Improvement continues for years following a stroke or other brain injury. As survivors learn new skills and ways to do things, families must also adapt, letting go and learning to do less for the individual.

Work together toward increased independence. To start, list the four most stressful situations in which the survivor requires assistance. Discuss what parts of that task he or she could accomplish alone.

Then consider different ways of handling the task:

~ allow more time

~ reschedule for when survivor is rested

~ set up all necessary materials

~ use written aids - instructions, photos, pictures

Go for growth! You have little to lose, except stress, and much to gain.

Communication boards & illustrated guides "talk" for those who can't

Vidatak EZ Communication Boards

English-only & dual-language versions

If you or a loved one are unable to talk, you know what a struggle it can be to make yourself understood.

Lots of things can interfere with communication, including:

	a tube inserted in the throat to clear the passageways,
	illness that weakens the muscles of the voice or hand,
	stroke and trauma,
	various neurodegenerative diseases.

But now there is a versatile and inexpensive communication device that empowers its user to communicate a variety of emotions and needs with just the touch of a finger - the VidaTak EZ communication board.

This 11" x 17" dry erase board comes preprinted with symbols and icons. Just point to the symbol for hunger, thirst, anger, or pain, or to the picture of the human body to indicate a trouble spot. Or point to a simple �thank you� to express gratitude to family, friends, caregivers.

Designed by individuals who themselves were unable to speak, the VidaTak EZ board is newly modified based upon clinical research findings. And for the first time it comes in a multitude of dual-language versions.

Major medical centers including the Mayo Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, UCLA Medical Center, UCSF Medical Center, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center rely on the Vidatak EZ board. It also gives "voice" to folks in homes, rehabs, assisted-living communities - wherever people need to communicate without speaking.

Vidatak EZ Two-Sided Communication Board & Bedrail Holder