Russ Miller,36, from Ohio, was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis(类风湿性关节炎) when he was just 26, making it progressively difficult for him to do everyday tasks.
"My hands are deformed(畸形的). I can't bend them like others. Recently my thumb has stopped working," said Miller in a letter to a company. "I can no longer use normal computer keyboards and it's hard for me to even hold a pen anymore."
Russ' condition resulted in him living on the streets in Florid for 4 years, but in 2018, he started trying to turn his life around. "I was trying to get help and get myself out of my situation. I had a phone, but I struggled to type on keyboards. So I started looking for alternative smartphone keyboards that might enable me to type again. I found the keyboard app Typewise by accident."
Russ thinks that Typewise smartphone keyboard enables him to get his life back by allowing him to communicate with people, and therefore get help, get an apartment and even get a job. "I am able to communicate a lot better than talking, because my voice is kind of monotone(单调的) so people don't understand me very well. And because I was able to start typing on my phone again, I was able to use social media to reach out to an organisation that helps people with disabilities." It's the hexagonal (六边形的) layout of the keyboard that Russ finds a whole lot easier. "I can move my fingers around and not mess up as often."
"Now I have a part-time job where I take care of dogs and cats on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I can't work full time, because of my physical issues but at least I have something to do and something to look forward to." Russ said.
The company making the smartphone app had been unaware that their unique keyboard design could help people with disabilities until they got Russ' letter.