@peppers
You know what would be much more convenient? Using her phone to communicate, rather than using paper.
I'm absolutely sure that there are text-to-speech apps in which you can conveniently use to talk with people, if there aren't any individual devices mute people can use to communicate. But her notepad being the gimmick that it is, it's there to stay.
That being said, sign language is still a legit option. It's not that god awful to learn and it'd be more convenient to use in the long run, at least with her family. You don't need to be deaf to use SL.