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Josh Bishop is an 18 year old A level student who last year swam the English Channel. On 20th July Josh is competing in the Ironman UK Triathlon completing a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, 26.2 mile run all in succession within a 17 hour period. Anna McNaughton is a beautiful, intelligent and fun loving young lady of 27. Unfortunately, after a difficult birth she suffered brain damage and was born with Cerebral Palsy. This has affected her mobility, she is unable to use her arms so she can’t feed, wash or dress herself, she has no recognizable speech, she is unable to walk but she drives a power wheelchair using a chin switch. Initially she learned how to ‘spell with her eye’s’ forming letters of the alphabet with her eyes, and a communication book that consisted of symbols and words. This was a very time consuming, slow and laborious way to communicate. After years of practice she has now become adept at using a high tech communication aid, called a Liberator. This piece of kit has changed her life. The way in which it works is quite simple, although the technology behind it is complicated. Anna wears a little reflective dot (a ‘bindi’) on her forehead, which sends an infra red beam that is picked up by a small camera integrated into her Liberator device. This then acts as a ‘mouse’ allowing her to click on letters of the alphabet and spell out words and sentences. Not only can she communicate at a much faster pace, it has predictive text and will speak out the sentences she construct. It also has environmental controls, which allows her to access her smart t.v. where she can use Facebook and Skype to contact family and friends. She can watch dvd’s, record her own t.v. programmes and play her music....really loudly....as she dances around her lounge. She is also able to phone and text via this machine. It has made her so independent that she now lives in her own bungalow with 24 hour care. Anna loves to keep busy, she is often required to prepare presentations using her Liberator to give speeches at mainstream schools in educating the students on disabilities, breaking down the barriers and fears and showing them that at the end of the day, she’s just like them....just a little different. She also talks to the Students and parents in Special Needs Schools, who also have communication difficulties, to help encourage and inspire them to ‘use their voices’ more effectively. Her current Communication device is now very old and we are in the process of fundraising to ‘upgrade’ it. A new device costs in the region of £9,000. So far we have raised in excess of £3,000. As Josh completes the Iron Man he will be fundraising for Anna to be able to purchase her Liberator. We are very grateful for any donations no matter how small, it really makes a difference to Anna’s life. Thank you.
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