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Your Stories - Meet some of our Lightwriter® users

Here is a selection of Lightwriter users, showing a wide range of ages and conditions. We would love to hear your story too! If you would like to have a mention on the website or perhaps in an advertisement please let us know by emailing your story and contact details to yourstories@toby-churchill.com.

Toby

Toby Churchill

I'm Toby and I shouldn't need any further introduction! I lost my speech in my early twenties as a result of encephalitis and designed the first Lightwriter® for my own use over 30 years ago. I am in a wheelchair and have the use of my left arm. Over the last 25 years I have used almost every model of Lightwriter® that we have produced.

This link shows a video from the BBC archives of a Tommorrow's World episode in the 70's, including some of my early inventions!

The early Lightwriters® were big and heavy, reducing their portability; now with much better battery technology and low power electronics, we have reduced their size and weight, and so I find it much easier to have a Lightwriter® with me whenever I need one. The addition of speech synthesisers some years ago made it much easier to communicate with people who are not familiar with communicating with those who cannot speak, and made it possible to communicate over the phone.

Morgan

Morgan

Hello, my name is Morgan and I am 18 years old  I live in Melbourne with my parents and two sisters.  On the weekends and holidays I live in Kyneton which is in country Victoria and I keep my horse there.

Because I have ataxia it is difficult for me to walk and talk clearly but I like to do lots of things and talk to people.  I always try to talk first but if people can’t understand me I use my Lightwriter®. 

Simon

SimonStevens

My name is Simon Stevens, I am currently 36 and I have cerebral palsy. I live in Coventry and I am self employed as an experienced independent disability consultant and trainer. My work includes talking to social workers and social work students about my experience of employing personal assistants and how to work with ‘service users’.

Nathan

Hello, my name is Nathan and I am 17 years old.

I have Apert’s Syndrome which gives me some difficulties, one being my speech.

Beth

Beth has been using communication aids since she was 4 years old. Throughout childhood she has worked through a range of dynamic screen devices, initially symbol-based and later text-based.

Melinda

Toby Churchill Ltd is pleased to be able to introduce Mel Smith. 

Mel is a community development worker from Melbourne, Australia

Kati

Kati

My name is Kati.  I have a rare condition as a result of  been born with my thyroid not working.  It has resulted in me getting mini ‘thyroid storms’ every now and again throughout my life,  sometimes the effects are temporary and other times it leaves permanent damage. As a result of this I went deaf at 16, although I could still speak clearly then and then later after another ‘attack’ in my early thirties I was left with Ataxia permanently.

Brian

Brian Texting on Lightwriter SL40

 

Brian, who has motor neurone disease, was excited to get a new Lightwriter® SL40 as he wanted to text his family and friends. Now he is doing this – and more.  

Lena

Lena is a Lightwriter user from Sweden. This is a translation of her story:

 

Lightwriter® SL40 has given me my human voice back!

Vincente

Vincente is 9 years old and has Cerebal Palsy and Verbal Dyspraxia.  He is a very keen communicator and after trying a variety of different forms of communication

Lynne

Lynne Miller

Hello my name is Lynne and I am 38 yrs old, from Surrey (UK).  I am partially deaf and speech impaired.


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