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HOW TO COMMUNICATE FOR FREE WHEN YOU CANNOT WRITE OR SPEAK,

BUT CAN BLINK YOUR EYES OR MOVE A FINGER OR TOE.

     Paralysis from a stroke, accident, operation, assault or other horrible event may leave you or a loved one unable to speak or write notes. Yet when conscious enough to want to communicate, one is trapped inside a powerless body. Even worse, perhaps one cannot see, but even then, one wants to make their thoughts and needs known.

     How can one communicate when one is almost totally paralyzed? If you can spell, and blink an eye or wiggle at least a finger or toe, twitch, etc., you have a chance by using a simple code. You can learn it, and if one can hear or see, it can be explained, and with a little practice, used.

     Here is rule for the code: Basis: just exclude the letter Z, and there are 25 letters in the alphabet. If you can recall the alphabet in proper order (first grade), each letter also has a number in the proper order. A is 1, B is 2, C is 3, D is 4, etc. Break the 25 letters into five letter groups in alphabetical order. The first group is A, B, C, D, and E. The second group is F, G, H, I , and J. Within that group there are only five letters, so each of them is simply a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. The code to identify a letter is now just two numbers to communicate per letter. The first digit is the letter group number, i.e. one through five, and the second digit is the letter number, i.e. one through five, in that group. A simple chart makes this easy for all is in the table below (feel free to make a copy of the chart on cardstock, and cut out to use):

Letter number in group to right; group number below.	Letter #1 within the Group	Letter #2 within the Group	Letter #3 within the Group	Letter #4 within the Group	Letter #5 within the Group
Letter Group 1	A (1,1)	B (1,2)	C (1,3)	D (1,4)	E (1,5)
Letter Group 2	F (2,1)	G (2,2)	H (2,3)	I (2,4)	J (2,5)
Letter Group 3	K (3,1)	L (3,2)	M (3,3)	N (3,4)	O (3,5)
Letter Group 4	P (4,1)	Q (4,2)	R (4,3)	S (4,4)	T (4,5)
Letter Group 5	U (5,1)	V (5,2)	W (5,3)	X (5,4)	Y (5,5)

For each letter, the code to use is: (Letter Group number first, Letter Number within Group second).

     How to use: If you can blink both eyes, blink the right eye the number of times for the Letter Group number, and then blink the left eye the number of times for the Letter Number within the Group. For example, for the letter H, blink the right eye twice, and then the left eye three times. Then pause before doing the next letter, and pause a bit longer between words.

     If you can wiggle a finger on each hand, or at least two fingers on one hand, let one be the group number and the other be the letter number. The idea is to identify what can be moved, twitched, wiggled and then designate it as a Letter Group number transmitter, or as a Letter Number transmitter.

     How to communicate numbers? Spell them out for now. If you do a lot of numbers, then the same logic for a table of tens will work. If unable to move, but can use at least one hand, use a ten key numberic key pad to key into a spreadsheet that has the simple "if, then, display result" logic to spell out the words for others to read. Questions: email via Support@ChristiansThatCare.tv/

DIRECTIONS: Use print copy or read to the potential user, practice, and acknowledge understanding.

NOTICE: This is not to be used directly for profit. It is a gift from the http://cTc.tv mission to any and all who can use it.  Feel free to make copies of the PDF below, one instruction and code page for easy use and distribution.

Future plans, when I can afford the time, or if a volunteer steps forward, includes:

1.  Make into U-Tube for broad distribution and use.

2.  Develop the spreadsheet and make it available free by using open source LibreOffice spreadsheet that is compatible with the dominant spreadsheets so a numeric key pad can be used for input.

3.  Plastic laminated card with the code table for users.

4.  Create an App that works on portable tablets or phones, etc.

If you wish to undertake this task as a spare time gift, let me know by e-mail:  support@ChristiansThatCare.tv

If you like this, and you want to help me initiate more works like this, then consider helping support the denominationally independent world-wide mission, http://cTc.tv , with a free-will gift (not tax deductible) or help yourself when you buy a copy of "Mastering Your Marketing" (www.RGIofVa.com) to help support my family of ultra-small business and non-profit launches and endeavors.

And thank you for your prayers,

John

This was written on May 22, 2012 by John C. Randall, and you are encouraged to copy and distribute it freely to all who care to learn. Translation into other languages besides English and modification of the concept is encouraged.

FREE PDF OF THIS TEXT MAY BE DOWNLOADED BY CLICKING THE PDF ICON BELOW.  SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, CHURCH, AND PUT A COPY WITH YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY (to improve the chances a loved one will find it when you cannot talk).

TIP: Say outloud what you translated from the code to the sender and ask for "1" action if you got it right, or "2" action if they need to retransmit to you.  If hearing is one of the last senses to diminish, but one can still control their eye blinking, you just might be able to communicate -- slowly, but still communicate.  May the full power of our Lord be with you as you seek to do this.  John