We are hugely excited to watch developments taking place in the UK in the area of voice banking. MND UK, along with expert partners, Dell, Intel and Rolls Royce have introduced a method of voice banking using an eBook and which heralds the start of a new chapter in this area. A REVOLUTIONARY new eBook, which has been developed to allow people living with MND to bank their voice as they read the story aloud, has been launched in the UK.
I Will Always Be Me is a short story written by New York Times bestselling author, Jill Twiss, and is written from the perspective of someone living with MND as they explain the condition to their loved ones.
The book, created by these companies involved in the (UK’s ) MND Association’s Next Generation Think Tank, takes less than half an hour to read and is designed to be a shared experience between somebody who is living with MND and their family and friends.
Once the story has been read, the recording is uploaded and transformed into a digital voice by voice banking specialists SpeakUnique, which can then be used with communication devices when it is needed.
The (UK) MND Association will provide funding for people living with MND in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to use the book, thanks to donations from Dell Technologies and Intel. This free service extends to people living with MND in Scotland, with funding provided by MND Scotland.
Yvonne Johnson, who is living with MND, said: “The story in the book was so detailed but in a simplified way. So, by just reading the story my voice was banked immediately.
The story has a beautiful way of explaining the changes that may happen to my mobility while living with this condition, in a way that if I tried to explain it without the book, I would probably break down. Especially with my close loved ones.
The book is an amazing tool which can be used to explain in the most simplified way to both children and adults. Even someone who has never heard of MND, would definitely have a greater understanding of it rather than hearing an explanation from a medical professional.”
Michael, who is living with MND, was among a small group of people living with MND who were able to trial the book, and provide feedback.
He said: “When I was diagnosed with MND I decided I can sit back and feel sorry for myself, or I can do something positive to help others. Being involved in I Will Always Be Me was absolutely brilliant – my family was there to support me, and we all had a fun day. I’m hoping this project will lead to a much better understanding and awareness of MND, not just for families and friends, but for the general public as well.”
I Will Always Be Me is dedicated to the memory of Brian Moss, who died of MND in 2014. His son Stuart, Head of IT Innovation at Rolls Royce, was compelled to help improve the lives of other people affected by MND and joined forces with the MND Association to help create the Next Generation Think Tank in 2019. Dell Technologies and Intel were among the first to join the Think Tank and have been heavily involved in the development of the book.
The (UK’s) MND Association’s Director of Care Improvement, Nick Goldup, said: “Voice banking is incredibly important for someone diagnosed with MND, but traditionally it could be extremely time-consuming, laborious and often a very lonely process for the person taking part. We wanted to change that, and so we are incredibly proud that I Will Always Be Me is a completely different experience. People with MND have been at the heart of this project from the very start so it was important for us to develop something that was easy to use, engaging, and offer the opportunity to become a long-lasting, treasured resource. I Will Always Be Me is a brilliant example of how bringing together the Think Tank’s expertise and resources can improve the quality of life for people with MND and we can’t wait to find other ways to make a real difference.”
Lillian McGovern CEO of Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association said “voice banking is so important for our clients with MND. Awareness of this has been heightened over the last number of months with developments in technology here in Ireland and demonstrated by Charie Bird throughout his “Climb with Charlie” campaign. All initiatives in this area are to be hugely welcomed and we will be working to ensure that everyone who needs and wants a voice banking service will have full access to it”
You can find out more about I Will Always Be Me by visiting the website here
