In Their Own Words

In their own words

Barry Anderson

I have been a member of the BDI for approx. 4 years. I joined out of the need to maintain a quality of life, since my health has deteriorated during the years and has left me home bound, and unable to do the outdoor activities I enjoyed so much.

Being introduced to a computer and the internet, was something I thought I would never use. I have found a new interest. I've found that I can keep in touch with my friends and family as well as research all the topics I like.

BDI was introduced to me by a carer from the Brotherhood of St Laurence. Since being a member, I have been supplied with a computer and printer, and have also had the support and company of a volunteer from the BDI who has proven to not only be a whiz at computers, but a good friend. BDI help me keeps in touch with the world and has given me an opportunity I may never have considered, until I became unwell.

Regards, Barry K Anderson

Karen Basford

Unfortunately, I am unable to attend the AGM. However, please accept my heartfelt gratitude to BDI for giving me the tools to survive in this ever- changing digital age and although, luckily, I have not had recent cause to contact Klaus for technical assistance, knowing he is only a phone call away is so much appreciated. He is a marvel.

Warmest regards Karen Basford

Ian and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff and particularly Klaus, who have made our lives very enriched by having access and support to the internet. Warm Regards, Karen Basford and Ian.

Alan Blackburn

I would like to thank one person who has helped with my laptop over the past 12 months. The person I am speaking about is Ian George. I have contacted him on three occasions and on each time has been very helpful. Thank You Ian, every time your help has been very much appreciated.

Regards Alan Blackburn

Ron Bromley

Ron is actually enjoying his computer very much ,He doesn’t use it for anything but games yet but gets a lot of pleasure out of it .We did send Richard a thank you with a photo attached. We were very proud to be able to do that, till we saw the result! It covered the whole screen. That wasn't meant to be. So you see we have lots to learn.

Kind regards, Ron

Dawn Cotterell

I would like to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers who give so generously of their time and knowledge to help others in the community who are less fortunate. So much is done by so few and I for one am very grateful.

As you say Colin will be missed by so many and his passing emphasises that we are all growing older and frailer and really we need to look to another generation to step up and help out. Will it happen, I really hope so.

Take care Dawn (Cotterell) Sept 2015

David Cuffe

Hi Everyone, My name is David Cuffe and I would like to tell you about my experiences with computers before getting in touch with B.D.I. It is so easy to explain, as I have none at all. I happened to meet this lovely couple just around the corner from my home. Peg Stocks and her husband John deserve a lot of credit for getting me off my backside and having a go on the computer. I have not really been interested in electronics as I thought it would be far too hard to learn. SURPRISE!

With Peg as my teacher and her having so much patience I am starting to have some fun, learning has been a new experience but I now find that I am enjoying my days by talking and messaging my new friends and family although I do struggle at times. BDI deserves a lot of credit for the message they are putting out there. Thank you all very much. I wish you all a great time and hope we can let the people that need to fill in their time by getting in touch with B.D.I. A special thank you to a special couple in Peggy and John Stocks.

Yours sincerely David Cuffe

Moira Egan

A big thank you to everyone at BDI for such a great service. Not a day goes by that I learn something new about the world around me. It’s wonderful to be able to connect, reconnect with family and friends I’ve recently

"met" up with cousins in America and have started looking into family in France! Having access to a computer haschanged my life in so many ways!

Best wishes Moira PS: hope to attend the AGM xx

Bert & Queenie Edwards

BDI to me have been very helpful I would not be without my card games. I would not be able to keep in touch with my family in England and Austria, and I would not be able to keep in touch with my friends. I think the voluntary people are doing a wonderful job. I know mine is always on call when I need her.

Best wishes to all, Queenie Edwards

Ron & Betty Farnill

Hi, there is no doubt about the value I obtain from B D I . I am able to keep in touch with my interstate brothers and families, I seem to be having to call Klaus for help quite often, my unbending wrist and insensitive fingers make many mistakes, Klaus comes and cheerfully sorts out the problems and tries to teach me how to rectify my mistakes. Without B D I, I would have to rely on the mobile for communication which combined with my poor hearing and insensitive fingers would make life very difficult, thank you Klaus and BDI.

Cheers, Ron.

It’s that time of the year again when we have the opportunity to thank all the committee and volunteers for the wonderful job they do for us, without them life would be more difficult for my generation to come to terms with modern technology and keep communicating, THANK YOU, Cheers Ron Farnill

Betty and I would like to say a very big thankyou to Richard, and BDI, for introducing

us to the world of computers, for without their help and the untiring assistance of the wonderful volunteers,

we would never have ventured into this modern world.

Thank you all once again. Ron and Betty Farnill.

Doug Field

In 1995 I was diagnosed as having Parkinson’s disease and have always had great difficulty operating a PC mouse due to a tremor, first in my right hand and now in both. A trackball, provided by BDI was an improvement but still stressful trying to place the cursor in the desired position with a shaky hand. I tried a number of devices to replace the mouse, under guidance from an occupational therapist from Yooralla, sponsored by BDI.

I found the Traxsys Joystick 11 was ideal for my use, because the cursor didn’t respond to the shakiness of my hand even at very low speeds and for very small distances when highlighting text for editing. It also enabled accuracy in dragging rectangular frames when cropping photos.

I thank Richard Stubbs OAM, CEO (BDI) for approving and providing this excellent aid.

Doug Field, BDI member and volunteer.

Martin Fisher

Many thanks to all the BDI people - yes it is sad that some wonderful people have passed away and others are not traveling so well – the good work done by the BDI group is greatly appreciated – cheers to all – Martin Fisher Frankston

Many thanks to all the BDI team for the good work that they do. Since I had to stop driving a while back, I rely on my computer for the occasional purchase, paying bills, email contact etc. Thanks again to all the team for your good work.

Cheers from Martin Fisher.

Many thanks to all the BDI team for the good work they do. These days I would be lost without my computer. I do my food shopping by phone with the local IGA and it is delivered to the door. I recently used my computer to order printer paper and a power board from the Good Guys, which should be delivered tomorrow. I am also waiting for a small audio item ordered from China. Cheers to all from “STAY HOME – STAY HAPPY – EAT CAKE”.

Peter Fogarty

Well you know I don't know where to start so I suppose the beginning. Richard and Trish have been a great help over the past twelve months or so :-) Richard Trish and myself are in contact three to four times a month just to let each of us know that we are still breathing and how I am going with the computer, I was having trouble with my hands, so Richard suggested we try the program Dragon. Before BDI I was sitting home all day every day watching TV that was kind of boring but I didn't know of any solutions until I was put in touch with Richard and Trish they are both with a group called Beyond Disability.

For a while we were having a little bit of trouble with the computer's as they did not like some of the program is that I put on but now I have had this computer for two years and had no trouble with this model as it is new. Richard I hope you are impressed as I am writing this with Dragon we are pretty good friends now as my hands are almost constantly shaking and we have involuntary movements more often. When Richard and Trish brought in the computer and set it up in my home I hardly knew how to turn it on but it wasn't too long before I was confident enough to be let loose and see how I could mess up. Messing things up seemed to be a very common thing as I had Trish here every couple of day’s to put right my very silly mistakes. Having Trish here was a big help to me as she showed me where I was going wrong and how to rectify most of the mistakes.

Richard has been a very big help to me as he sent me to do basic computer training and that was a huge help to me I was taught how to use e-mail as before this I was flying blind so to speak. It has taken me a while to master the program Dragon but as I said before we are friends now. Richard has spent some time with me showing me the ins and outs of the

computer it has been a great help to me sometimes, my wife spends a few hours here reading my e-mails for me.

There is a lot more that could be said about Richard and Trish but it is hard to put words to the job that they do. I am told when Richard first started BDI he not only put in a lot of time but a considerable amount of his own money. I know that Richard and Trish put in a lot of time especially with people like me who hardly ever go out, I do have to go out when I have Doctors or Specialists appointments.

Seven years ago I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis which has been very debilitating I have been in a wheelchair almost six years, that is when I thought I had lost my dignity but my wife Kaylene has been very supportive. I have people come in to my home to shower me and do a lot of other things for me that I am not capable of doing for myself, my wife has opened our home to a lot of people who are here to help us. You see I have been diagnosed with quite a bit more than MS far too numerous for me to mention here.” Peter Fogarty

“Peter suffers advanced Multiple Scleroses which not only means he cannot use his hands but his eyesight has diminished as well. Using a voice activated computer donated by Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and assisted by his wife, Peter is able to communicate with friends and family and he even sent a press release which was published by the local paper about the wonderful support he has received from the BDI program. This generated more volunteers and requests for help.”

Dion Harper

You've been very kindly helping me out with a laptop over the years. This is a thank you to all of you so much for all the assistance over the years email. It took me a while but I've learnt how to use the laptop in a very efficient way these days which in turn has literally changed my life on many levels, from all my family photos that I'd never organized over the decades to very regular video conference etc. stuff with my children etc. the laptop has become an intricate part of my everyday life. I'm beginning to have some mobility problems so it helps me out with time management stuff also, from watching a documentary or reading an article it helps me find something to do. I'm so grateful for all the assistance and I just wanted to let you know how I felt, you folk have made a huge difference to my life over the years!

Regards Dion Harper

To whom it may concern,

Beyond Disability helping me out as the have done, I can honestly say that the assistance I've received has made a genuine difference in my life. It's given me the opportunity to keep in regular contact with folk dear to me in a number of ways, we often exchange family photos via the internet with keep in contact with with each other via emails and online platforms. It's also helped me out in other ways like I've been able to watch documentaries online and do my grocery shopping via the internet, if need be, any which way I look at it including when I've had questions relating to things I wasn't quite sure about someone has always been there to help me out. I'm very grateful re all the assistance over the years, its meant something in my little world!

Regards, Dion Harper

Mavis Hobbs

2016

“Over a period of years, I realise how dependent I am on my computer. It has opened up doors I could not imagine before without my PC. Sending e-mails to friends have not seen for 50 years scattered all over the world. We have formed a network exchanging e-mail addresses with other school friends. More recently Len and Mavis has got me interested in tracing my ancestry in England, it is very exciting all made possible via the internet! It is educational as well as learning where and how our great, great grandparents lived. Searching and finding long lost relatives is all consuming!

Being housebound most of time I listen to the radio and watch television avidly, I love current affairs and documentaries

Cobi Hoekstra

I came from Holland 55 years ago. Go back for a visit every few month or so “How can you afford that‘ I hear you say Well I use my COMPUTER to take me away

I have seen “Keukenhof” with flowers in full bloom.

Been to my old school and sat in my room Amsterdam is a city, I so adore Have been there many times before. Get in touch with my siblings for a regular chat. Would never been able to do all that If it wasn’t for Richard and his volunteers. Wishing you happiness and good health, always.

I am certainly thankful to Peggy and all of you. Mine sister in Holland is celebrating her 60th wedding day and sends me pictures so that I can be part of it.

Would not happen without a computer! So thank you—Cobi.

Thank you are two words I say to Richard and his team today. Reading is my hobby, but still, there are empty hours to fill I can be in Paris, London, Lima, wander in a park in China All from the comfort of mine chair. Don’t even have to comb mine hair

So a BIG THANK

YOU is in place for filling in an empty space! Cobi.

This is a heartfelt THANK YOU, To

Richard and his team , For giving me an outlet, And letting of some steam, Talking to mine siblings, To know where they are at, Pictures of their spring. Always nice to see , If I didn’t have mine computer I wouldn’t know them And they wouldn’t know me!

Thank you for keeping me connected to the people that I love. Cobi

Lynette Hook

Please thank Ian my volunteer for all his wonderful help. He has been absolutely amazing.

Kindest Regards Lyn Hook.

Thomas McGann

From McGann family Date 16 / 09 / 09 From Thomas age 16:

Although I am physically restricted by my disability, BDI gives me the chance to expand my horizons, communicate with my peers, explore and be informed. The opportunity to use a laptop at school to supplement my writing skills is also invaluable and has assisted me greatly with achieving the educational levels I have reached and those that I aspire to.

Regards, Thomas McGann

Tom's mum also wrote separately:

Tom has a degenerative condition, so he uses a wheelchair and his mobility is severely limited. Access to the Internet will expand his social, intellectual and interpersonal outlook which will assist his development. Tom’s condition imposes extra financial strain on us, so we are unable to afford local Internet services, thanks to BDI he can use the Internet.

From Des and Lina:

Our BDI membership is of benefit to us for all the reasons we have previously listed, and now that Thomas is growing up and developing intellectually he is increasingly making use of internet access to source information for his schoolwork. I expect this requirement to expand in the future, particularly as Thomas's limited mobility restricts his ability to use some traditional resources.

From the family:

Being a member of the BDI has given us some unique experiences, such as meeting politicians, having morning tea with Dame Elisabeth Murdoch at her house and seeing Tom's photo in the newspaper. The Internet has empowered us with extra forms of communication and information sourcing. We feel it has had a positive impact on the whole family.

Carol Kidger

I don’t know what I would do without the Internet access. Although I mainly use it for the e-mail, it has been a wonderful way to stay in touch with friends and family. I have a son in London whom I couldn’t afford to ring as often as I am able to e-mail. Also a brother in Canada, my parents who live locally are elderly and not in good health and I send a regular e-mail to Canada to let them know how we are going Down under. We also have friends in Florida who I would never dream of ringing as we wouldn’t get off the phone and I can’t write very well. Before I became ill, I was a really fast typist, although I have slowed down a lot it is so easy to type compared to writing which is almost impossible. We also have friends in Chicago who became friends when I first became ill.

In the beginning I became ill one day, went to casualty at Frankston Hospital, walked in and that was the last time I ever walked. Within 24 hours I was paralysed up to my neck. I had a virus that nearly killed me. Was in intensive care at the Alfred for two weeks and spent 13 months in re-hab at Caulfield. A very close friend got on to the Internet to see if the world had heard of this virus and a young couple in Chicago answered as the husband had contracted the virus at about the same time. We have been communicating ever since through my friend. Now it is possible for me to e-mail directly to them and it is so encouraging to hear that he is now walking and back at work. I also have a friend who is going to Laos for two years so that will be another contact for me. As well as several friends on the other side of Melbourne who write me. Being literally housebound, except for medical appointments, this is a wonderful way to keep in touch. I have an interest in Astrology as well and can keep up with all the latest info from around the world.

Thank you so much for a chance to move outside my four walls...

Regards, Carol—age 49 (wheelchair disabled)

Leonie Medlyn-White

Dear Klaus, I need to thank you so much for the great effort you have made to assist with the changeover of windows 10 for me... this has been a great deal of extra work for you just to appease me because I have

difficulty with any change of any kind. I can see how much extra work you have put into this

great effort. Please accept my apologies for being such a nuisance. I appreciate your efforts so much.

Thank you Klaus so very much.

Kind regards, Leonie. (05/05/20)

I wish to send a great thank you to all involved at Beyond Disability Inc. for all the volunteered workers that spend hours visiting us to assist with our computer problems, and also the behind the scene workers that do the paperwork and other duties. We so appreciate having Beyond Disability in our lives.

Regards, Leonie Medlyn-White

Violet Meddicks

To all the great volunteers at BDI.

This is not a small thank you, but a very big one, for this year has been a very hard one, and I do not know how I would have managed without my laptop and my very patient volunteer Tricia, to help and guide me through a difficult time. Plus I cannot thank everyone at BDI that put so much of their valuable time for all of us who are housebound. I wish them all the best for a good New Year in the future, and good health also. Yours very sincerely, Violet Meddicks

Guy Mirabella

As I have a severe disability and am confined to a wheelchair and home, the BDI has opened up a new world for me. It has given me a new lease on life and has changed my outlook from one of despair to one of hope.

The program has opened a new world for me. It has made it possible for me to start to grasp what is happening to me and has helped me find new ways to help tackle the illness. My day is now spent gainfully in research and learning about the world around me.

If this program were to fold, it would be a disaster not only for myself, but for many others like me on the program.

Guy Mirabella.

Lynn Roberts

Hi, As you must know. I am very appreciative of your patience and training when I first became a member of BDI, the distance you travel to my new address if I have a problem. So please know that I thank you very much. Best wishes

Lynn Roberts

Every year when it gets to this report time. I am so grateful that there is always someone who can see the mistake I have made and fix it! Please know I am very appreciative of the help you give me!

Regards, Lynn Roberts

John Richardson

Hi Ian,

On John's behalf, I would like to thank BDI for helping John out with the laptop and over the years, it has made life easier for him and certainly made a difference. Thank you Ian for your technical support and making the learning curve with the laptop smoother. Also thanks for sending the parcel post bag so I can return the Telstra broadband device to you. Kind regards and cheers for now,

Claudia (and John) Watson. (John left BDI this year due to failing health)

Jasmine Rigby-Smith

Can you please pass on to the committee at Beyond Disability how much we appreciate the work they do. Our daughter Jasmine is very lucky to be able to access up to date, quality computer equipment.

Although she has a severe physical disability due to her muscular dystrophy, she does very well at school and we are so proud of her.

Your organisation helps her so much by giving her the opportunity and the confidence to participate in computer activities for school and for social purposes.

You can imagine the impact this has on someone with a lot of physical limitations. It opens up so many opportunities so she can look to the future with enthusiasm and optimism. Thank you all so much,

Linda Rigby. 2012

We hope you can please pass on our thanks to the team at Beyond Disability for all your efforts over the last year. We are currently away and not able to attend the meeting to thank you all in person. Our daughter Jasmine has gained so much from the fantastic support of Beyond Disability. Good access to technology has meant so much to Jasmine. It has enabled her to participate and do well at school. She also has many social opportunities available to her thanks to the availability of her tech stuff. We do hope that your team understands how much Jasmine and other school children gain so much thanks to the help of Beyond Disability. Many thanks, Linda Rigby, Rod Smith and Jasmine Rigby- Smith

Fiona Ross-Fulstow & Candice Fulstow

A big thank you to BDI and all the volunteers who make BDI possible.

Especially in times such as these, when so many of us are isolated or on our own. Having a way to connect with one another has been a blessing and one I am so grateful for. Fiona

Florence Rumpelmayer

I would just like to say thank you and how much I have enjoyed being a BDI member. Thomas my grandson introduced me to Tricia and I know he speaks highly as to how he had his 1st computer (and how important a computer is in his life)

Flo Rumpelmayer.