Need help for my non-speaking friend

[TOLady]

A very good friend of mine lost his voice-box due to cancer .

He currently uses a small white-board and dry erase markers, but he goes through markers quickly and the white-boards don't last as long as he'd like.

Can anyone think of a white-board that erases when you slide a lever? I've been looking and googling, but can't find anything.

Any ideas?

[AnaKhouri]

They have the ones with magnets and iron fillings (like a MagnaDoodle) but I don't know how clearly the words would show up on one of those.

[fireheart]

Dumb question, but has he learned sign language by any chance? While I know it may not necessarily cover everything, it might help ease up a little bit on the whiteboard.

[Aislin]

I have a coworker who uses a iPad mini or his kindle to type out messages. He has partial hearing due to a implant but no voice.

[csquared]

I would look to getting a cheap, used PDA/smart phone/tablet.

[TOLady]

Dumb question, but has he learned sign language by any chance? While I know it may not necessarily cover everything, it might help ease up a little bit on the whiteboard.

Unfortunately, no one we know would be able to read sign-language (although the servers at my local pub know enough to bring him another round ), although with my Mom's increasing loss of hearing, it might be a good idea for me to start lessons.

As well, he does have a computer, but with the amount of time he is out and about and not able to plug in to re-charge, the laptop tablet wouldn't be of much help (he also imbibes - a lot) and is prone to spillage. He's gone through 3 used tablets alone this year!

However, I did find something that is available at WallyWorld by googling etch-a-sketch. It's something called a Boogie Board that allows you to write, scribble, etc and then hit a button and it resets to a black screen. It seems to be durable enough. I'll just have to shrink-wrap it against the inevitable accident (or two).

[Seshat]

I second the idea of him, you, and your group of friends learning at least basic sign. It's a full language, and fluent speakers can speak it as quickly as spoken languages, if not faster. Once you have some fluency, your conversations will be much less troubled than ones where he has to write his part.

As for communication tools, the search term is "assistive technology" or "assistive communication technology"

Here's a few results from my part of the world:

Independant Living Centres

CommunicATe

This one's an American one

Tobii



NOTE: I'm not recommending any of these, I'm not recommending against them either. I know nothing of them; my personal choice for assistive communication is Auslan (the Australian equivalent of ASL).

[Trixie]

We sold the Boogie Board in our store and had one set up for people to try. It stood up to every one writing on it pretty good even when the whole thing was filled with writing. Long term I don't know but we had it up for about a month and it was written on pretty much anytime someone walked by. It erased quick and came in different colors. I guess it's about the size of an iPad but I'm not sure if you can use anything to write on it if you don't have the pen. I give it 4 stars out of 5! That is my unpaid review.

[BearLeeBadenaugh]

I can second the boogie board, the one I had worked quite well until it was stolen. Been meaning to buy another, but it's one of those "someday" things that never seems to happen.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/e330/

Pulling the above link, I also noticed this nice travel whiteboard. http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/e330/

[EricKei]

Trixie - the description at ThinkGeek says you can use other things to "write" on it, if desired. Looks nifty

As for whiteboards -- yeah, they wear out after awhile. If you have one that you wanna still use but has some old dry-erase ink embedded into it -- if nothing else has worked to erase it (windex, et al), one of the best dry-erase solvents out there is...dry-erase ink. Seriously.

[celticgrl]

You can check Walgreens also for the Boogie Board I know my local one had them in stock just last week they seem like they would work.

[csquared]

You could also try a stainless steal dry erase.
http://www.containerstore.com/shop?p...d=10033144&N=&

[ParkingWitch]

I just saw the Boogie Boards on clearance at Walgreen's last night.

[DeltaSierra]

Does he know how to type? If so tell him to check out the Ubi Duo - basically its a dual interface set of display/keyboards - what one person types immediately shows up on the other person's display. Its more commontly used by deaf people, but I can see it being of use to your friend.

http://www.scomm.com/products/ubiduo

[lordlundar]

If he can afford it, a tablet PC would be ideal (he might even be able to get it paid for by medical insurance. Worth a shot). If not, the Boogie Board would be a nice, inexpensive alternative.