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This is proving an incredibly hard post to write. In becoming a regular pursuit, I’m increasingly aware that music places me at risk of repeating myself to deaf followers who might not share my newfound enthusiasm (not necessarily out of … Continue reading
This gallery contains 1 photo.
Paul McCartney could sing. So could his fellow Beatle, John Lennon (although – to my surprise – with rather less range, despite the almost feminine emotion). Tom Jones is a baritone-to-tenor belter, while Madonna sounds as ordinary as an Asda … Continue reading
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I’d always envied Miles picking up on Isobel’s vocalisations. Unlike me, he had been able to adapt to his digital hearing aids almost as soon as he had them tuned to his specifications. In contrast, after the initial excitement of … Continue reading
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Of course man cannot live on bread alone. He needs to be able to communicate as well, so we know it’s bread that he needs and not the raw plant growing out of the ground. The older she gets, the … Continue reading
Since the beginning of term, the axis of Isobel’s education has shifted – and with it, so has the focus of those working with her.For the past month, Isobel has been attending PACE thrice a week. Monday and Tuesday mornings … Continue reading
Not long after lunch, while playing in the Triton chair, a look of inward concentration crossed Isobel’s face. Unsure what it could be, I had to ask. ‘Have you done a poo?’ I signed. She gave one of those radiant … Continue reading
Jason up the road from us says he doesn’t have CP, but the neighbours think he does. He once tried to tell us what his disability was, but it was so long and multi-syllabic that we didn’t get it, and … Continue reading
Motor scales: 4.4 monthsPersonal/social: 5.1 monthsHearing/language: 5.1 monthsEye-hand coordination: 3.4 monthsPerformance: N/A (linked to cognition) This is how Isobel’s last development assessment looked at 5 1/2 months. While obviously impaired in several areas, her social and language development at least … Continue reading
Mark is a communications officer at Shape, a keen gardener who once ran the London Marathon, and an all-round good egg. I worked with him five years ago, and we got on famously. He’s popular in the office. Like Isobel he … Continue reading
Isobel attended what her therapists called a ‘toy library’ the other week. It turned out to be an activity group set up for disabled children to work on their motor skills. Surrounded by 2-to-3 year olds, she was the youngest … Continue reading
