Little Joe would at one time lie inert, if contented, on his bed. Now he has the chance to sits up, make his own decisions and take control.

And his channel for this new lease of life is a marvellous computer bought with money raised by the Oxford Mail's Little Joe Appeal.

The overwhelming response from readers - ranging from pensioners to businessmen - raised the £1,000 target in just two hours when the appeal was launched on our front page a few months ago.

Many people were reduced to tears when they read of the struggle four-and-a-half-year-old Joe has had since an incident at the John Radcliffe left him paralysed and reliant on a respirator and ventilator to breathe. The transformation brought about by his being able to access the computer has delighted his parents Wendy and Pete Smith, of Greater Leys, Oxford.

Little Joe first tried it out at a few days ago, playing Snap with his mother, "He was spot on every time," she said proudly.

This may not seem unusual to most mums, but as Joe is only able to communicate by moving his fingers and eyeballs it is a major achievement. The Smiths are now seeing for the first time what he can do.

Wendy says happily: "It is absolutely brilliant. Joe is really catching on and getting the idea. "We are really surprised by how quickly he is making progress."

So far Joe has been learning how to use the switches that he squeezes in response to the computer's images and questions. His mother's voice has also been programmed in so when he uses a specific switch a recording of her voice is triggered, which makes him laugh.

Other programmes show him how to develop things by himself, from building a bus to matching names with family photographs, and solving small problems.

All the programmes were specially developed for children with disabilities and are usually used in special needs schools. Joe can only use the machine for 30 minutes at a time because he finds it quite tiring, but he is very excited by his new toy.

His mums says: "After half an hour he starts getting exhausted and, although he wants to carry on, he begins getting frustrated."

Another bonus is that, not only does the computer tune in his mental skills, but it is also helping him to refine his physical responses.

His dad says: "His motor skills have improved so much. "He can rotate his wrists now to activate one switch and is also using the floor switch, which is a new thing.

"And where before he made sweeping movements with his arms to reach something he is becoming much more precise.

"Joe is also very aware of the screen and really enjoys what we do. And at the end of the day when we talk about what we've been doing he certainly remembers his time on the computer." Joe really proves that learning can be fun. Wendy says: "He is getting so much benefit out of it and is laughing a lot.

"He really is having a lot of fun and as it's by his bed his two brothers and sister are very interested, as are all their friends, so they are always crowding around him to have a look, and giving Joe a lot more social interaction. It's been such a boost for him."

Story date: Saturday 08 April

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.