Use mouse movement as a switch action: AutoHotkey

This is a script that enables you to use your mouse or trackball as a switch, turning the movement into a click. If you move the mouse cursor anywhere on the screen, the movement will send a switch action. You might have to play with the pixel value in the script, or adjust the mouse speed or uncheck “enhance pointer precision” in Control Panel > Mouse depending on how steadily you move.

Mobility aid review: Crutcheze AirFlex forearm crutch cuff covers

A while ago, I switched from regular Crutcheze cuff pads to their newer Air Flex. The Air Flex padding is much more comfortable for me. The fabric itself is thick, so it feels like the whole cuff is cushioned; I don’t feel the edges of the cuff the way I sometimes did with the original. The inserts are neoprene rather than foam, which means the padding doesn’t compress as much or as quickly. I’d guess the padding is about a half inch thick. That’s important to me; I have a 3″ cuff and even that’s too big. I need a thick cover so that my stick stays on my arm, so I can swing it efficiently.

The thickness concern brings me to my next point: the rare perk of being one handed and things coming in pairs. While the Crutcheze cover is fine for me in winter with the added bulk of my coat and clothes, it can still slip a little on my bare arm in warm weather. The cover allows for adding extra padding, so I inserted the neoprene from the second cover into the first. All you have to do is turn the cover inside out, slip it through, and turn the cover rightside out again.

The cover also seems to go over the cuff more easily, which is no small thing with a V design cuff. Once you get each pocket a tad over each side of the cuff, you can just pull the cover straight back and it slides right on. It doesn’t bunch up like the original did sometimes.

The only problem I had at first was that the Air Flex are supposed to fasten around the back of the crutch with Velcro. That doesn’t work on the Millennial forearm crutch cuff. Even if you can get the straps around, the fasteners prevent the cuff from moving on its hinge, which restricts my movement somewhat and is slightly less safe if I should fall. So I cut off the Velcro, and it was fine; the cover stayed on with no problem. Later, I took out the Velcro stubs with a seam ripper when I noticed it snagging my backpack. That was a bit of work, my hand strength being what it is. When I asked Crutcheze for suggestions, they sent me a pair of Air Flex without Velcro. It meant a lot to me; I depend on that little slip of fabric for my stick to be usable.

Comfort and customer service–what more could you ask for?

Why I missed Blogging Against Disablism Day

I’ve spent the last year retching every morning before work. It gradually wrecked most of my teeth, until I couldn’t fasten my glove or brace or tear open a packet of tea. I’ve spent the last week in repairs, with more to follow. The dentist hit a facial nerve during one of them, which is a startling pain–like pool chlorine going up your sinuses, then numbing your nose and eyelid as if you’ve hit yourself. A twinge remains around my eye socket. But that pain, at least, is impersonal. I decided to use it–to let it stand for the dread that made me vomit and the hurt that created a false ache in my bones. I know my subconscious when I see it–if the memories and dread are screwing with my second hand, it means I need to get rid of them.

Augmentative communication with Android: Free Speech review

I haven’t been using my tablet much lately because it hurts my fingers and I have a lot of work to do, and sustained serious work requires my laptop and the “good” assistive tech. However, it does have its uses. One, which I hadn’t expected, is augmentative communication. Out of curiosity, I installed Tony Atkins’ Free Speech — one of the few apps that give the choice of using text as well as icons.

Toggle a drag and drop loop: AutoHotkey

If you don’t use dwell clicking but would still like a repeating drag and drop capability, here is a script that uses an extra mouse or trackball button to toggle repeating drag locks on and off, for moving tiles in Words With Friends.

Global tweaks for Expert Mouse and others: Drag lock with AutoHotkey

When I use the trackball and onscreen keyboard, I use dwell clicking for almost everything–except precise or continuous  dragging.

Use mouse wheel for switch scanning: AutoHotkey

If you’re able to turn a scroll ring on a trackball or roll a mouse wheel, you can use it as a switch. You can alter the keys and clicks to suit yourself; for instance, for 2-switch scanning, the other wheel direction could stand for the second switch. “Suspend” turns the substitutions on or off.

Esc::Suspend

WheelUp::
Send, {LButton}

WheelDown::
Send, {LButton}

Change size of Firefox text cursor

In Windows itself, I’ve set the keyboard focus rectangle and keyboard cursor to be thicker than normal. (Control Panel > Ease of Access Center > Make the computer easier to see, under Make things on the screen easier to see.) However, those settings don’t translate to Firefox. To fix this:

Go to about:config. Ignore the warning if you get one.

Right click on the screen and choose New, then Integer.

Call it ui.caretWidth and enter your chosen value. You can modify this later if you need to.

Alternative to TrackballWorks: universal macros with X-Mouse

If I want to do macros with my trackball, I use AutoHotkey for two main reasons: it’s a lot more customizable (see the Kindle script) and it works with Point N Click. If I remember correctly, Kensington’s TrackballWorks only communicates with the hardware buttons (which makes sense, but is nonetheless unfortunate if you use dwell clicking).

Warning: Dragon 12 and Jarte

I am reminded again how precarious technology is. The other day I got an email from Jarte’s developer warning that it doesn’t work with Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12, even if Detect DNS is set to 1. I’m on 11.5, and am fiercely glad I decided not to upgrade, because I’d be out a damn good word processor. Apparently Dragon 12 is glitching with other programs too, from what I hear. The developer hopes to work around it in a future version, but has asked Dragon users to contact Nuance about the incompatibility with Jarte. I’ve done so, for whatever it’s worth. I encourage you to do the same.