Brett

Brett is a 19-year old male who sustained a brain injury from a car accident in high school.  He wants to spend more independent time with his friends, but his mother worries about what can happen when she isn't with him to help keep track of things.

Brett has no physical limitations or apparent disabilities, but he does have difficulty with learning new things, understanding spoken language, and with remembering things. “Mom buys Post-It Notes by the case”, Brett says. His mother places them around the house to remind him to take medications and to help him keep to his daily routine. She is careful to place them where he is most likely to see them - “I can see to my right, but my brain doesn’t pay attention to what's there”, Brett explains.  

Brett wants to spend more independent time with his friends, but his mother worries about what can happen when she isn't with him to help keep track of things.  Brett's therapist has suggested that a smartphone might make it easier for her to keep in touch with him and as an alternative to writing reminders on Post-It notes.  Brett agrees - “All my friends use cell phones to keep in touch with each other and with their parents.  With a smartphone, I could do more things on my own, we could keep in touch, and she'd worry less.”

But Brett’s mother has difficulty understanding all the complex wireless plans and services, and she worries about the monthly expense, given how much time Brett already spends on their landline phone.  Sometimes he calls his friends repeatedly, forgetting he's already spoken with them.

Some cell phone features that would benefit Brett and his mother include:

·         Very simple operation, with only the features needed

·         Inexpensive calling plan that is simple and clear for those who understand English as a second language

·         Camera to help remember places and things

·         Scheduling and reminder features with text and graphics to reinforce auditory messages

·         Text-messaging option to accommodate Brett's difficulties with spoken language

·         Last-number-called reminder to minimize unintentional repeat calls