Nuance - I Speak Dragon

dragonstories2011 Posted: 06-17-2011 11:02 PM

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  First, I would like to recognize and thank Ms Jeanie Moran, of the Joy A. Shabazz, Independent Living Center in Greensboro North Carolina.  She is a Disability Advocate, who focuses on nursing home transition and is the individual responsible for me being introduced to Dragon Naturally Speaking.
  I was recovering from a horrific car accident severing my C –5&6 vertebrae and brainstem stroke, which left me with substantial paralysis on my right side, confined to a wheelchair and needing extensive medical care and many of the associated needs.  My 2 1/2 month hospital stay, and my 7 months in a rehabilitation center/medical care facility, were the most difficult part of my journey. Although my attention and energy was focused on intensive therapy, the words “nuance and dragon” would prove to be two of the most important words in my way forward.
On a scheduled home visit Ms. Moran and I began to talk about the road forward for my physical and occupational therapy.  We discussed the vacuum of the high level of physical activity that I had enjoyed all of my life. She noticed that I had a computer and asked me about my ability to use the computer with one hand. She watched as I struggled to navigate the keyboard with one damaged hand and then she bellowed out with excitement “ Mr. Enoch…I think I can help your situation”. The next week Ms. Moran acquired Dragon Naturally Speaking for me, and it was installed on my computer and that turned out to be one of the most important phases of my rehabilitation.  My spirit was uplifted and I began to engage the world.

 
 The Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition system had a very user-friendly and easy learning system.  It was composed of several learning tools that included fully loaded navigation bar and an extensive command browser that enabled me to train my voice quickly and navigate all aspects of my computer hands free.   My improved mental attitude had a direct effect on my physical therapy.  I immediately began to increase my movement, balance and overall mental sharpness. Dragon Naturally Speaking also had a very positive influence on my relationship with my family, especially my daughter Chelsea.  She lives 300 miles away in Washington DC and embraced the change in my attitude immediately, and that relieved a lot of her angst of not being close by to help her father.
 Aside from the wonderful medical attention that I received, the one thing that contribute most to my emotional and physical therapy is my acquisition and use of Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition system. There are things that I've been able to accomplish since my retirement on disability that are directly attributed to the Nuance Company and its wonderful product.
I have been able to use my computer to compose an extensive volume of poetry, extend my political interests by establishing and administering an online political blog. I’ve managed to write and publish several newspaper articles, one that was featured on the front page of the Greensboro, NC’s News & Record paper, regarding the opening of The International Civil Rights Museum on Febuary1 2010. I was a viable member of the online aspect of a 2010 North Carolina State Senate campaign, and last but not least, being a “disabled baby boomer” , I’m now able  to work part-time as an Online Customer Service Representative, and that is  humbling!!!
 
                                                                                                                             Thomas E. Enoch.
                                                                                                                              Burlington, NC