Gideon Gerber is 52 years of age and has been a quadriplegic for 25 years. He was knocked off his motor bike by a taxi. Surprise, surprise. If it hadn’t been for an aware shop keeper who called the ambulance almost as it happened then he wouldn’t be around today. Gideon has no reaction below his neck and is sometimes referred to as the ‘head’. He is surprisingly cheerful and positive considering his situation. Gideon and several other quads live in Huis Andries Olivier in Hafaele Street in Durbanville. Gideon is a committee member and is very involved in fund raising. He also does paper work for people who are sent there to do community service so he is quite a busy man. The quads are generally busy. I noticed that they even supervise the gardener.

As Gideon cannot move at all he is confined to bed and is very prone to bed sores. He is therefore dependant on other people to dial his phone numbers, type his letters and even answer the telephone. Communication is vital to him not only for his duties around the home but to keep contact with his family in Klerksdorp and his daughter in Taiwan.

This is where the Rotary Club of Newlands comes in. We are in the process of supplying a voice activated computer to Gideon. The software known as Dragan which is supplied by Human Capital Development comes complete with on site installation, commissioning and initial on site training. We have included for 8 hours of basic training in addition to the training given on installation. He has also been promised a printer to print as required.

We are sure that Gideon will make good use of this and we will no doubt receive his thanks via his new system in due course.