AFTER the huge success of our campaign to raise £1,000 to buy little Joe Smith a revolutionary computer, writes Katherine MacAlister, we meet another Oxford mum whose daughter's life was transformed by similar equipment.

FIVE-year-old Emma-Louise Dunkley has cerebral palsy. The effects of the disease mean that her speech is slow and she has trouble writing and drawing. But her life has been transformed by a £1,400 computer that enables her to perform both functions by using a mouse instead of her hands.

Emma-Louise is a pupil at Windmill First School, Margaret Road, Headington, and at the end of every day she takes her homework back to her Risinghurst home and completes it on her computer. A customised software programme drives a special mouse that slows everything down so she can use the terminal with ease. A speech monitor repeats the letters and words that Emma-Louise uses out loud. It also highlights her mistakes on screen so that Emma-Louise can see where where she has gone wrong and can learn from her mistakes.

Her mum Susan, 24, says: "The computer is fantastic and it has made a huge difference to my daughter's life. She will now be able to take exams and get a good job because she is very intelligent and determined.

"I cannot imagine life without the computer. But now we need a laptop that Emma-Louise can take to school with her."

The money for her computer was raised in a joint effort by Oxford Round Table and the Aidis Trust, an organisation that provides equipment for people with disabilities. The Trust delivered the equipment to Emma-Louise in October. It is now organising a similar effort for little Joe Smith.

Susan says: "It will help his communication and help him express his feelings a lot better. In his brain he knows what he wants, but it's like having a brick wall between yourself and the outside world."

Joe's mother agrees that the new equipment, donated by Oxford Mail readers, will transform his life.

Until now his every response and need has been met by his parents who try to interpret his only actions - rolling his eyes and gently squeezing his hands.

But from now on he will be able to use his £1,000 computer to make his own choices, educate himself and reply to his family. ALTHOUGH we've already raised the £1,000 Joe and his family need, you may still like to help. To make a donation, please send a cheque made payable to: Aidis Trust for Joe Smith and send it to Aidis Trust, 1 Albany Park, Cabot Lane, Poole, Dorset. BH17 7BX.

1,000 thanks

Story date: Tuesday 08 February

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