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May 27, 2012
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'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition': Technology Gives Paralyzed Man Independence (VIDEO)

by Jason Hughes, posted Apr 18th 2011 5:07AM

Hall family, 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'After a car accident left him paralyzed from the neck down a year ago, Carl Hall found himself trapped in a situation made him frustrated and at times angry. That's where the 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' (Sun., 8PM on ABC) was able to step in and help.

Because he could no longer manage stairs, the Halls and their four kids had to move from their two-story home to a condo where there simply wasn't room for Carl's wheelchair to maneuver, much less that many people to live.

To make matters worse, he wasn't able to sleep in a bed with his wife, and he was reliant on the family to help him manage so many of his daily activities, including such mundane things as turning on and off the lights. So one of the priorities for the team was to give Carl back some much-needed independence.

The 'Makeover' crew equipped their new home with voice-activated technology, offering Carl more than 250 commands to control everything from the television and the thermostat to even those pesky lights.

"One thing I struggle with is having to wait on people to do things for me," Carl said. "Where now everything that everyone else can use their hands for, I can use my voice for. So that's irreplaceable to have that type of independence. That means a lot to me."

Watch the full episode here:

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Bruce Walz

Granted, I agree totally on these homes going "over the top" but if anyone could tell me where the voice technology system can be purchased and for how much, "I would all but die" for a system that would do even 10%" of those 250 different on/off functions as Carl Hall has!! You could say I've been way too close to dying more times than I care to count or to put my family, friends and loved ones through ever again. I've searched high and low, throughout the ABC website and the Internet without any luck in finding what type of system was installed in their home…

Bruce W.
C4 – C5 quadriplegic 26 years and counting, without looking back…
Prescott Valley Arizona

May 07 2011 at 10:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bruce Walz

Granted, I agree totally on these homes going "over the top" but if anyone could tell me where the voice technology system can be purchased and for how much, I would all but "die for a system that would do even 10%" of those 250 different on/off functions as Carl Hall has! I've searched high and low, throughout the ABC website and the Internet without any luck in finding what type of system was installed in their home…

Bruce W.
Prescott Valley Arizona

May 07 2011 at 10:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lynne

I am happy that someone like this is helped but the homes are so over the top. I would rather they build a more normal home and then be able to help more people. I would be embarassed to accept something this lavish. Build me a nice modest one, and then build 6 more for other people.

April 18 2011 at 1:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
wongtpa

Unfortunately, most of the extreme makeover have ended in foreclosure due to the occupants taking home equity loans and living the good life and not paying their notes! Enough said!

April 18 2011 at 12:38 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
Heidi

I hope that in a year when they have to start paying for everything ,that they are able to ..It is sad to build these big houses only to turn around and sell them because it was too much money for taxes ,upkeep for the owners

April 18 2011 at 12:20 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
golfinkatiekat77

How wonderful for this family!! Hopefully there have been some provisions made to protect this home from being foreclosed on because of taxes as quite a few of these homes have in the past. Also, the additional utilities have crushed some families. Good Luck Hall's! Glad someone's dreams came true.

April 18 2011 at 12:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
georgettec28

Sorry, I preferred Secret Millionaire. Extreme Makeover was getting a bit boring. It reminds me of the old game show , "Queen for a Day," with people telling their sob stories. Not to say that these folks don't deserve help. It was just getting a bit monotonous.

April 18 2011 at 11:45 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Lois

how wonderful! Very touchinhg!!

April 18 2011 at 11:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Anne

Glad to see Extreme Makeover back on TV.... New opening yesterday was a four star beginning. Welcome back.

April 18 2011 at 11:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
robertselect

Just awesome, what a blessing.

April 18 2011 at 11:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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