The focus of Chapter 6, “Awakening,” lies mainly on Martin’s assessment at the Center for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Two specialists, Yasmin and Shakila, conduct his assessment. His family, Virna, an additional caregiver named Marietta, and a physical therapist named Elize all join him. Shakila determines that Martin is able to communicate through a device that consists of a dial scan and a head switch, after he proves that he is fully aware of the conversation in the room by tracking with his eyes. Towards the end of the assessment, Shakila shows Martin a Macaw, a communication device that could eventually give him a computer voice through which he could communicate. Martin is at once amazed and fearful, having grown unaccustomed to the power of communication.

Chapter 7, “My Parents,” provides deeper insight into Martin’s perception of his father, Rodney, and his mother, Joan. More particularly, Martin explains that his mother’s feelings about Martin’s condition were complicated, as she believed that all their care for Martin would eventually have a negative effect on his siblings, David and Kim. She saw Martin as the child she had lost.