Sarah Robertson

From there, they decided to start with TouchChat on a Nova Rugged device. At the beginning, Sarah was a little hesitant to use it, almost as if she was worried she might hit the wrong button. However, over the course of the sessions, Claire’s idea to personalise the device was the key to success, with the vocabulary linked to Sarah’s interests, relationships, routines and favourite activities. By the last session, Sarah was having a back-and-forth conversation with Claire about her name, age, favourite TV show (Friends!) and her pets. For Claire, one particular highlight stood out: the elation Sarah felt at the opportunity to finally communicate with other people in a way they could understand and respond to.

“It was amazing to watch her face light up every time she was able to express something she hadn’t been able to prior. She had such pure joy when she was able to communicate with others, and she would get visibly excited. I could see that she had such a desire to speak with people from our first time meeting, as she would reach out to me and point to things around the home. Once Sarah realised the power of the device, she had the biggest smile and was seeking out the device to use by herself. Sarah was so willing to try new things, and she has been so cheerful and engaged!”

For Sarah and her family, the impact this device has had is enormous. For Sarah, it’s the feeling of finally being understood and being able to make her own choices. She’s been able to talk to her support workers and make her own decisions about her daily activities. One of her most recent requests was a trip to the swimming pool, followed by a stop at McDonald’s! It has also given her the opportunity to get involved in more activities at her supported accommodation, such as choosing what they have for meals or group activities.

For her family, it’s the comfort of knowing that Sarah will have a way of communicating her wants and needs when they aren’t there to support her. It’s also the impact of knowing that Sarah is getting what she’s asked for!

“It is lovely to see that Sarah can have a choice in the activities that she would like to do, and she is very pleased to be able to contribute to the people who support her,” Louise explains. “It is also the simple fact that her support workers can ask her with confidence if she really does want to do selected activities instead of guessing. Sarah is usually very compliant, so using the communication device helps give them a clear answer as to what Sarah actually would like to do.”

And for the families of those who may also have a communication disability and are considering options for alternative methods of communication, Louise has a simple message. “It’s important that people know that there’s always something out there that can help you, no matter who you are or what part of your journey you’re at. Sarah is 45 and she’s being supported to learn something new. So never give up!”