dyscover – rediscovering communication

James Weekes

This picture depicts how aphasia affects his life.

He has drawn himself behind bars; he can still see and appreciate beauty in the world, but his lack of speech and physical difficulties prevent him from interacting and participating in the way he would like to.

He has drawn himself a prisoner behind bars, watching two beautiful women in a boat, unable to go and join them.

James had a stroke in 2006 at the age of 69, while working as a university lecturer. He started his working life in Royal Navy from the age of 16, later re-training as a business psychologist and management trainer, which included consulting for the police in Lesotho.

He has four sons and five grandchildren.

Despite now needing a wheelchair, a modified diet to ensure he can swallow food and drink safely, and not having any speech, James is a determined and excellent communicator and is hugely independent, managing to live alone.

James has been developing his computer skills since his stroke, and in addition to using gesture, drawing and writing to communicate, he has recently invested in an iPad and an app called ‘Grid Player’ which allows him to tap on pictures to put together sentences which the app will then ‘speak’.  James is using this on a regular basis at Dyscover to communicate with fellow members, volunteers and staff.

James is a keen artist and photographer. He is regular on the Dyscover outings including The Imperial War Museum in London.