A Possibly Life Changing App for Many: Talkitt

I am often busy and therefore blogging is one of those things that get put on the to-do list, much like vacuuming and mopping, and keep getting bumped down for other things - like coffee with friends or getting my hair cut. Yes, side note - for those who don't know, I finally cut off my long locks!

So. that has happened.

But today, as I sit at uni, snacking on nacho cheese flavoured popcorn and scrolling through Facebook I have come across a very interesting and exciting looking app called the Talkitt.

Essentially, the Talkitt takes speech that is seemingly not understandable - from ANY language - and translates it so that it is comprehensible.

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This. Blows. My. MIND.

I am SO keen to see if it works - the video is fairly convincing. I have no idea how it works, but I want to learn. I am the ultimate AAC nerd, yes. But, I am just thinking of my friends who it could help! I have friends who are brighter than their bodies, but I cannot understand what they're saying. Who knows.... maybe this app could revolutionize their lives? Caleigh, over at Caleigh's Corner is quite vocal and her parents can hear verbal language from her at times. Max, over at Love That Max is understood readily at home but imagine how this could be in the community for him? Sophie, at The Butterfly Effect? I don't know how vocal she is, but who knows? Who knows what this app could do? I am keen to see what this app can do. Here is a sneak peek of what it does.

If you are so inclined, there is a campaign going for funding for the app here. I supported it, and if any of my friends are looking to give me a charity gift for my 21st birthday - here is where you should donate!

To the makers of Talkitt, if you are looking for someone to fan-girl all over you - drop me a line. I would be more than happy to fill that position.

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Charmaine Wants Tea, Please

The other night, I was over at Charmaine’s house. For those who don’t know who Charmaine is, I highly recommend you read this post before you continue. Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you until you get back...

Excellent, now that you’re all caught up we can continue.

The other night, I was over at Charmaine’s house. Her mum and her dad were there too, oh and for anyone who is wondering the chihuahua puppies have been born! 

That is one of the puppies in my hand. For a frame of reference, I can pick up the mama dog easily with one hand.

Sam, Charmaine’s oldest sister and Maria, one of the “acquired German daughters” (Charmaine’s live-in carer and OT for the year) had gone out for the night. It was quite pleasant a night. The four of us were relaxing with the television on. Dad was very tired after a long day at work, Mama was working on the computer, and my mind was elsewhere thinking about my German exam at university the next day while mindlessly stroking one of the dogs.

Then something very important happened.

I don’t even know how this happened. Charmaine and I weren't actively practicing any sign language or doing speech therapy. She wanted something, I could tell that much. She was asking her dad for a mobile phone and I knew that's what she meant, but given what she was signing, she could've been asking to phone someone.  So I turned to her and asked, using speech and sign: “Do you want one?”

She picked up on my signs and started to respond with signing for “I want”

But… suddenly we heard from her, clearly speaking: “I want”.

What was that?

Charmaine has a limited verbal vocabulary. She understands the world around her very well, and also knows what she would like to say very well but is afflicted with aphasia and apraxia of speech. Some of her words, with therapy and practice include: Charmaine, Mama, Papa, Sam, Maria, Lala (what she called her previous carer: to be fair, Claudia is a lot of phonemes), Tea, Fish, Shower, Thank You, Sorry, Oops! and a few others including my name. She also can say “How are you?” or if asked how she is she can respond with, “Fine, how are you?”. She also can say “I love you”. Her two most recent words are: why and awesome.

But suddenly, while signing, the speaking just tumbled out “I want”.

We were all silent and then Dad said: “Say it again, Charmaine”. There was almost a sense of disbelief. You could feel the anticipation hanging in the atmosphere.

“I want”

Well there was no disbelief then.
The cheers were immense; the celebration was huge.

“Charmaine say, “I want tea please” her Dad prompted

Without hesitation and clearly, Charmaine said it.
We filmed it. There was squealing. It feels like a piece of the puzzle has been put in and it has fit smoothly.
I messaged my own mother with the good news, my teacher from special school and my four closest friends. All of them appreciated this immense achievement and sent back messages ranging from "that's fantastic, Charmaine!" to "f***ing PHENOMENAL!!!!!"

Later that night, Charmaine actually wanted tea and she simply said as she always does “tea”, but after a quick reminder to say a sentence it happened again:

“I want tea, please”

It is a thrill to hear her speak.

And then she looked at me and said my name, and with a little bit of help said "want tea please", and I am never going to say no to tea!

That night, she could’ve had twenty cups of tea and nobody would’ve objected.

We talk about inchstones and we talk about milestones. This was a milestone.

Please, grab some tea and celebrate with Charmaine and me! Celebrate your own, your friend's or your children's milestones and inchstones with us! 

Charmaine and She Types Things: Charmaine, very proud of herself and Me, very, very proud of her.

"It's a miracle I look this good after everything I have been through..."

I have been trying to write this post for a while. I know it won't be the only post on this topic, but I still never knew what to write. Now, as I sit in my university common room - having left my books at home like a fool and considering that 9:30am is too early for lunch - I think I have the words figured out.

Like most people in this world, I love going to my best friends house. There are many great things at my best friends house. I have my "second family", "other mother", my favourite kind of tea, multiple best friends, all the animals I could ever want (including, any day now, chihuahua puppies) and there is always Pepsi Max. 

And whenever I go into the bathroom of this wonderful house, I see a sign that says: "It's a miracle I look this good after everything I have been through".

And do you know what? This is completely true. Dad, Mum, oldest daughter, extra German daughters and their youngest daughter, Charmaine, are all hot to trot.

....it's a miracle they all look this good after everything they have been through. 

Dear internet: I would like to introduce you to one of my best friends, Charmaine.

I honestly am not sure where to begin to describe Charmaine. The wise words of Julie Andrews say "let's start at the very beginning; a very good place to start". To be honest, I'm not even sure where that is. 

Charmaine is one of the most loving and empathetic people I know. She has a very special way of connecting with people and the world around her. I think it is a gift. She's hilarious, crazy and fun. She can be damn cheeky. In many ways she's just like me in the way that she is a young woman, we live in the same area , and we both have dreams and goals in our lives. Charmaine has a disability, too - in fact, I would say she has more than one.

Charmaine was in a traumatic car accident a little over two years ago. She was not supposed to her survive, at all. When she did survive, she was not supposed to walk, talk, understand language, recognize people or be able to swallow again. 

Charmaine has exceeded these expectations, a thousandfold. Through the love and support of her family, friends and medical team; damn hard work; and things that simply cannot be explained by medical science, which we attribute to the grace of God. Charmaine eats. Charmaine is learning to walk again, she can walk with assistance or with a walker. Charmaine understands the world around her and can respond effectively through speech or another method. Charmaine knows who others are in her life -- and she loves them. Charmaine is still always improving.

I love this entire family beyond what I can say. Though I am normally cynical and a harsh realist, I do soften for a moment and believe that special friendships like this are when one soul joins across two bodies. When I think of Charmaine, it has occurred to me that her right side does not work effectively; and my left side is deficient. Together, we work as one. Some people come into our lives for a reason and some friendships are simply meant to be. I am lucky to be accepted into such a damn good looking family. I am thankful that they take me as I am, disability and all. That is a level of acceptance that I'm still not used to, and I appreciate so much.

Recently, I wrote that "Disability is not normal" and as soon as I wrote it, I wasn't sure I really thought it was true. I have a disability. Charmaine has a disability. Yet, I feel like we are both normal.

We are both more than our disability, absolutely. I am definitely all for person-focused and person-first language and thinking. But our disability is an intrinsic part of us - Charmaine's is more than mine, and that's just the truth of it. We cannot go through a day in our life without our disability being a part of it.

 But, Charmaine is normal to me. When I am with her, I feel normal.

We are friends. That is what matters. What the rest of society thinks of our disability becomes irrelevant - in that house, in that family - we are normal. Disability is accepted so much that we are given permission to be normal. Even when we are out in public together, I don't notice people staring until I consciously look. Disability isn't normal - I stand by that. But people are. And sometimes disability can be so accepted that whether it is normal or not: it doesn't matter. When it is accepted, it is no longer an issue. It mightn't be normal, but it can be okay.

Charmaine makes me feel normal, and her sister Sam once said to me that I make Charmaine feel normal. We are friends, there are no labels.

And we are damn good looking, too.

Charmaine - I love you.