2008 MANY STORIES ONE VOICE ONLINE COLLECTION

Melissa Gevers, Age 22, South Africa

Melissa (22) was involved in a motor vehicle accident in 2005.  The traumatic brain injury she received resulted in significant physical and communication challenges.  Relatively retained were her reading and spelling skills (she had been an A student in English prior to the accident).  Communication difficulties have become a very significant issue for Melissa.  She is currently learning to operate an alphabet communication board.  This creative writing task was a therapeutic task to train her in the use of the board, and to provide her an opportunity to express her frustrations and hurts concerning her inability to communicate.  ‘Stupid, in 26 letters’ was created with much frustration at unsuccessful attempts to communicate her intended word, and cathartic tears as her word was finally understood and her feelings acknowledged by people who did not realize the extent of her hurt.  The overriding concept she expressed was that she felt ‘stupid’.  Her humour came through in the variations of ‘stupid’ she offered.  Most of the words were her own offering.  A couple of the words had to be prompted, or a few options suggested from which she chose the most suitable.  The title was suggested by her therapist, based on the dominant theme of the feelings she expressed.

Click HERE to download the full story in Microsoft Word format.  

 

Stupid

in 26 letters

When I can’t communicate, I feel …..

Asinine

Brainless

Clumsy

Dumb

Empty

Frustrated

Guilty

Half-witted

Irritated

Just like an idiot

Klueless

a Loser

Mad

a Nothing

O’ so stupid

Pathetic

Queer

Really stupid

Stupid

Terrible

Uneducated

Very stupid

Weird

eXcluded

Yucky

a Zombie

by

Melissa Gevers