- Speech recognition software types the words you speak into documents on your computer. If you are studying or have to use a computer for work, you are likely to find the cost of the software money well spent, as typing with one hand is tedious and time consuming. Software such as Dragon NaturallySpeaking takes about an hour to learn how to use, and as you use it, the program becomes more adept at correctly recognizing words you speak. Speech recognition software can help prevent too many lost days due to your disability.
- Meal preparation is frustrating when everything has to be done with one arm. Peeling vegetables is extremely challenging, but a straightforward solution is to ask a friend to hammer two stainless steel nails into a cutting board. This gives you a place to spike veggies like carrots, potatoes or turnips on to the nails and peel them. Use a vegetable peeler rather than a sharp knife for safety reasons.
- Cordless can openers that are operated by touching a button are indispensable tools if you have arthritis or the use of only one hand. Powered by a battery, you just need to position the can opener on the rim of the can and press the button.
- Getting dressed in the morning will require more planning of what to wear when you can only use one arm. Pick clothes with Velcro fastenings rather than buttons or zips, and avoid clothing that needs to be pulled over the head. A handy readily available tool to help with dressing is a shoe horn. Dressing sticks can be purchased online or from specialty shops for the disabled which help hook and push garments. This is effective for pulling up pants or skirts, and a small hook on the stick enables you to pull up zippers.