendo I might use, then I could build this adaptor that changes the plugs". 

Craig is very computer literate, resourceful, and creative in making the technology work for him. For people with disabilities who need a little more assistance there are organisations like ComTec and The infoXchange.

ComTech provides an information and advisory service for people with disabilities who wish to find out what electronic communication devices, computer access options, specialised computer applications and environ-mental control equipment are available. ComTech's speech pathologists and occupational therapists provide advice only, they do not sell equipment. They can be contacted by telephone on 03 9362 6111, Freecall for country callers 1800 686 5333, e-mail comtec@yooralla.com.au, or fax 03 9314 9825.

The infoXchange - Technology for Social Justice http://www.infoxchange.net.au/ has developed and provided online information systems for the human services sector since 1989. The organisation started as a housing information service in inner-urban Melbourne, and has provided the first online accommodation vacancy system and the first fully searchable community support services database for Victoria. The infoXchange works "towards a society where all those who wish to use the new technologies have access to them" and encourages "the provision of quality community information exchange". 

The following services are available through the infoXchange website:

• infoXchange Service Seeker-a database with contact information for approximately 49,000 government and non-government services and agencies in Victoria. This information is updated on a regular basis with over 1,000 records updated each week;
• an accommodation vacancy register which stores information on different types of accommodation in Victoria; and 
• infocasts with community news and specific news sections for housing, health and primary care, youth, disability, and employment.

The Disability News section, for example, provides online information relating to the development of the State DisAbility Services Plan. It also provides an online disability discussion forum.

The infoXchange is an Internet Service Provider. The organisation also provides computer training for individuals and organisations, either on-site at their Abbotsford Training Centre or in clients' offices. The training team can take their training equipment to groups who do not have access to computers, for example people with disabilities. The Mobile Training Unit consists of six multimedia Pentium computers and has full Internet/networking capacity. The training team can be contacted by telephone on 03 9486 9355 or e-mail training@infoxchange.net.au.

Note:  Monika Merkes can be contacted at monika@melbpc.org.au and at the website http://www-sph.health.latrobe.edu.au/bbww/ 

Reprinted from the May 2001 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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