home and make subtle, frequent adjustments like turning to face a conversation or looking out the window, actions that would have otherwise required assistance. He also operated his chair’s tilt, recline, and leg elevation functions, essential for comfort and health management. For Jan, the impact extended beyond Donnie’s autonomy; it eased her physical and emotional burden as a caregiver, giving her peace of mind and allowing others to engage with Donnie more directly. As she described, “It's all these little moments during the day... they make a huge difference for a caregiver” (J. Steinbock, personal communica- tion, May 8, 2024). The benefits of Ability Drive® are also evident in the expe- rience of Melissa Kelbley, a working professional in an office leadership role, living with type-2 spinal muscular atrophy. As her condition progressed, conventional driving systems like joysticks, mini-joysticks, and fiber-optic switches became less
App drive screen accessing seat functions via the mode switch.
This seamless integration allows users to reposition them- selves independently, enhancing comfort and autonomy with- out relying on caregiver assistance. That independence matters. Research shows that caregivers of individuals with severe motor impairments, especially those who are non-verbal, immobile, or have tracheostomies, face substantial physical and emotional strain. Tasks such as adjusting seating positions can be frequent, time-consuming, and interruptive to other responsibilities. Jones et al. (2012) found that dependence in daily activities like these contributes significantly to caregiver burden. Likewise, Rushton et al. (2017) reported that caregivers of powered wheel- chair users often experience psychological stress related to safe- ty concerns and the need for constant availability. Pousada et al. (2018) found that over 70% of caregivers supporting individuals with neuromuscular diseases experience burden that negatively affects their well-being. By enabling users to manage seating adjustments through eye-gaze alone, Ability Drive® reduces the frequency and urgen- cy of these caregiving tasks. The result is not only increased user independence, but also reduced caregiver workload, support- ing a more balanced and sustainable caregiving relationship. SUCCESS STORIES: WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD A powerful illustration of Ability Drive®’s impact comes from Donnie Graham, a former engineer who lived with ALS in Portland, Oregon. After becoming quadriplegic and reliant on non-invasive ventilation, Donnie adopted an early version of Ability Drive® in 2019 to regain control over his power wheel- chair using only eye-tracking. According to his wife and primary caregiver, Jan Steinbock, the technology provided more than just mobility. It restored a sense of independence and dignity in daily life. Using eye-gaze, Donnie was able to navigate their
Melissa Kelbley, an early adopter of Ability Drive.
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