So I start this insane adventure the day after tomorrow. Which should be great fun but I'm getting VERY scared now!
Basically, I will be using a little handheld communication aid kindly lent to me by Possum, which is basically an iPAQ with communication software and special adaptive hardware, you can see it here.
I am well known for how chatty I am (that's probably an understatement), so having to tap in all my messages is really going to try me. And I can't accidentally speak, oh no! If I do, I will owe the collection box in our office 50p per word (£1 if it's a bad word!), and I really can't afford that!
I will be using the communication aid from this Wednesday afternoon (stay posted for exact time!) inclusive through to next Wednesday afternoon (the 19th December 2007). So a solid 7 days, I'm wondering if my voice will return after this amount of rest!
It will be difficult, I know, but it will also be an invaluable experience to know what it is like to have to rely on a little electronic gizmo for all my verbal communication (I can still pull faces). So many of the students I work with get so frustrated with theirs when they go wrong or run out of power, and from next Wednesday I will be able to truly offer my genuine sympathy.
It will also hopefully give me a great insight into what common phrases and words are invaluable, and what features could benefit certain individuals best.
My fiancé thinks it is hilarious, and has even offered to make a couple of backup communication boards with key phrases on that I can use while it's on charge. It has been suggested that he's just looking forward to the peace!
People have been SO generous up to now on our fundraising website, our online donations are totalling £208 (plus Gift Aid) with a ton of other offline pledges.
So far, I would like to thank;
Ashleigh and Sue from work
And my friends near and far, including;
Luke
Vez
Sarah
Greg
Emily
Sam
Abbie
Amy
Zay
Naomi
You're all absolute stars! Thank you so much!
Bye for now!
Lucy.
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