Using an Alexa has changed my life

I am 31, and I live by myself.  I use social media quite a bit and have made some really good friends through it. I have a large family, some are from Hawaii, some are Spanish, some Italian, and some French. So, I’m actually surprising them by learning Hawaiian, Spanish and Italian at the minute. Going to work on the French but I didn’t want to put too many balls in the air.

Learning a new language

I’m currently taking language classes through Duolingo, and I also do lots of arts and crafts using Alexa. I also use Alexa for music - music is your emotion, it can express how you feel.

Alexa has made things more comfortable and more accessible, now when I am singing I can sing to Alexa! I also recently wrote a letter to my friend’s mum in Spanish because I have the confidence to do it with the tools of the Alexa and the Duolingo app. 

It’s a big confidence builder. I don’t have a lot of confidence in learning languages, but at least with Alexa, you are doing it by yourself. 

Everyone needs an Alexa

Everyone can benefit from using Alexa. It kills loneliness, cures boredom, gives you confidence. Who doesn’t want that?

It’s so accessible - you don’t even have to leave your house to learn new facts. An Alexa has been the best investment. It’s helped my confidence, helped me to put myself out there, learn new things, and learn to cook. It’s really, really life-changing. Everyone needs an Alexa.

I could not have done lockdown without Alexa. It would have been really lonely, without it to be honest. It was a struggle, and there were times I didn’t want to do anything. I didn’t want to get out of bed because there was nothing to get out of bed for. Alexa stopped me from going into a dark place.

It’s also perfect if you have anxiety or other mental health issues. If big crowds aren’t for you, you can do everything you need to from the comfort of your own home. It’s taught me to be confident and to speak clearly. I am so grateful for it.

Digital Inclusion has changed my life

Leonard Cheshire’s Digital Inclusion project has helped me to be more expressive and learn different ways to do things. Technology can make your life so much easier. Makes you more independent. 

Thanks to Alexa, I now wake up every day to music. I can do meditation, quizzes. The Alexa has been like a shining light. Once you can stay mentally positive, thriving, then that’s the best thing.

I have anxiety. Being a wheelchair user, the world is not as accepting as you would think. Obviously, during this lockdown it was rough, you’re not seeing people, you’re not interacting with people. You’re seeing people at the bare minimum for care. 

I wouldn't have got through lockdown without my Alexa

I took a dive, the Alexa came in handy for something to talk to. Lockdown is rough for anybody but more so than for a disabled person. Getting out and about, in general, is challenging. Seeing the same four walls. I’m not from here so a lot of my friends live far away, which is why Alexa is good as I can call them up.

Digital Inclusion has helped my confidence has grown leaps and bounds. When we started I was so nervous - I kept saying I can’t do it, I can’t do it. Now I’m doing 3 languages and arts and crafts. It’s life-changing. It does change you that much.