Device to help our kids"talk"

[marisa]

Just wanted to post this as it may be helpful to other parents/kids. Laura talks, a lot, but often we can not understand what she is saying. She signs, but often her signs are approximated so if you are not familiar with her you still would not be able to understand her. She is very social and her teacher and ST do not want her to "shut down" if she decides it is too hard to communicate. Anyway, they suggested a device...she was tested.....district agreed to pay for it. This is the device she will be getting. It is a loaner until they decide it is the right one or try another one. Anyway, I know there are a lot of non-verbal and hard to understand kids out there. Thought this might be helpful.


www.prentrom.com/springboardlite

Marisa

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

I hope everything works out ! Keep us updated on how Laura does with it.

[andrewsmom]

Hi Marisa. Andrew just got his vantage lite 3 weeks ago! We are so excited. He got a "loaner" from school in May and then we got our own. He just loves it! He is starting to talk so much more because of this device. He will try to repeat after the device talks or says the word. His articulation has improved already.

I have also seen the springboard. Adrew worked on that one for a few weeks at the beginning of May. Isn't it incredible what these devices can do? I think they are awesome. Let me know how she does with it. Have fun!!! ;D

-Trisha

[steffipoo]

What a cool technological world we now live in. I just have to add that when Olivia was about 3 we were at the Cracker Barrel while on vacation and she fell in love with this perched parrot toy who would repeat everything you say. If she pronounced something wrong I would say it to Henry the parrot( his name wasn't henry she named it some other funny name but I forgot) and she would then repeat it perfectly after she heard the bird say it. ALSO she just LOVED to hear herself speak. She ADORED that toy and a couple years later we finally gave him to another child with ds after she got tired of him. But she never ever stopped talking to that bird and I believe it truly helped her speech. If you ever see one ppl get your child to talk to it and see how they react to it. If they love it get it it was a BLAST and she learned so many new words and how to pronounce em thru our words with the dang bird. LOL (((HUGS))) Steff

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Great idea Steff

[Jodi]

We have been using Vantage for a little over a year, and before that we used Springboard. We are very familiar with this stuff. I have posted and posted about how these devices are so good for kids that want to communicate. The biggest myth is that kids will stop trying to talk if they get a device. In all cases I have witnessed, including my own son, communication improves with the use of a device. The child tends to articulate clearer and their vocabulary increases as the use of the device increases. I can't say enough good stuff about AAC devices - they are wonderful!!

Thanks for posting about it!

Jodi