The Internet is an invaluable tool for sharing and finding information on Parkinson’s and can be particularly helpful if you are newly diagnosed and ‘hungry’ for information. Search engines make it possible to target particular topics of interest within seconds and, unlike other resources such as libraries, it is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Try not to be put off discovering the Internet if you have never used it before and are unfamiliar with computers. The Internet has been designed for everyone to navigate and is very user-friendly. A few short sessions with a friend or relative who knows their way around will be all it takes to get you started.
Similarly, Parkinson’s symptoms such as tremor and rigidity need not prevent you using the Internet. Speech activated software can allow you to use a computer without the need of a keyboard, and there are ‘sticky’ computer keys available on the market to prevent fingers slipping. An occupational therapist or your local Parkinson’s organisation may be able to advise on such equipment. For those people with impaired vision or cognitive difficulties, the toggle keys on your keyboard can be enabled to provide sound cues when the locking keys (NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK etc) are pressed.
But whilst the Internet is undoubtedly an indispensable part of modern life, it should be remembered that anyone who has access to a computer can post information and there is no ‘vetting’ process. Just because some information has been ‘published’ on-line (i.e. on the Internet) it is not necessarily trustworthy or reputable and you should therefore use your personal judgement and not always believe everything you read. There is of course much validated and excellent information to be found, but there are no guarantees and search results can throw up an overwhelming number of possibilities and can sometimes present conflicting answers.
