Excerpt from Wednesday 15th August – ‘Barbara’ arrives

Alan’s speech and language therapist delivered a communication aid she called a Barbara book.

The book contained a number of pre-printed requests, such as I need a drink, which I could point to. All Alan had to do was blink once for yes, twice for no, so that I could establish what he wanted. We could add to the list of the requests, and it also has a page with the alphabet on it. We were advised to practise using it so we would be experts by the time Alan’s speech left him.