Bali was injured in a car crash and has a severe spinal injury. His lower limbs are paralysed and he has limited use of his upper body. His wife is his main carer and they have a young son.

Bali cannot use a keyboard or mouse so thought he would never use a computer. He spent his days watching Television. In 2002, CareOnLine installed a computer with on-screen keyboard and head-mounted pointing device.

After receiving training from CareOnLine Bali is able to use the computer on his own. He now teaches his wife to use it and plays games with his son. He enjoys e-mail and many activities such as home shopping.

Bob is 69 and had a stroke which left him using a wheelchair and paralysed down one side. He spends most of his time in his bedroom and needs four daily care visits.

Bob led an active life as a prison officer for 31 years and had often been encouraged to record his stories of "life behind bars" but writing them out long-hand would be too difficult.

His Therapist suggested that he needed some mental stimulation and contacted Leicestershire CareOnLine who visited Bob and installed a computer, special mouse and keyboard.

With the CareOnLine Training Officer he has realised his dream of writing a book about his rich and varied life and has dedicated it to CareOnLine and his Trainer saying "without her assistance and encouragement I would probably never have started."

Doris is 94 and lives in Sheltered Accommodation. She has some friends there but her family are all abroad – one son lives in Australia and the other in Africa – so she may not see them for years at a time. When CareOnLine installed a computer in the lounge of her home she was interested but unsure what benefit it would bring. The manager said that Doris was having trouble with her hearing and telephone calls were getting increasingly difficult. E-mail was suggested as a solution and training was provided.When Doris fell and broke her hip the following year the Housing Manager was able to give her sons regular e-mail updates (which she could not have done on the telephone).

Four years later Doris is a regular user of the computer and sees pictures of grandchildren she has never met. She still needs the assurance that the Housing Manager is there to help out if needed but her family feel much nearer than before and she now also has a new hobby to stimulate her.

In 2004 CareOnLine consulted Blaby District Council and the Tenants Association at Jubilee House Sheltered Housing scheme on whether they would like a computer. Colin Norman, the chairman of the association organised a meeting between CareOnLine and residents to discuss the idea and agree what the residents wanted.

CareOnLine installed a computer in the community lounge and residents were offered training. Fourteen people aged 65 to 85 attended the first course to begin developing skills in internet use, e-mail and word processing.

Doreen aged 77 uses e-mail to keep in touch with her daughter in Chicago and grandchildren in Florida. She said "It is something my friends in America have been telling me to do for a while. My daughter sends me photos. It really has opened up a whole new world to me. I feel like I have achieved something.

Colin is now a keen user of the computer and says "It amazed me how many people want to take part. A lot of them have never been on a computer before and it is a wonderful awakening for them." A further 4 training courses have been provided and 3 of the residents have bought their own computers as their skills have improved and they want to do more work in their own flats.

Ray is 73 and has had Cerebral Palsy from birth. He lives with his sister who is his full time carer. He has difficulty in moving around, speaking and communicating.

Before CareOnLine provided a computer and training Ray had no expectation that he would ever be able to use one. As his confidence grew he was able to feel that he was in some control and believes that it gives him an opportunity to speak for himself.

2 years later CareOnLine installed a 'Touch Screen' computer to assist Ray in doing more of the work himself and improve his sense of independence. He now believes that having access to the internet and email has improved his quality of life as it gives him a chance to communicate with the outside world.