Four National Star students appeared on BBC’s The One Show in their quest for their own ‘voice’ for their communication devices.
These are high tech communication systems that synthesise speech from text to produce a ‘voice’, enabling those with no natural voice or communication difficulties to express themselves.
About 6,000 young people nationally depend on communication devices (AAC) as their voices. At National Star 22% of students use a communication device.
Comedian Lost Voice Guy, Lee Ridley, who also uses a communication device, visited National Star to talk to the four about the challenges they face.
Ted Barnard–Edwards, Nathan Groves, Talia McDowell and Jack Smith all want regional accents to reflect where they live but there are very few age-appropriate regional voices for communication devices.
A customised voice costs around £500, which many families cannot afford. National Star speech and language therapists have been searching the country for age-appropriate regional accents and have discovered there is not much choice.
To enable students to have their own voice National Star is establishing a Technology Fund which will help fund projects and work with students to find suitable voice donors.
‘It doesn’t sound like me. I’m originally from just outside Larne in Northern Ireland, but the only Irish accents available are southern Irish which is completely different and just listening to myself now I sound like an aul doll (or old woman if you didn’t understand that), I’m only 19!,’ said Talia.
Nathan, 22, who has a generic Welsh accent, wants a regional Cwmbran accent.
‘I’m from Cwmbran, most people where I live have an accent that doesn’t sound anything like this voice. It makes me sound like a middle–aged man,’ he said.
Jack, 22, said: ‘I sound boring and not like my family. I am from Wolverhampton – the Black Country.’
‘I’m a boccia player. I want people to know it’s me talking,’ said Ted, 17, who wants a Berkshire accent. ‘My own voice will help people recognise me. Especially when I’m receiving my medal at the Paralympics!’
The One Show found a voice donor for Jack who is now proudly using his Black Country accent on his AAC device. He also got to announce the players at a Wolverhampton Wanderers match, a team he has followed since he was a child.
Hundreds of people responded to The One Show appeal to find voices for the other three students and the BBC will return to National Star later in the year when Nathan, Ted and Talia have their own unique voices.
A further appeal to find 17-year-old Cain Webb a Gloucester voice for his communicator has resulted in scores of responses from the public after he appeared on BBC Points West.
Cain is so frustrated by the limited choice of voices that he uses the Queen’s voice. ‘I would like an accent and a voice that allows me to feel more confident talking to girls my own age,’ said Cain.
Technology Fund
National Star is establishing a Technology Fund which will help fund projects such as this and other life-enhancing technology which enables young people with complex disabilities to have a voice, access learning and control their environments.
To find out more about our Technology Fund please contact the Fundraising team at fundraising@nationalstar.org or call 01242 524478.
National Star is looking for potential voice donors for other students.
To find out more please email: findmyvoice@nationalstar.org
Article meta data
Clicking on any of the links in this section will take you to other articles that have been tagged in the same category.
- This article was written by the National Star College Karten Centre
- Featured in the Karten Spring 2019 Newsletter
- This article is listed in the following subject areas: Centre News