An Edinburgh teenager who suffers from a number of complex conditions has been able to fulfil her passion for art and music, thanks to support from a local charity.
14-year-old Greta Raphaella McMillan is a wheelchair user who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy since birth and has been non-verbal all through her childhood.
Now, for the first time, the brave teen from Portobello is able to communicate through a state-of-the-art eye recognition device called ‘Eye Gaze’.
Greta’s family and local community had previously come together to raise enough funds to purchase an earlier version of the device, but were able to upgrade to the most advanced technology, thanks to a donation of more than £4,300 from Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids. The leading charity works with young people across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk, who are disadvantaged through disability, sickness of poverty.
The Eye Gaze system works by reading the movements of the user’s eyes through a combination of lights and cameras, translating the movements into mouse cursor directions. The technology has unlocked a new world for Greta, enabling her to take part in hobbies and – even more importantly – communicate freely with her family and friends.
Greta’s mum, Thea Jane McMillan, said: “Communication has been a complete world changer for Greta, and the technology enables her to do this: she is just like any other 14 year old, and wants people to know this.
“The creativity she can demonstrate through her eyegaze art and music makes such a difference to her wellbeing.”
Emma Kemp, Charity Manager at Cash for Kids, commented: “We’re absolutely thrilled to see what a difference the Eye Gaze device has made to Greta’s quality of life.
“In 2017 alone, Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids helped a record breaking number of young people with everything from devices to support them through disabilities, to essentials like healthy meals during the school holidays.
“We’re only able to do this work thanks to the generosity of Radio Forth listeners and the wider community, including the many businesses and local community groups that do their bit to donate and help. Greta’s story is a great example of why our work matters more than ever.”
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