Re: Looking for system for special needs person

[Andy <andrew.whitelaw@baesystems.com>]

Sheldon Simms wrote:

> Im Artikel <3B5F585F.F379CB6@ns.sympatico.ca> schrieb "jim dorey"
> <skaar@ns.sympatico.ca>:
>
> > so what 25 year old ain't emotionally challenged, especially mels, fems
> > seem to get past that earlier.
>
> I'd guess "emotionally challenged" in this casr is probably supposed to
> be a nice way of saying austistic or brain damaged or something like that...

In PC (not personal computer) speak emotionally challenged is a person who has
difficulties integrating socially ( that outwieghs any physical or mental or
learning problems).
I know of two kids who are emotionally challenged (I hate the term personally,
but since I work (not my main job) with a few kids with problems, I have to watch
for the PC police, even although they refer to each other as crips, spasses etc I
can't) one is average in all respects but he cannot tell the difference between
genuine and pretend aggression and confrontation (eg 'toy' fighting or pretend
abuse) and either reacts violently (in defence) or gets very scared. The other
has Asberger's syndrome (also know as 'Geeks Disease'). He is brilliant
academically but cannot interact with people, it is a specific form of Autism.
BTW Asberger's is remarkably high in the engineering community. Many brilliant
'boffins' have Asberger's.

Broadly speaking:-
Physically Challenged - movement problems.
Emotionally challenged - emotional control problems or social interaction
problems
Learning Difficulties - normally mental problems like low IQ or anything which
impairs learning more than anything else like dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalcia.

Anyway, back to the point.
If you want gaming I would go for a console. You can pick up SNES or MegaDrives
for next to nothing at car boot sales.

For non gaming, I would go for an Atari ST or an Amiga simply because they have
more power, better graphics and sound. Also there is a thriving community of
users out there (although not as bizarrely compelling as the Speccy community).
Both machines also are excellent games machines.
For simplicity I would say an Atari ST is best.
You can pick either on up at car boot sales for �20 (with games and extras).

HTH

Andy