This Christmas we need to raise £10,000 to buy assistive technology kit for six Spinal Injury Centres. The equipment ranges from phones, laptops and tablets to joysticks and specialist mice that can be controlled by mouth or eye movement.

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We rely on technology for so many things, such as keeping in touch with family and friends, shopping and online banking.  We take it for granted that we can access the world via a phone, tablet or laptop but what would you do if you weren't able to type a request into a search engine?  This is the reality for many people who are paralysed by Spinal Cord Injury. High level spinal cord injuries can restrict the use of your arms and hands, and often standard equipment is difficult to use

Aspire's Assistive Technology service provides a range of devices and software packages that enable anyone, regardless of their level of injury, to use a computer, tablet or phone independently.  This equipment is available in specialist Spinal Injury Centres with staff working one to one with patients and helping them make the most of the technology available.

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This Christmas, Aspire is fundraising for equipment to enable more people like Dennis to get online.

Dennis says, "I was paralysed by a spinal cord injury when I fell down the stairs. When I was first told I had a spinal cord injury I felt angry and dismayed and my friends and family were devastated. I heard about Aspire from Gaye, one of their Assistive Technologists, who came to see me on the ward.  I am 68 and before my injury I wasn't using any technology at all, I only had a push button phone and was a bit of a technophobe!

"I have restricted head, shoulder and elbow movement but Gaye showed me how to use an iPhone and iPad using Siri and voice control. Being able to use these has improved my life no end and given me a new sense of purpose. If I hadn't been shown how to use these, I would have been isolated and extremely bored over the last few months.  I'm able to use WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger for video calling my family, which was invaluable during times they weren't able to visit due to Covid restrictions.  Being able to search the internet has meant I can keep up with some of my hobbies, such as horse racing, and I use the Libby app to read books online from the library."

Please give the gift of technology this Christmas and help Aspire to help families connect at this special time of year.  Thank you for your support.

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