One thing I immediately knew I would have to learn after my car accident was learning to type quickly again.
Just like any other student, I was ordered to do typing drill after typing drill in middle school and high school. I learned which fingers belonged on which keys, and that the goal was to keep your hands centered on the keyboard with only your fingers moving slightly. After years of typing drills, I went to college with moderately fast and accurate skills.
Then I messed all that up and lost my left hand. Oops. No one teaches you how to type with one hand just in case you lose one, so I had to teach myself.
I tried doing modified typing drills designed for someone with only a right hand. I hated it. I was typing slow and still pecking at each key like someone new learning to type.
So, I tried my own method. I typed, a lot. I practiced, a lot. I didn’t have any other choice if I was going to survive another three years of college and become a professional journalist. The good news is I got better. Much better.
Now when I’m on a laptop in public, it’s not unusual for someone to notice my fingers quickly sliding across the keys. I type just as fast — if not faster — than I did with two hands.
The interesting thing to me though, is that when people make a comment about how they are impressed by my typing, no one finishes their thought and says “because you have one hand.” They just comment on my speed and move on. Sure, it’s possible these random compliments aren’t prompted by my one hand and maybe they’d still be impressed if I was typing at this speed with two hands. But I doubt it. My guess is that no one wants to point out the obvious and say that’s why or they just assume I understand.
For the record, I do understand, but I also don’t mind when people mention a fact that I’ve been well aware of for years.
Lindsey Erdody 