Madentec has been in business for 20 years. During that time the
company’s assistive technology has allowed about 15,000 people the
world over to regain their quality of life after suffering a
disability. Among them are people suffering from paralysis, ALS,
multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and head injury, among others.
Some of them are able to go back to work, like one of Madentec’s employees who suffers from cerebral palsy.
“He’s
in a wheelchair with his arms in awkward positions,” describes Marsden.
“To see him you’d never think he is a high-functioning contributing
member of society. The difference is the technology. The computer
totally unlocks him, gives him independence and meaning to his life.”
Millions
of users have benefitted from Madentec’s onscreen keyboard, distributed
by Microsoft and included in every copy of Windows for the past 10
years.
Mr. Marsden says the company’s assistive technology saves
the social system vast sums of money by giving people with disabilities
a tool to help them become independent and productive members of
society. This reduces health care and social assistance costs.