when most people think about the game of charades they picture a fun-filled
charades they picture a fun-filled
charades they picture a fun-filled family moment that may last an hour or
family moment that may last an hour or
family moment that may last an hour or two however when you have a nonverbal
two however when you have a nonverbal
two however when you have a nonverbal family member you find that
family member you find that
family member you find that light-hearted game turns into your whole
light-hearted game turns into your whole
light-hearted game turns into your whole life and there is no escaping it when I
life and there is no escaping it when I
life and there is no escaping it when I was five years old I was still learning
was five years old I was still learning
was five years old I was still learning how to read and write but unlike other
how to read and write but unlike other
how to read and write but unlike other five year olds using crayons
five year olds using crayons
five year olds using crayons I was spelling out my words on a wooden
I was spelling out my words on a wooden
I was spelling out my words on a wooden alphabet board using my index finger it
alphabet board using my index finger it
alphabet board using my index finger it was my first ever communication device
was my first ever communication device
was my first ever communication device as you can imagine it was a drawn-out
as you can imagine it was a drawn-out
as you can imagine it was a drawn-out and frustrating process I mean no
and frustrating process I mean no
and frustrating process I mean no five-year-old child has the cognitive
five-year-old child has the cognitive
five-year-old child has the cognitive ability to spell out everything they
ability to spell out everything they
ability to spell out everything they want to say my mother would pick me up
want to say my mother would pick me up
want to say my mother would pick me up from school and ask me what I did during
from school and ask me what I did during
from school and ask me what I did during the day and with excitement
the day and with excitement
the day and with excitement I just pointed to the letter H mum then
I just pointed to the letter H mum then
I just pointed to the letter H mum then proceeded to list every school activity
proceeded to list every school activity
proceeded to list every school activity that started with H horse-riding na
that started with H horse-riding na
that started with H horse-riding na hydro swimming nope
hydro swimming nope
hydro swimming nope well you didn’t handwrite on this game
well you didn’t handwrite on this game
well you didn’t handwrite on this game of charades lasted 15 minutes until my
of charades lasted 15 minutes until my
of charades lasted 15 minutes until my mother finally worked out healthy Harold
mother finally worked out healthy Harold
mother finally worked out healthy Harold the giraffe came to school that day my
the giraffe came to school that day my
the giraffe came to school that day my mother drives this whole conversation
mother drives this whole conversation
mother drives this whole conversation starting with the single letter H dou
starting with the single letter H dou
starting with the single letter H dou mum you might start the day by checking
mum you might start the day by checking
mum you might start the day by checking Facebook on your smartphone find
Facebook on your smartphone find
Facebook on your smartphone find yourself apologizing as you step around
yourself apologizing as you step around
yourself apologizing as you step around the automatic vacuum cleaner and then
the automatic vacuum cleaner and then
the automatic vacuum cleaner and then the fridge reminds you that you need
the fridge reminds you that you need
the fridge reminds you that you need more milk whether it’s in our social
more milk whether it’s in our social
more milk whether it’s in our social academic or business lives the advances
academic or business lives the advances
academic or business lives the advances in technology have dramatically improved
in technology have dramatically improved
in technology have dramatically improved our efficiency and our way of living
our efficiency and our way of living
our efficiency and our way of living what if the use of technology is the
what if the use of technology is the
what if the use of technology is the only means that gave back an
only means that gave back an
only means that gave back an individual’s identity humor speech and
individual’s identity humor speech and
individual’s identity humor speech and movement for people who have a severe
movement for people who have a severe
movement for people who have a severe physical disability such as myself
physical disability such as myself
physical disability such as myself technology for us is the freedom to
technology for us is the freedom to
technology for us is the freedom to express ourselves for me it is vital I’m
express ourselves for me it is vital I’m
express ourselves for me it is vital I’m a graphic designer
a graphic designer
a graphic designer website developer and photographer I am
website developer and photographer I am
website developer and photographer I am able to be fully independent in my work
able to be fully independent in my work
able to be fully independent in my work environment
environment
environment using a macbook for my graphic design
using a macbook for my graphic design
using a macbook for my graphic design and website development – securing my
and website development – securing my
and website development – securing my SLR digital camera to my wheelchair for
SLR digital camera to my wheelchair for
SLR digital camera to my wheelchair for me being independent in my business life
me being independent in my business life
me being independent in my business life means so much at school I was fortunate
means so much at school I was fortunate
means so much at school I was fortunate to have a series of communication
to have a series of communication
to have a series of communication devices that as they evolved gave me a
devices that as they evolved gave me a
devices that as they evolved gave me a voice and allowed my sense of humor to
voice and allowed my sense of humor to
voice and allowed my sense of humor to escape but let’s not forget when I was
escape but let’s not forget when I was
escape but let’s not forget when I was using these devices as a teenager in the
using these devices as a teenager in the
using these devices as a teenager in the early 2000s this was when mobile phones
early 2000s this was when mobile phones
early 2000s this was when mobile phones were the size of house bricks back then
were the size of house bricks back then
were the size of house bricks back then technology created for the sole use of a
technology created for the sole use of a
technology created for the sole use of a non verbal person was almost unheard of
non verbal person was almost unheard of
non verbal person was almost unheard of not only are some people uneasy when
not only are some people uneasy when
not only are some people uneasy when they meet somebody with a severe
they meet somebody with a severe
they meet somebody with a severe physical disability but they can also be
physical disability but they can also be
physical disability but they can also be confronted by the communication devices
confronted by the communication devices
confronted by the communication devices they use I have a pretty warped sense of
they use I have a pretty warped sense of
they use I have a pretty warped sense of humor and that helps me deal with some
humor and that helps me deal with some
humor and that helps me deal with some of the reactions I receive from the
of the reactions I receive from the
of the reactions I receive from the public you see it on their faces as
public you see it on their faces as
public you see it on their faces as they’re walking towards you are shit a
they’re walking towards you are shit a
they’re walking towards you are shit a wheelchair is coming what do i do what
wheelchair is coming what do i do what
wheelchair is coming what do i do what do I do and they try to get out of the
do I do and they try to get out of the
do I do and they try to get out of the way and make a clear path but I
way and make a clear path but I
way and make a clear path but I counteract it so we get into an awkward
counteract it so we get into an awkward
counteract it so we get into an awkward zig-zag walk happen 90% of these
zig-zag walk happen 90% of these
zig-zag walk happen 90% of these encounters end up with both parties
encounters end up with both parties
encounters end up with both parties laughing which leads them to feeling
laughing which leads them to feeling
laughing which leads them to feeling confident enough to start a conversation
confident enough to start a conversation
confident enough to start a conversation with me I find humor is the best way to
with me I find humor is the best way to
with me I find humor is the best way to put people at ease and an advanced
put people at ease and an advanced
put people at ease and an advanced communication device has made these
communication device has made these
communication device has made these interactions a great deal easier finally
interactions a great deal easier finally
interactions a great deal easier finally the release of the iPad was a game
the release of the iPad was a game
the release of the iPad was a game changer in my family and friends eyes it
changer in my family and friends eyes it
changer in my family and friends eyes it was the best invention ever because it
was the best invention ever because it
was the best invention ever because it allowed them to hear at least 50% of
allowed them to hear at least 50% of
allowed them to hear at least 50% of what I would like to say anyone who
what I would like to say anyone who
what I would like to say anyone who knows me knows how much I love music and
knows me knows how much I love music and
knows me knows how much I love music and going to gigs but simply watching music
going to gigs but simply watching music
going to gigs but simply watching music was never satisfying enough for me I’ve
was never satisfying enough for me I’ve
was never satisfying enough for me I’ve always wanted to be onstage performing
always wanted to be onstage performing
always wanted to be onstage performing like my rock and roll musician friend
like my rock and roll musician friend
like my rock and roll musician friend Steve Balby from noise works every time
Steve Balby from noise works every time
Steve Balby from noise works every time I watched Steve on stage I could hear my
I watched Steve on stage I could hear my
I watched Steve on stage I could hear my inner musician screaming you need to
inner musician screaming you need to
inner musician screaming you need to play music and perform however my
play music and perform however my
play music and perform however my logical side just dismissed that idea as
logical side just dismissed that idea as
logical side just dismissed that idea as a result of my physical limitations at
a result of my physical limitations at
a result of my physical limitations at the age of 24 I was lucky to cross paths
the age of 24 I was lucky to cross paths
the age of 24 I was lucky to cross paths with dr. Jordan Yuen at a conference
with dr. Jordan Yuen at a conference
with dr. Jordan Yuen at a conference he was delivering a presentation about
he was delivering a presentation about
he was delivering a presentation about his mind controlled wheelchair and at
his mind controlled wheelchair and at
his mind controlled wheelchair and at the time Jordan was predominantly
the time Jordan was predominantly
the time Jordan was predominantly working with quadriplegic who had the
working with quadriplegic who had the
working with quadriplegic who had the ability to talk and didn’t jump around
ability to talk and didn’t jump around
ability to talk and didn’t jump around quite as much as me I didn’t know he’d
quite as much as me I didn’t know he’d
quite as much as me I didn’t know he’d never conversed with a nonverbal person
never conversed with a nonverbal person
never conversed with a nonverbal person with cerebral palsy before he later
with cerebral palsy before he later
with cerebral palsy before he later confessed after our meeting his
confessed after our meeting his
confessed after our meeting his perspective drastically changed when he
perspective drastically changed when he
perspective drastically changed when he realized there was a whole different
realized there was a whole different
realized there was a whole different level of people with disabilities that
level of people with disabilities that
level of people with disabilities that he could work towards assisting Jordan
he could work towards assisting Jordan
he could work towards assisting Jordan and I became really good friends and
and I became really good friends and
and I became really good friends and this is where the craziest adventure
this is where the craziest adventure
this is where the craziest adventure began we went to a few music gigs where
began we went to a few music gigs where
began we went to a few music gigs where he witnessed firsthand how much I wanted
he witnessed firsthand how much I wanted
he witnessed firsthand how much I wanted to perform and a few months after one
to perform and a few months after one
to perform and a few months after one gig the phone rang the project was to
gig the phone rang the project was to
gig the phone rang the project was to play classical music at the Sydney Opera
play classical music at the Sydney Opera
play classical music at the Sydney Opera House with the Australia piano quartet
House with the Australia piano quartet
House with the Australia piano quartet with the first-ever eye controlled
with the first-ever eye controlled
with the first-ever eye controlled instrument from psychokinetic now I
instrument from psychokinetic now I
instrument from psychokinetic now I hadn’t used I controlled technology
hadn’t used I controlled technology
hadn’t used I controlled technology before and I knew absolutely nothing
before and I knew absolutely nothing
before and I knew absolutely nothing about classical music yes I was sitting
about classical music yes I was sitting
about classical music yes I was sitting there thinking how are we going to make
there thinking how are we going to make
there thinking how are we going to make this happen its classical music at the
this happen its classical music at the
this happen its classical music at the Opera House I picked up the software
Opera House I picked up the software
Opera House I picked up the software really quickly however I still needed to
really quickly however I still needed to
really quickly however I still needed to be taught how to play classical music on
be taught how to play classical music on
be taught how to play classical music on the instrument with a seemingly
the instrument with a seemingly
the instrument with a seemingly impossible deadline of four weeks time
impossible deadline of four weeks time
impossible deadline of four weeks time to bring in the quartet this is when I
to bring in the quartet this is when I
to bring in the quartet this is when I started to build my friendship with Tom
started to build my friendship with Tom
started to build my friendship with Tom Beck and James with James taking the
Beck and James with James taking the
Beck and James with James taking the lead as my music teacher on day one
lead as my music teacher on day one
lead as my music teacher on day one Jordan whispered to me do you think we
Jordan whispered to me do you think we
Jordan whispered to me do you think we should give James a brief on your
should give James a brief on your
should give James a brief on your cerebral palsy and I replied no he looks
cerebral palsy and I replied no he looks
cerebral palsy and I replied no he looks reasonably smart oops let him work it
reasonably smart oops let him work it
reasonably smart oops let him work it out for himself that was the best thing
out for himself that was the best thing
out for himself that was the best thing we could have done because straight off
we could have done because straight off
we could have done because straight off the bat James pushed me to my limits and
the bat James pushed me to my limits and
the bat James pushed me to my limits and beyond
beyond
beyond he even yelled at me because I was
he even yelled at me because I was
he even yelled at me because I was having involuntary muscle spasms and
having involuntary muscle spasms and
having involuntary muscle spasms and classical musicians require complete
classical musicians require complete
classical musicians require complete control I really enjoyed this process I
control I really enjoyed this process I
control I really enjoyed this process I was laughing in silence I continue to
was laughing in silence I continue to
was laughing in silence I continue to teach James about cerebral palsy and
teach James about cerebral palsy and
teach James about cerebral palsy and humor just as much as he teaches me
humor just as much as he teaches me
humor just as much as he teaches me about music I found a new quirky friends
about music I found a new quirky friends
about music I found a new quirky friends within James our first performance went
within James our first performance went
within James our first performance went really well it was a beautiful
really well it was a beautiful
really well it was a beautiful collaboration of classical instruments
collaboration of classical instruments
collaboration of classical instruments that are hundreds of years old
that are hundreds of years old
that are hundreds of years old with SCI kinetics brand-new instrument
with SCI kinetics brand-new instrument
with SCI kinetics brand-new instrument and if a standing ovation is anything to
and if a standing ovation is anything to
and if a standing ovation is anything to buh-bye I think we pulled it off so from
buh-bye I think we pulled it off so from
buh-bye I think we pulled it off so from spelling out words with a wooden
spelling out words with a wooden
spelling out words with a wooden alphabet board to performing with an AI
alphabet board to performing with an AI
alphabet board to performing with an AI controlled musical instrument the
controlled musical instrument the
controlled musical instrument the advances in technology in my lifetime
advances in technology in my lifetime
advances in technology in my lifetime have been Swift providing opportunities
have been Swift providing opportunities
have been Swift providing opportunities and increasing in dependency for
and increasing in dependency for
and increasing in dependency for individuals like myself not only does
individuals like myself not only does
individuals like myself not only does technology continue to assist me with my
technology continue to assist me with my
technology continue to assist me with my work and communication but in the future
work and communication but in the future
work and communication but in the future I can imagine a time where I might be
I can imagine a time where I might be
I can imagine a time where I might be able to drive my wheelchair into a car
able to drive my wheelchair into a car
able to drive my wheelchair into a car and have it drive me to my chosen
and have it drive me to my chosen
and have it drive me to my chosen destination and I can’t wait for that
destination and I can’t wait for that
destination and I can’t wait for that day
day
day [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Laughter]
[Music]
[Music] you
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
yeah
yeah [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
you
you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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