For more information about the Eyemax and other devices including a handheld tool called Xpress, go to www.dynavoxtech.com
The power of words. When disease robs patients of their voices, technology returns the gift of speech.
Judy Harp-Prunty: "Amy, what do you want to do tomorrow, do you want to go out?"
Amy Harp: "Maybe"
Words ... their meaning? Freedom for twenty-five year old Amy Harp.
Amy Harp: "I can talk play games and email friends and family."
Born with spina bifida, Amy had complete use of her upper body. Then, just four years ago, she began to lose function in her torso. Her diagnosis ... muscular dystrophy.
Judy Harp-Prunty: "She was put on a ventilator in January and then she lost her speech. Even though she was disabled her whole life in some way or another to take away her ability to communicate and to tell me that she had an itch on her nose or the top of her head it was so difficult."
Until this pink device arrived ... with a little help from the Muscular Dystrophy Asociation.
Judy Harp-Prunty: "To give her this device that was able to let me talk to her again and know what she needed to care for her but to enjoy her too, to let me still enjoy the every days that we have."
It's called the Eyemax ... instead of using a handheld mouse, Amy uses her eyes to select letters, type e-mails and play games. It even allows her to control her environment ... turn on the television or dvd player.
Eddy Donnelly, Dynavox: "The camera is on the bottom here ... you see this circle that is the camera that is picking up her eyes."
Eddy Donnelly: "Amy is simply looking at what she wants to select and her eyes are like a mouse ... and when it's hovering over what she'd like to select she blinks her eyes and that is like a mouse click to make the selection."
Judy Harp-Prunty, Amy's Mother: "The frustration of not knowing what she wanted and how to help her and you're dealing with her discomfort, her pain, you are trying to keep her happy but you don't know how to keep her happy."
The Eyemax helps ... it's a link to the outside world and a connection with her family right here at home.
Judy Harp-Prunty: "We can sit, we can relax, we can be girlies again ... we can enjoy each others company."
And for Amy ... well, not even words can describe her gratitude.
Amy Harp: "It means more than I can say."
The MDA gave Amy $2000 toward the Eyemax and insurance picked up the rest. It's estimated up to three million people could benefit from the device ... but many don't know about it.
Augie Nieto has made it his mission to change that. The exercise enthusiast who built a business showing people the value of the Lifefitness Machine, getting them up on their feet, now uses his toes to talk.
Ever since his daignosis of ALS, Augie has garnered strength by raising money for research and giving a voice to others with muscular dystrophy.
The power of words. When disease robs patients of their voices, technology returns the gift of speech.
Judy Harp-Prunty: "Amy, what do you want to do tomorrow, do you want to go out?"
Amy Harp: "Maybe"
Words ... their meaning? Freedom for twenty-five year old Amy Harp.
Amy Harp: "I can talk play games and email friends and family."
Born with spina bifida, Amy had complete use of her upper body. Then, just four years ago, she began to lose function in her torso. Her diagnosis ... muscular dystrophy.
Judy Harp-Prunty: "She was put on a ventilator in January and then she lost her speech. Even though she was disabled her whole life in some way or another to take away her ability to communicate and to tell me that she had an itch on her nose or the top of her head it was so difficult."
Until this pink device arrived ... with a little help from the Muscular Dystrophy Asociation.
Judy Harp-Prunty: "To give her this device that was able to let me talk to her again and know what she needed to care for her but to enjoy her too, to let me still enjoy the every days that we have."
It's called the Eyemax ... instead of using a handheld mouse, Amy uses her eyes to select letters, type e-mails and play games. It even allows her to control her environment ... turn on the television or dvd player.
Eddy Donnelly, Dynavox: "The camera is on the bottom here ... you see this circle that is the camera that is picking up her eyes."
Eddy Donnelly: "Amy is simply looking at what she wants to select and her eyes are like a mouse ... and when it's hovering over what she'd like to select she blinks her eyes and that is like a mouse click to make the selection."
Judy Harp-Prunty, Amy's Mother: "The frustration of not knowing what she wanted and how to help her and you're dealing with her discomfort, her pain, you are trying to keep her happy but you don't know how to keep her happy."
The Eyemax helps ... it's a link to the outside world and a connection with her family right here at home.
Judy Harp-Prunty: "We can sit, we can relax, we can be girlies again ... we can enjoy each others company."
And for Amy ... well, not even words can describe her gratitude.
Amy Harp: "It means more than I can say."
The MDA gave Amy $2000 toward the Eyemax and insurance picked up the rest. It's estimated up to three million people could benefit from the device ... but many don't know about it.
Augie Nieto has made it his mission to change that. The exercise enthusiast who built a business showing people the value of the Lifefitness Machine, getting them up on their feet, now uses his toes to talk.
Ever since his daignosis of ALS, Augie has garnered strength by raising money for research and giving a voice to others with muscular dystrophy.
