Beyond Disability Inc
Malcolm Fowler - NBN Consultant
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Mavis Hobbs has actively participated in the Beyond Disability programme since its
inception. She has attended every Annual General Meeting except the last one and has assisted in the promotion of our aims wherever possible. Mavis has Motor Neurone Disease which has significantly affected her physical abilities but not her sense of humour nor her mental agility. She has recently moved from her home in Mount Eliza into the new and rather palatial residential care facility, Mercy Place, in East Melbourne.
As a BDI Volunteer I have been assisting Mavis for the last three years, prior to which she was very ably supported by Len Dent. Despite her wheel chair confinement, lack of speech and failing muscle coordination it is amazing what Mavis still manages to achieve – much of which would have been very difficult without a computer and internet access. During the time I have known her she has organized visits to the UK, Uluru and Cairns as well as being taken flying over Melbourne by her pilot son, Martin.
She is a keen photographer and so after each of these trips there has been much activity downloading, editing, printing and backing up these important mementos. She has many friends and can keep in touch via email – her email traffic is enormous (!), perhaps 20 or 30 emails received per day. It is becoming increasing difficult for Mavis to type so the responses are getting shorter – but you still always get one.
My involvement with BDI over the last year has been very satisfying and almost totally focused on providing support to Mavis Hobbs. Since Len Dent's retirement from BDI I meet with Mavis every Saturday for two hours and often need to call in during the week to resolve immediate issues.
Mavis is amazing even though her condition continues to deteriorate. Much of my input is now in actually assisting Mavis with her computer tasks rather than resolving problems although we still have our fair share of those... Recently I had
to install a new hard drive when the old one failed - luckily we had everything backed up. The ADSL broadband connection has been a godsend as Mavis needs 24 hour connection as she is totally reliant on the internet for all communication and many transactions. We have also established a wireless network in her home so that she can use a laptop in the bedroom when necessary.
In addition to Mavis I have also provided some support to Melissa Hall but she seems to manage without regular calls. I have also appreciated Colin's assistance in resolving the technical issues as they have arisen.
Cheers, Malcolm Fowler (Volunteer)
A most remarkable lady…..
It’s difficult to imagine the limitations Mavis faces – particularly her lack of speech – when it comes to day to day transactions. This is where the computer and internet has provided real benefit. Mavis was the first to go onto a broadband connection with TADAust as she needed a connection 24 hour with rapid
download. This enabled her to do all her banking, some share trading, conduct a lengthy legal settlement with solicitors in the UK, book holidays, sort out warranty claims and fight the bureaucracy of the companies who refuse to accept that there are people who can’t speak!
It is amazing what can be achieved with perseverance and a computer connected to the internet!
Since her move into residential care it has been necessary to swap over to a laptop with a wireless broadband connection. This transition was relatively painless and the results very good.
I don’t have as much face to face contact with Mavis now due to the distance involved but I continue to monitor her connection via Windows Live and of course keep in regular contact via email.
It is a privilege to be able to assist Mavis. I am sure I have gained more from this experience than I have put back in. I find her attitude truly inspirational…..
Malcolm Fowler – BDI Volunteer – October 2009
