Giving Lisa a Voice

How a custom solution from our Essex South panel helps Lisa call for help when she needs it.

Lisa has cerebral palsy and lives in a care home. Due to her condition, she needs a way to request help without relying on speech or fine motor skills.

She reached out to us to request a communication aid that is simple to use and will enable her to make her needs known.

It was agreed that a large board with easy-to-press buttons would be the most effective solution. The buttons could be programmed with pre-recorded messages.

The board holds four individual voice-recording buttons, each one programmed with a specific phrase chosen by Lisa. These include: “Can I have a drink, please?” and “Can you help me? I’m in pain.”

Each button plays back its recording loudly enough to be heard clearly by staff. The buttons are battery powered, with an estimated battery life of around a year. The messages can be re-recorded at any time if Lisa’s needs change.

Colour coding and simple graphics were added to each button to help Lisa quickly identify which message she wants to use.

This communication board allows Lisa to call for help, express pain, or ask for a drink—all with the press of a button. It’s a straightforward, low-tech solution that provides reliable support when she needs it most.

While simple in design, the board makes a meaningful difference to Lisa’s wellbeing, improving her ability to communicate and request help.

Could you benefit from custom equipment, like Lisa? Get in touch.