Computer aids for stroke victims?

[Roger Mason]

Hi,

My good friend had a stroke 5 years ago. I just visited him in Australia and discovered his handicap includes lack of use of his right arm and limited use of his right leg. Also difficulty in stringing together more than one or two word sentances. I determined that he knows exactly what he wants to say and understands pefectly normal, complex conversation. His difficulty is in forming his own sentances.

It occurred to me that I might attempt to design a visual language for his computer, where he can click on icons that represent everyday things - the obvious being a smiling face for happy and left pointing arrow for left, etc., - and the icons appear in a document, along with the written word(s) for the rest of us to easily understand.

Does anyone know of such a language, or even a program that already exists? It will be quite a task and I don't want to re-invent the wheel if it is not necessary to do so.

Even a visual language that already exists (other than Chinese/Japanese) that may inspire the design of the characters/alphabet/phrases etc. would be extreamly helpful in this endevour to serve as inspiration.

Any help would be most appreciated.

Thank you.

Roger Mason

[Bud Pearson]

Hang in there Roger. Your friend needs someone like you at this time in his life. There are many sites out there that will be benificial to your needs, this, being just one. [url="http://www.strokefamily.org/"]http://www.strokefamily.org/[/url]

HTH

Have a *Great* day! Bud Pearson

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Bud Pearson

[Roger Mason]

Thank you Bud.

The site you recommended is just what I had hoped might exist. I foresee a long path ahead. It is encouraging to know others have been there, and achieved some success. This site is where I will start.

If you stumble on any other useful sites, I would, of course, be very grateful for your suggestions.

Again, Thank you Bud.

Sincerely,
Roger Mason