I met a Stage 4 cancer survivor on a cruise last summer -- although our contact was limited to a couple of meals in shared company, he made a big impact on me. Why? Because Tom had outlived all predictions, beaten the odds when there shouldn't have been any chance of winning, and most of all, because Tom was a smart, funny, personable man with a lot to offer any conversation.
Months after I returned, I thought about things Tom said in group conversations. His biggest regret? Having to retire because of his cancer. That really stayed with me. Here was a man who had spent his entire career learning the ins and outs of community banking. He had more knowledge about strategies that apply, how the little banks are often the backbone of the community, and how critical it is that customers feel that their banks are working with them, not against them.
What does a man or woman do when cancer claims a career? In many ways, it depends on the career and what adaptive tools can keep your loved one going. Often, especially with neuropathy, the loss of hand function is incredibly frustrating and limiting. In Tom's case, I came to the conclusion that he would have made an amazing consultant to any community bank, but for the challenges of neuropathy. In a case like that, what might Tom have used to overcome the obstacle? What about voice recognition software? Not only can a user access and respond to emails, write documents, and use voice commands to direct computer actions, this technology comes standard on a lot of newer computers. From the line of MAC products to any computer, netbook, or tablet that uses Windows operating system, voice recognition is already an option. In addition, there are even apps that can be downloaded for smart phones to assist anyone with neuropathy to get around the typing obstacle.
To find out if your computer or MAC already has it, use the search word "accessibility". Do the same for any smart phones, tablets, netbooks, or other recent products. You may already have what you need right at your fingertips.
But even better options are available, some for a fee. Maybe your loved one is too easily fatigued to hold a Kindle, Nook, or any other electronic book reader. He or she can just sit back, relax, and listen. It's not even necessary to hold the book. If you have an MP3 player or an IPod, you can download items for your loved one's listening pleasure. Whether it's professional or pleasure reading your loved one wants to do, text-to-speech technology can help get it done.
If you really want to get clever, why not offer your loved one a voice-to-text tool? You can even buy software programs developed for professionals which let your loved one dictate with a minimum of mistakes. Whether it's voice-to-text or text-to-speech, there are options that can help your loved one stay as active and productive as possible during cancer treatment and management.
What about kids with cancer? Unleashing their creativity can be the difference between a child languishing in bed and a child setting the world on fire. Whether the technologies are used to help children write school papers and keep up with homework, or download and listen to their favorite stories, how can that ever be a bad thing? The wonderful thing about children is they exist half-way between the world of make-believe and the real world. If you've ever encouraged a child to create a story, you know there's no way of knowing what the end result is going to be. The process is always interesting. Hand a child the equipment that will help him or her tell a story and you may be surprised at the wonderful treasures that result. Children can do more than just school work with these programs. They can dictate emails to Grandma and Grandpa on the computer and listen to the replies that come back to them. They can even improve their reading skills when they follow the printed word on the computer screen.
Some of these also come in several languages, even the text-to-speech programs. NextUp offers so many voices and accents for its readers through its ATT Natural Voices, it's like a walk through the United Nations.
Some people hesitate to offer up assistive technology to cancer patients, as if it will make their loved ones feel more handicapped. If you're feeling like it would be offensive to suggest your loved one try it, consider this. Busy people already use these technologies to make their lives easier. Whether it's writing a forty-page report or making notes on a big project that's due, a number of working individuals are getting the job done. If it's good enough for productive people, isn't it good enough for your loved one? This kind of software is likely to be used by your loved one well after the neuropathy fades away. And by suggesting it, you're sending a couple of really great messages to your loved one -- that he or she still has a lot of living to do, that he or she still has a lot to share with the world, and that cancer doesn't get to take away anyone's voice. Whether it's reading to your loved one or dictating for your loved one, having this can make a big difference in slipping in a little hope on that rocky cancer road. We all want to feel like we can still get things done. It's important to self-esteem, to our view of the world, and to how we function when we are forced down by physical obstacles. Your loved one may never write the next great novel or reinvent the wheel, but he or she probably has something the world needs to hear. Why not help make that happen? Here are a couple of helpful products:
Dragon Naturally Speaking (PC and MAC versions):
http://www.nuance.com/
NextUp Text Aloud:
http://www.nextup.com/
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