Graham Clarke’s Story
My name is Graham Clarke from Cape Town, South Africa. In 1984, shortly before my twenty-sixth birthday, I was taken ill whilst working down on Marion Island as a team member of an expedition. Marion Island is a sub-Antarctic island situated half way between South Africa and Antarctica. After being rescued by navy ship and being brought back to a hospital in Cape Town, it was established that I had suffered from a massive stroke and have consequently lost the use of all my limbs and the ability to speak.
I spent four long years communicating from a letter chart my mother had devised and had accepted this as being the way I would be communicating for the rest of my days on the planet. It was effective but, as most of you know, not conducive to lengthy, relaxed talking nor was it all together controlled by me. Once I had sufficient neck movement, a disabled lass that was busy studying computer science came to visit and told me about an amazing computer that I could use that would enable me to talk. I was to get a Light Talker with the most basic Minspeak program.
Having the device in front of me and being the only thing I could control, I found myself exploring the device. Once I had learnt how to point my way around the overlay, I got down to learning all about Minspeak myself and programming the device with customized codes. The more I used the Light Talker, the more I found it becoming part of me and I was regaining my identity. I think, even with that simple, customized program, it must be emphasised that I was able to use Minspeak to express myself - to express my inner feelings.
After approximately a year into using Minspeak, the agent in South Africa suggested that I upgrade to Words Strategy, a Minspeak program that contained thousands of pre-programmed words, with an emphasis on a robust core vocabulary. Before the program arrived, I was given a Touch Talker “to play” with and to get the feel of the program. My mother pushed the keys I had asked for. We played for a while and she turned to me and said “Okay, where do you think the word “stupid” is?” Stupid is South African for crazy. I studied the icons and said “It must be that icon of the man pointing to his head and the circle icon, denoting going round and round.” She decided whether it was a verb, noun or adjective as my grammatical knowledge was non-existent then. We were both pleasantly surprised to hear the machine say the word “crazy.”
Whenever my mother was down visiting and after I had been using Words Strategy by myself, we would take out the Words Strategy file and she would test me both from the icon rationale side as well as testing me on normal words themselves. We pasted the Words Strategy chart on the wall (which showed the codes for the frequently used core words) and had someone page through the Words Strategy file so I could get an idea of how the program worked.
Three months later, after some frustration, tears and complaining I eventually found my feet and could find my way around the basics of Words Strategy. My knowledge of the program and my output speed improved as the months went by. I couldn’t believe I had been communicating so slowly before - spelling and using the most basic of words I had programmed into my original, custom Minspeak program. I was converted; Minspeak IS the answer for non-talkers, period.
What I’ve learnt from using Minspeak after using it for almost 16 years
Firstly, I consider it to be an honour to be able to use Minspeak. It’s most definitely THE program/system for non-talkers. As Braille is to the blind, sign language to the deaf, Minspeak must be to the non-talkers. I know that it is far superior to any other system used to communicate. I feel that speech and occupational therapists owe it to their clients to expose them sufficiently to Minspeak. In those cases where word/phrase retention is more difficult, starting with an empty Minspeak overlay and building it up daily/weekly with the client is to their client’s advantage. After all, Minspeak is whatever one does with the icons (five or one hundred and twenty-eight), whether it’s pre-programmed with a Minspeak Application Program or custom programmed by the user.
It must be impressed on the user to look upon an icon as a “three dimensional” object so they don’t see it just as a girl or elephant picture. Seeing icons three-dimensionally creates a far greater base from which to program and teach language.
I have also found that constant vocabulary reviewing is extremely beneficial as it refreshes one’s mind as to what is programmed into the device. “Smoother,” faster communication is obtained by thinking one step ahead from where you’re presently typing. Questions like “where is the following word on the overlay going to be” only helps one communicate more fluidly and cuts down on unnecessary word searching which wastes valuable time.
It’s also to our advantage, the users of Minspeak, to program into our devices as much personalized, customized vocabulary as we possibly can so we “visit” spell mode less frequently. The object of Minspeak is to do away with repetitive, time consuming spelling and create fluent and speedy communication. The faster one’s output is, the longer people are prepared to communicate with you. Making your device part of you, your person just adds to this.
I am awfully grateful to all those that were involved in the birth of Minspeak. Thank you. One last thought, when applying for a position in a company, could one include Minspeak as another language!
