5 Hours to go 'til speech

This may be the last post I manage before the challenge ends and I return to speaking again.

Yesterday was a good day. First we had the Therapy Team Breakfast. I couldn't believe the amount of food there was!!! Then, we got to listen to our radio broadcast on BBC Radio Glocestershire at 11 am. All the Speech and Language Therapy team came to listen and we had some very kind messages of support from them afterwards. Bruce came to record the interview and the comments from the team.

I had a phonecall from PRI Liberator to arrange returning the Vantage (my communicator) to them. The lady I spoke to commented that I seemed to be doing well with the communicator. I had of course explained who I was and about the challenge - she seemed interested! I think I've become much more confident with the telephone now. As well as PRIs call, I had 2 other calls to deal with yesterday and though not perfect they were far more successful than at the start of the challenge and at least no-one hung up on me!!

We then had lunch together in the staff dining room which gave us a chance to see what the team's signing knowledge was! I find it quite hard to use the communicator AND eat at the same time!! I managed to have a little social chat with Karina (one of the team's assistants) using the communicator. Jon our head of department commented that it was nice to hear me using the communicator to chat, as up until then he had only really heard me using it in some way related to the challenge itself.

I realise up to now that I haven't really spoken about the students' reactions to all this. My impression is that they have reacted positively. I think they have found it amusing that the shoe has been on the other foot so to speak! But, some have also asked me how's it's going, have listened intently and have given me the thumbs up when I use the communicator to talk to them. Thank you students - you are our inspiration!!!

As it was the last night of the challenge I asked my husband whether he was looking forward to me speaking again. Although at the start he made lots of jokes about how much more difficult it would be for me to nag him (!!) I think he really has missed the talking. He said it's been a bit like being at a pantomine with all the signs and gestures he's had to interpret. I've noticed though that he is more patient with me when I use the communicator now. He finds it hard to deal with things that go at a slower pace as he's always thinking way ahead..so it's been a challenge for him and he's had to learn something too. I am very thankful for all his support over the past few days and for understanding the reasons for doing the challenge AND for taking me to his work party too! I'm sure we will be talking about the experience for some time to come and I'll get to learn more about the experience from his perspective.