Scott Wilson's Speech

My name is Scott Wilson and I am 30 years old.   Last year I lost my ability to speak and to walk because of a rare neurological condition.  I could only use my hands in a very limited way and my memory was also affected.  I was in hospital for months.  It was frightening because I didn’t know if I would ever be able to do anything for myself again.  Everything I wanted to do: go to a window and look out, brush my teeth, take something out of my pocket, took such a long time.  More importantly, I could no longer do the things I enjoyed most: go places with my friends, play sports, work and go to school, be independent. 

As I’m sure you can imagine, I was devastated by these changes in my life.  The worst loss, though, was the loss of my ability to communicate.  All of a sudden, I could not tell the nurse that I was in pain. I couldn’t ask questions about my medical condition. I couldn’t be part of any conversation.   My friends didn’t know what to say to me because I couldn’t answer back.  Even when I was surrounded by people, I have never felt so alone. 

While I was at the hospital, I learned to spell everything I wanted to say using a letter board.  That was better but very slow.  Sometimes it’s just easier not to talk at all.  Then I tried a communication device with a voice and lots of ways to store messages.  It was called a Lightwriter and it was great.  I could see that if I had a communication device, the person I was talking to would not have to read the letters from my board over my shoulder.  A communication device would let me talk to anyone, anywhere because I wouldn’t need to have someone with me who knew how to read the letters off the letter board.  I used the Lightwriter while I was at the hospital and got really good at it, but since I’ve come home, I’ve been using the letter board because I don’t have the money to buy one. 

My recovery has been slow but as you see I’m now able to walk.  I’m very excited about getting a Lightwriter because if I have one I can be more independent, and go places without a care attendant.  I’ll also be able to communicate way more quickly than I can with a letter board.  Independence and the chance to talk to people more normally will make my life so much better.