I remember as if it were yesterday the first night we installed Alexa in my room. Living with pentaplegia, I had always depended on others for the smallest actions, like turning on the lights or changing the TV channel.
For the very first time, I could do it all with my voice: turn the lights on and off, control the fan, or change the channel.
I suffer from insomnia, and until then, I spent many nights watching infomercials because I didn’t want to bother anyone just to switch the channel. That night was different: I could choose the movie I wanted, adjust the volume, and change channels as often as I liked. It was a moment of relief, freedom, and disbelief. I couldn’t believe I was doing it on my own, without relying on anyone.
Talking about personal mobility does not only mean moving the body. Sometimes it means being able to switch on a light when you need it, send a message to a friend, or play your favorite music without asking for help.
For me, digitalization has meant equality: it has given me back the possibility to decide for myself, to stay connected to everything —music, friends, social media, banks, my children’s school, work— and to feel part of society again.
At the end of the day, turning on a lightbulb with your hand or with your voice is the same: the room lights up. But if you can do it yourself, without depending on anyone, the value is infinitely greater.
How accessible technology changed my everyday life
Before, technology was almost inaccessible to me. Turning on a light, changing the channel, playing music, or sending a WhatsApp message was impossible without asking for help. And asking for help for everything, no matter how small, becomes exhausting. Many times, I would put up with a movie I didn’t even like just to avoid bothering someone.
Now everything has changed. Today, I can write my own messages and say exactly what I want —not half of what Siri interprets—, choose who to call, control the lights and devices in my room, manage CarPlay in the car… things that might seem simple but mean freedom to me. The difference between then and now is enormous: I feel more autonomous, more independent, and, above all, more in control of my time and my decisions.
Digital tools that give me autonomy
1. Environmental control
- Alexa and Google Home: turn lights on and off, control blinds, fans, and more.
- Smart bulbs and plugs: I can program routines, such as turning off the ceiling light and switching on the bedside lamp at 9:00 pm, and turning off the TV and the lamp at midnight.
- Broadlink: connected with Alexa, it gives me full control of the TV.
Why they help me: they let me control my space without depending on anyone. Having the command of my environment in my own voice or through MouthX is a true gift of autonomy.
Recommendation: start small, with a smart bulb or plug. You will notice the difference from day one.
2. Physical mobility
- Electric wheelchair: it allows me to move wherever I want without anyone pushing me.
- Adjustable bed with apps: I can change my posture whenever I need.
Why they help me: I am the one who decides where to go and how to position myself, and that is priceless.
Recommendation: if you have the chance to adapt your wheelchair or bed with digital systems, do it. The difference in independence is huge.
3. Communication
- MouthX: my star device, with which I use my phone, configure apps, and manage my day without assistance.
- WhatsApp Web and voice assistants: they keep me connected with friends, family, and work.
- Tobii: when I lose my voice due to health reasons, it allows me to keep communicating with the world.
Why they help me: they let me express exactly what I want, in my own words, and stay connected even in difficult moments.
Recommendation: explore different options. There is no single path: the important thing is finding the tool that adapts to you.
4. Day-to-day management
- Voice calendars and automatic reminders: I don’t depend on someone else to write down my appointments.
- Smart home routines: I can schedule lights, music, or blinds and then forget about them.
Why they help me: they give me back control over my schedule and routines, ease the load on my family, and help me feel more organized.
Recommendation: start by integrating small reminders. You’ll be surprised at how much peace of mind they bring.
What technology doesn’t do (but makes easier)
Technology does not take away my condition or mean I no longer need help in other areas. But what it does is give me back freedom and dignity. The difference lies in being able to decide when to turn on the light, move my chair, or write a message.
It is not total independence, but it is digital autonomy that completely changes the way I live my days.
Sometimes I hear that technology is complicated or “not for everyone.” I see it the other way around: digital accessibility is the opportunity for it to be for everyone.
"Technology does not take away my condition or mean I no longer need help in other areas. But what it does is give me back freedom and dignity."
If there is one thing my experience has taught me, it is that technology should not be intimidating, but inspiring. It can be the tool that gives you movement even when your body does not respond, the key that opens doors to a life with more freedom and dignity.
My advice is simple: dare to try. Start with something small, and you will see how, step by step, you regain autonomy and improve your quality of life.
Because in the end, moving does not always mean walking or rolling. Sometimes it means being able to choose for yourself.
