Handwriting-in-interaction Between People with ALS/MND and their Conversation Partners

The aim of this study was to examine the use and practices of handwriting-in-interaction by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease (ALS/MND). Handwriting has previously been described as a viable and practical means of augmentative and alternative communication, particularly for adults with acquired progressive dysarthria and intact upper limb control. To date, however, there is extremely limited evidence documenting how handwriting is used within a conversational context. The analysis in this paper features data from two people with ALS/MND in conversation at home with their spouses. It is shown how recipient animation of an authored written contribution is an important element of handwriting-in-interaction, particularly in how the recipient reveals his or her stance or reaction to whatever has been written.