Welcome to my Blog

Communication breakdown and repair strategies

For all communication I prefer my communication partner, if they can, to be on my level, it can be hard to be looking up to lip read (I have a hearing impairment) and then reaching down to use my IT or other communication resources. As an electronic communication aid user...

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Reading time: 3 mins

Living independently

I employ a team of personal assistants who support me 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  Each team member works with me on a 1-1 basis, and at times I need 2 assistants particularly for travel and sport. The relationship between me and each assistant is a...

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Reading time: 3 mins
Beth Moulam, reverse engineering life

Reverse engineering life

For me ‘the time it takes is the time it takes’.  What I mean by this is that I cannot dress any more quickly and I cannot eat any more quickly. This means I use a concept called reverse engineering life. Short cuts are out Most people can take shortcuts...

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Reading time: 3 mins
Beth Moulam, Boccia competition, on court with sports assistant

BOCCIA & TEAM WORK: No communication allowed

Boccia is a Paralympic sport, and like all sports governed by strict rules.  It is a target game played indoors by individuals and pairs or teams, accuracy and tactics matter when there is a match to be won. Athletes are classified into groups to ensure there is a level playing...

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Reading time: 2 mins

Thinking time or a mind blank?

Do you ever get asked a question and like me feel put on the spot and react like the ‘rabbit in the headlights’?  I always thought this was something to do with the way my brain works.  But talking to others maybe it is a more common phenomenon than I...

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Reading time: 2 mins

AAC, video conferencing and communication partners

Due to the pandemic I have been doing a lot of video conferencing with people I normally see in person. In face to face conversations some people understand my speech, and for spontaneity and speed my personal assistant often repeats what I’ve said verbatim. When I use my communication aid...

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Reading time: 2 mins
Beth Moulam with cerebral palsy, wearing green. Augmentative and Alternative Communication user, AAC, deaf

Being kind to myself

Like so many people I’ve found the last few weeks have been different to anything I have ever experienced.  It’s been a time full of highs and lows, with a lot in the middle.  At the beginning of the pandemic I don’t think anyone thought we would still be at...

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Reading time: 5 mins
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