Teenager to be technical buddy to paralysed man (From Malvern Gazette)

Teenager to be technical buddy to paralysed man

10:19am Monday 26th January 2009 in Search

THE Malvern-based charity ARCOS has recruited a volunteer to help a paralysed man get to grips with an amazing new computer system.

The charity has bought the computer for David Train, who has been paralysed and unable to speak following an accident 15 years ago.

Called MyTobii, the device is from Sweden, but its Grid 2 software was developed by Barnards Green-based Sensory Software International. Users can control the computer simply by looking at the screen.

19-year-old Will Cooke's father works part-time for the firm, and he is strongly interested in computers himself, so when ARCOS was casting around for a "technical buddy" to work with Mr Train on the system, he was in the frame.

"What I'll be doing is working with Mr Train to customise the Grid, for his needs," said Mr Cooke. "It's a great opportunity and I'm looking forward to working with him in the coming weeks.

"Just seeing somebody like that with no direct means of communication is a bit harrowing, so working with him, giving him the ability to communicate, will I hope be quite rewarding. I'll actually be contributing to improving his quality of life.

“It'll be really great experience as well," said Mr Cooke, who makes computer animations and hopes to work in the video game industry.

Kay Coombes of ARCOS said: "Because of Will's knowledge of computers, he can make it much more instructive and interesting for Mr Train than I could. Not only has he got the technical skills, he's also got the right kind of quiet manner to work with Mr Train."

As Mr Cooke does not drive, and Mr Train lives in Evesham, ARCOS would be delighted to hear from anyone who can help him get to and from his twice-weekly visits to Mr Train.