FORT MITCHELL, Ky. — Shelley Lane is a woman who talks to people through a communication device hooked up to her wheelchair.

“There’s a dot on my glasses that controls (it),” Lane said.

It’s how she’s been having conversations with people for years.

“I was five when I got my first communication device,” she said.

This type of assistive technology and others is the kind that Easterseals Redwood in northern Kentucky is trying to put in the hands of more in the region. It’s designed for people who may need just some extra help in their day-to-day lives. They want others to know about their Assistive Technology Resource Center.

Assistive Technology Innovation Coordinator Betsy Eiserman said the center has all kinds of equipment to help with mobility and other daily tasks, including a robotic feeder.

“The robotic feeder has two switches. One which will allow you to pick which cup that you would like to have food from and one that scoops it, swipes the bottom of the spoon so it doesn’t drip on you,” Eiserman said.

It’s there for those at Easterseals Redwood to use but they also work to put assistive technology into the hands of community members. For Eiserman, it’s huge to see those of all abilities given the opportunity to succeed.

“It’s a little awe-inspiring to have them be able to bridge that gap between what doesn’t seem possible but what is possible and what they can do independently,” Eiserman said.

Lane said she’s grateful to have something helping her every day, because she doesn’t know where she’d be without it.

“This communication device has changed my life for the better because I’m able to give speeches and talk to friends,” she said.

More information on Easterseals Redwood ATRC can be found by contacting Eiserman at beiserman@eastersealsredwood.org or calling 859-331-0880 ext 221.