National Star students to appear on national TV
By Matt Hall and Sarah Wood | 21st February 2019
Four of National Star's students will star on national BBC television, today (Thursday).
The students will make a special appearance on The One Show this evening, in their quest for their own 'voice' for their communication devices.
Comedian Lost Voice Guy, who also uses a communication device, visited National Star to talk to the four young people about the challenges they face.
Ted Barnard-Edwards, Nathan Groves, Talia McDowell and Jack Smith, all want regional accents to reflect where they live, but there are very few age-appropriate regional voices for communication devices. They all attend National Star, a specialist college for young people with complex disabilities, at Ullenwood, near Cheltenham.
A customised voice costs around £500, which most families cannot afford.
National Star speech and language therapists have been searching the country for age-appropriate regional accents and have discovered they are not being "banked".
Talia said: "It doesn't sound like me. I'm originally from just outside Larne in Northern Ireland, but the only Irish accents available are southern Irish which is completely different and just listening to myself now I sound like an aul doll (or old woman if you didn't understand that) - I'm only 19."
Nathan, 22, who has a generic Welsh accent wants a regional Cwmbran accent. He said: "I'm from Cwmbran, most people where I live have an accent that doesn't sound anything like this voice. It makes me sound like a middle-aged man."
Jack, 21, said: "I sound boring and not like my family. I am from Wolverhampton - the Black Country."
Ted, 17, who has a Reading accent, said: "I'm a boccia player. I want people to know it's me talking. My own voice will help people recognise me. Especially when I'm receiving my medal at the Paralympics"
Comedian Lost Voice Guy, whose name is Lee Ridley, last year won Britain's Got Talent is currently touring the UK. His show at Cheltenham Town Hall on 18th March is almost sold out.
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