| Speech recognition technology is important for | | | | lets a person with arthritis speak the words they |
| anyone with arthritis. Arthritis affects all ages and | | | | want to type or the commands they need to use |
| occupations, but is especially devastating for | | | | into their computer instead of typing when they |
| anyone who types and communicates through | | | | are in pain. This equipment used to be expensive |
| using a keyboard on the internet or office | | | | and non-compatible with many computers. Now, |
| network. There are few options for someone | | | | they are accessible and inexpensive, even for |
| who works in an office if they cannot type | | | | small businesses. Small businesses can now |
| information into a keyboard except for speech | | | | employ and keep people with arthritis who need |
| recognition devices. Even though claiming disability | | | | to use a keyboard without the expense or the |
| looks attractive, the reality of actually exploring | | | | inconvenience of using technology that originally |
| the possibilities of expensive medical procedures | | | | was not within their reach. |
| including splints or other devices, painful injections | | | | Even individuals who have arthritis can purchase |
| of corticosteroids and NSAIDs or finally, surgery is | | | | this equipment to take with them on interviews |
| painful. | | | | so that they can prove they are able to work in |
| The first approach an employer will want to take | | | | an office without their arthritis being a burden. |
| to avoid these painful conditions is to reassign an | | | | This kind of equipment and software has come a |
| employee to different duties, but an employee | | | | long way in helping people with disabilities continue |
| who wants to keep working on a computer may | | | | to work and become valuable assets to small |
| explore other options like headsets that record | | | | businesses and larger offices everywhere. Many |
| what needs to be typed. There is legislation being | | | | government agencies also benefit from speech |
| passed that helps office workers with arthritis. For | | | | recognition devices because they help long term |
| example, in West Virginia, the West Virginia | | | | employees with arthritis keep working in a |
| Arthritis Prevention Education Act, which was | | | | productive way that benefits everyone, including |
| introduced last February, was passed by both | | | | taxpayers. Speech recognition devices now save |
| houses of the West Virginia Legislature on March | | | | money and jobs for everyone, and reduce the |
| 13. This legislation will establish an arthritis | | | | liability and disability payments that any company |
| prevention and treatment education program | | | | must pay if someone is no longer able to perform |
| within the WV Bureau of Public Health. An | | | | their duties. |
| Interagency Council on Arthritis has included an | | | | Many employers and small businesses have |
| allocation of $280,000. The bill will be delivered to | | | | realized that experienced office workers are hard |
| the Governor's office where hopefully it will be | | | | to find. With this equipment, when an office |
| signed into law. | | | | worker has arthritis, there are affordable and |
| Affordable equipment and software is now more | | | | convenient solutions to keep valued employees |
| widely used for office workers with arthritis. | | | | working. This equipment lets employees keep |
| Speech recognition devises are equipment which | | | | working and keep companies strong. |