All For Chris

Chris remained in hospital for three months and on his discharge we both became frustrated with the 'system', in particular lack of support for his speech. Although I spent a long time researching for resources to support him, I was unable to find any that were adult focused for people with aphasia through the result of brain damage from a stroke. Over the past two years I have created and used a variety of teaching resources with my husband and placed some of them into a book.

My book is called 'All For Chris', it is not only a collection of teaching resources but follows Chris's progress and development using them over the first 12-months after his stroke. Part of the progress with his speech is due to singing. We sing the words he needs to learn first in either single words or short sentences and then slow down the words to speech. It is working!

I STRONGLY believe that stroke survivors should be provided with an education package that encompasses all disciplines tailored to their individual needs. Clearly, the current processes do not offer to those left with aphasia an opportunity to re-learn.

I have written, 'All For Chris' in plain English to enable members of the general public to use the contents, although it can be adapted and used by professionals. The reader is introduced to Chris, followed by an introduction, an excerpt is below:

'This is a book of resources to help the stroke victim, family and carers to work independently of Professionals to allow you (the reader) to 'take some control' over what is happening due to the after effects of the stroke. It is not a 'miracle' cure, but at least you will feel that you can take steps to support a way forward that is positive for all concerned to enable a building process to take place onto the layers of learning.

The book has been designed to provide you with a 'starting point' to support recovery. Allow time to read through the resources before you start, some will be useful now, others later as the person you are supporting moves forward on the road to recovery?.All For Chris ©Janet Ling MA Ed

The next part of the book provides an introduction to the resources, how the reader can use them and how Chris used them, an excerpt is below:

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Section 3

Instructions for the use of PICTURE SETS → WORD → SPELL IT resource

It is clear that without recognition of the alphabet, a stroke victim is hindered in the basic understanding of reading and writing, something that most of us will take for granted. I believe that in order to re-introduce these concepts to a stroke victim you should start with the basics, hence the picture to word start. I have produced four sets in the resources area (appendix 2a) to provide you with a start.
All For Chris © Janet Ling MA Ed

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My natural instincts as an educationalist was to find out exactly what Chris had lost then I built on that. Apart from losing his speech, he had no word recognition, in other words, he could not read, write or understand the written word. I set about working with the alphabet, then building slowly, working at his pace, onto the task above.

'All For Chris' also contains resources to support handwriting practice, days of the week, months and years, body parts, sentence making, mouth exercises and of-course speech. I found that when working to support Chris's speech that mouth exercises were the first place to start as stroke victims will usually have been left with a side mouth droop. The exercises are fun, they make you laugh, you just cannot help yourself! Chris and I laughed so much at each other we ended up crying! Chris no longer has his mouth drupe as the exercises strengthened the muscles around the mouth. It did take time and you need to be patient.

I have included blank templates of cards used to enable the reader to make their own that is aimed at the interests of the person they are trying to support. I have included a survey at the end of my book, I would be grateful if you decide to purchase my book and use the resources, that you complete the survey, as this will help me to understand what was helpful to you.

Examples from 'All For Chris' are within this section of my website and you are able to purchase the book by clicking the PayPal Button Below. Your copy may take up to three weeks to arrive as it is printed in America.

I am in the process of writing the next book: 'All For Chris: Moving Forward' which charts 12-24 months of the progress of Chris and includes further resources. This will be available through this website when published.

My thanks go to Caroline (Art & Design) who worked tirelessly to create the beautiful outer covers for 'All For Chris'. She also produced (among other parts), by hand, all of the pictures within the section: PICTURE SETS → WORD → SPELL IT resource, within 'All For Chris'. Caroline is working with me on my next book and you can find some of her other work within this website to purchase.

At this final point in this section, I would like to add my thanks to our youngest son, Martin, who has supported his Dad and I throughout.

I hope you find the contents of my book as supportive as Chris and I have.

Janet Ling
Author

Supporting Stroke is a UK based independent help and resource website for stroke