A man left brain-damaged and paralysed after an attack 20 years ago has been able to 'talk' again for the first time with the help of an iPad.
Kevin Beverley, 55, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, is finally able to communicate by touching the screen to select words and sentences, which are then audible.
At the end of his first day using the iPad, he typed: 'It is so good to be able to speak again.'
Mr Beverley was left severely injured in an unprovoked attack in his home town two decades again.
He suffered life-changing injuries, including brain damage, broken bones and paralysis on his right-hand side, and he lost his ability to speak.
He has only been able to connect and correspond by making noises and gesturing. He has limited movement in his wheelchair making it difficult for him to communicate in the past by using keyboards.
Now, Mr Beverley has been given access to one of two iPads with a free text-to-speech app called Grid Player at the Carlton Centre in Barnsley.
The app has three options to spell out sentences, including already-written phrases and predictive text.
It has allowed him to tell the staff what he likes - and does not like.
He has even been able to ask for a cup of tea.
Mr Beverley also plays games on the iPad to help improve his hand-eye co-ordination.
A spokesman for the Disabilities Trust, which runs the Carlton Centre, said: 'It was an amazing result - Kevin had a voice to speak with. It is the first time he has been able to communicate with people in an effective manner for well over 20 years.'
