novita news - Novita Children's Services

He’s all talk...a new voice for DarrylNovita staff (l-r) Tim Ziersch, Nigel Duckett,Lloyd Walker and Matthew Magarey withDarryl (centre)Life’s tough for a single bloketrying to meet new girls. Justask 30-something single DarrylSellwood, who says living withcerebral palsy can make it extratough to strike up a conversation.‘I love meeting and chatting with newpeople, but sometimes it’s hard forpeople who aren’t familiar with me tounderstand my words,’ he says.‘My friends help with interpreting, butthat can be really embarrassing if I’mtrying to chat up a girl!’But meeting new people, and lifein general, is now much easier forDarryl, thanks to the generosity ofUS company Prentke Romich andthe team at NovitaTech, Novita’stechnology division.‘I’ve always loved this system, but it’salways been considered a non-optionbecause of the high price. So whenI heard about the giveaway, I knew Ihad to give it a shot.’Darryl has his own home-basedbusiness as a computer programmerand is studying part-time for adegree in Computer and InformationScience. So the device will help himwith his studies and at work, as wellas socially.‘This really will change my life, bysolving issues I’ve had with computeraccess and allowing me to “speak”clearly to everyone I meet,’ he says.NovitaTech Director Dr LloydWalker says there are hundreds ofAustralians who, like Darryl, find‘deep’ communication very difficult.Prentke Romich, a world leaderin augmentative and assistivecommunication technology,celebrated its 40th anniversary in2006 by giving away 40 electroniccommunications devices. Andwith some help from NovitaTech,Darryl’s application was chosen fromhundreds around the globe to receivea free communication device.‘Darryl is incredibly charismatic with afantastic mind and a true zest for life.This device will open so many newdoors for him, and will really help himto reach his full potential,” Dr Walkersays.‘Our hope is that he will master thedevice then go on to become amentor, tutor and advocate for otheradults in similar situations.’‘When I was young I was a client ofNovita Children’s Services and as anadult I have stayed in touch regularlywith NovitaTech, to see if there’sany new technology to improve mycommunication,’ Darryl says.Of the 40 devices given away, 30went to applicants in the US whileNovitaTech helped to secure twodevices for Australian applicants– one for Darryl and one for a 12-year-old Queensland boy.