The phones do not work during school hours, and children can recharge them with call-minutes only by studying. (The phone companies were happy to help with this.) The phones give the children an incentive to study, and Mr Fryer a means to communicate with them.

ECONOMIST: Black America

She said the hospital did a study of 60 patients admitted with a diagnosis of vegetative state and 43% could communicate.

BBC: Vegetative state patients can respond to questions