Carl Andrews had his larynx removed as a result of throat cancer in June, 1997. He had been employed as the Manager of the Westpark Apartment Complex. After the operation Carl attempted to speak using the neck vibrator but due to the scarring from the surgery, the sound did not transmit well into his mouth where speech is produced. He was not able to use a voice prosthesis because of tissue damage caused by radiation. He heard about the UltraVoice which creates the sound directly in the mouth and obtained his unit in August of 2000 through the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in Philadelphia. (Carl was in the Navy C.B.’s in Vietnam.) After getting the UltraVoice Carl was able to return to work supervising the maintenance staff.
Carl was featured on Philadelphia’s Channel 6 (ABC) as part of the television station’s “Health Watch” medical news feature. A CDROM of this feature which plays on a personal computer is available from UltraVoice. Carl visits laryngectomee clubs in the Philadelphia region providing inspiration and information for those faced with a long rehabilitation process. Carl Andrews UltraVoice demonstration –
Carl was also a featured speaker at the 11th Annual Celebration of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) at the Dirksen Senate Building on July 26, 2001 in Washington D.C.. Other featured speakers included Senators Ted Kennedy, Max Cleland, Tom Harkin and Orrin Hatch and past Senator Majority Leader Bob Dole; Congressmen Jim Ramstad, Karen Thurman, Jim Langevin, Steny Hoyer, Connie Morella, Patrick Kennedy and Donna Christian-Christensen. Also featured were other outstanding Americans who had overcome disabilities through their own spirit and drive. The audience consisted of supporters of the ADA legislation from the private and public sectors.
Listen to Carl Andrews a current UltraVoice user. By clicking the play button (black triangle) below to hear the male voice sample.
Listen to Carl Andrews a current UltraVoice user. By clicking the play button (black triangle) below to hear the whisper voice sample.