“I, the engineer disabled, with software to allow those who are like me to … – The Daily

“You have no idea of ​​the potential that can have a disabled “. Dark hair, bright eyes, and dream of changing the world. Simone Soria is 36 years old and life is an engineer. From birth is suffering from severe motor disability did not walk, does not use the hands , “and what’s more – he says – Article the words with difficulty.” None of this stopped him. For more than ten years, in fact, Simon develops software to improve the lives of disabled in the same situation. And along with its cooperative, Aida , toured Italy far and wide to assist them. Going up in Ukraine , Mauritius and Japan . “Thanks to technology we can change the lives of many people,” he said.

It all begins in the third grade, when an operator of ‘ ASL aims to use computer in the classroom. “It was the beginning of a wonderful adventure,” he recalls. Thanks to a special helmet, Simon manages to use keyboard efficiently. Maturity comes with a paper on the Smart home when automation was in its infancy. From there the decision to enroll in the degree course in Computer Engineering .

“You have no idea of ​​the potential that can have a disabled”

“I was the first serious motor disabled to take this path – he says -. The institutional barriers were many, and sometimes they were actions of filibuster “. thesis instead Simon has FaceMouse , a program designed and implemented by their own hand, which lets you use the computer and write moving any part of the body in front of an ordinary webcam . The most innovative is the fact that it can interface with any movement of the person, a bit ‘like water that takes the form of box that collects.

In 2005, the turning point. Simon decides to put his skills available for the disabled and their family . That’s where comes the social cooperative non-profit organization Aida , which stands for “aids and computer for disabled and elderly”, the only Italian company that proposes and implements effective solutions for Severe motor disability . From Aosta to Trapani , Simone and her team of five people with disabilities and their families meet around Italy. “Our goal is just to allow the disabled to be included in the serious Company , the School and work.” Today, after 10 years of activity, have been helped more than 400 people, “but we could raggiungerne many others”, he added.

“Abroad we are working mainly in Japan, with the ‘ help of my wife as an interpreter. But we were also in Shanghai and Beijing and we helped kids in Ukraine, in Mauritius and in France “

And that is not all. The technology developed by Simon came up in Japan . The first contacts we were in 2005, when a government research institute Nise ( National Institute for Special Education ) invited him to Yokosuka to experience FaceMouse with some children severely disabled. The software has also received several awards related to innovation and social utility , including the international patent, the brand China , Japan and Europe . “Abroad, we are working mainly in Japan , with the help of my wife as an interpreter. But we were also Shanghai and Beijing at Expo 2010 , we have helped children in Ukraine , in Mauritius and France . We are preparing a multilingual web site to propose a more systematic “.

The most difficult obstacle to overcome is still the” distrust many parents of disabled children “, including medical and professional of disability in general. Then there to do the Accounts with indifference and negligence : “How many problems would be solved – he says – if, for example, every teachers and educator school put a bit ‘of commitment and initiative in working with the disabled student. “

“Dream to train educators and support teachers prepared to enhance the capabilities of your student”

After degree (with honors), the wedding , a battle won against the cancer , Simon still wants to fight . And his plans do not stop: in addition to FaceMouse is now to be tested EasyMath , a mathematics software that allows you to write formula simple and intuitive way. But also Fabula , a virtual keyboard can be used with a finger that allows you to communicate, write and play with the PC . “Often in schools with disabilities are just parked in class deserted to themselves – he says – I dream of forming teachers and teachers support ready to enhance the capabilities of your student. ” Next stop? Simon smiles: “Let’s go to the ends of the world”.