Brook, a 47-year-old husband from South Dakota, has always lived life with strength and purpose. Whether working as a firefighter, managing his construction company, renovating his home, or casting a line into one of Minnesota’s many lakes, Brook built a life centered on action, independence, and connection. His ALS diagnosis brought significant changes, but it didn’t take away his drive to stay engaged and live on his own terms.
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a progressive condition that impacts motor function, including the ability to speak. For someone like Brook, whose life was built around movement and communication, the diagnosis brought significant change. But it didn’t take away his desire to engage with life, maintain his independence, or connect meaningfully with others.
That’s where AAC became a lifeline. And for Brook, that lifeline came in the form of the Grid Pad 13, an advanced eye gaze communication device tailored to support people with communication needs.
Reconnecting Through Technology
With the Grid Pad 13 and a personalized vocabulary set, Brook found a new way to do something incredibly powerful: speak on his own terms. Whether he’s texting loved ones, calling a friend, or controlling the TV to catch the latest game, Brook has regained a sense of autonomy that ALS tried to take.
Brook using his Grid Pad 13.
"Brook's Grid Pad 13 has given him his independence back. He enjoys being able to text and call friends and family. He uses it to control the TV, sports are back on in our house. It is easy for him to navigate and use throughout the day. We are grateful for his new device; it has made a huge difference in our lives!"
- Brook's wife
The Grid Pad 13 supports Brook with tools like message banking, intuitive navigation, and responsive access. These features are designed to reflect his voice and his way of engaging with the world so that Brook can continue to live life fully and authentically.
Brook’s journey is a vivid example of the potential of AAC, not just to support communication, but to preserve identity, dignity, and connection. Devices like the Grid Pad 13 are part of a broader AAC ecosystem that empowers people with conditions like ALS to stay engaged in the conversations and decisions that matter most.
Brook remains, at his core, the man of action he’s always been, only now, his actions look a little different. With the support of his Grid Pad 13, he continues to show up for the people he loves and for the life he refuses to step back from.