Using the computer to communicate

[Jodi]

Okay, another polling question...

Do your kids use the computer? Not games, but typing? Ryan is starting to create sentences on the computer as part of his IEP goals. This is more about his future - a means of communicating more quickly in case his speech doesn't become more clear - and so we decided to create a goal in his IEP about creating sentences. He can use pencil/paper, computer, or his communication device.

Right now he can locate the keys, and uses the spacebar and period (YAY). But the actual goal - creating a sentence - he still needs help with that.

[Jackie]

Jodi..I think our kids can really use the computer to enhance their communication skills. There used to be an IBM program...don't know if its still used...but think it was called Writing to Read. I tried and tried to get Emily into a program for it...but seems she was too old at the time.

Good for you!

Jackie

[Jessie]

Nope, Jason is just using it for games, but I think that's a great idea to give Ryan that tool. Will have to try something with Jason too!


Jessie

[momofrussell]

No... Russell can play a few games at school but no communcation... but Russell doesn't really know the ABC's or numbers yet too much so that might hinder this concept. He is still learning his name with laminated letters

A.

[Connie]

Jodi,

Funny you should bring this up because I was just discussing this with my DH, Collin's ST and other school officials.

Collin while he does have an amazing vocabulary and is quite verbal (NOW) has problems with intelligibility. So unless your around him a lot you may not know what he is saying.

We also have problems with Collin showing us all he knows. For example....Say you are playing with 6 or 7 different colored bears and you ask Collin for the "Blue" one he will hand you every single one EXCEPT for the blue one. If, he did this only randomly I would say he still didn't know his colors but it is every single time so there is know way it is coincidence that he always leaves the right color behind...plus he then smiles at you.

But, if you are just randomly playing a game and Collin doesn't realize you are trying to get information out of him he will give you the right one every time. There is no under standing the child!!!

Ok...I digressed so back to my point. Collin is an electronic boy he will sit for hours and play with his Leapster and loves his bothers game boys (but I don't think he quite understands those games).

On the Leapster we have and ABC one and he can go through and show you all the ABC's but if you try and have him do it with flash cards or in a book....he shuts down and will just guess and not give you the correct information but on electronic devices he is always right.

I was wondering if Collin had some sort of communication device if this would allow him to show the teachers all he knows? His ST was not in favor of it because Collin is so verbal and she does not want to discourage him talking. But, I still can't see why it won't help but have found no one that has ever tried this before with some on verbal.

Thoughts on this would be quite helpful.

Connie

[Jodi]

Can somebody PLEASE point me to the study that shows without a doubt when giving a child with communication delays another means of communicating, that new means significantly diminishes their verbal output!! Puh leeze!!!!

Connie, the choice is yours to make, not theirs. I was told not to teach sign to Ryan because then he wouldn't talk. I was told don't use pecs, and the latest was not to get a communication device. We use all!

Ryan's first choice is ALWAYS trying to tell us things verbally (did I mention ALWAYS?!!!!). When we don't get it, which is often, the he resorts to signs, and then his communication device. Example... we had chinese food last night. Ryan was saying "weee eeee, weee eeee". I guessed two times (incorrectly) and then he put his hands over his head and signed rain. I said "rain" and he said NO!!! Okay, it gets a little tricky here so stay with me... the Wiggles do this move when they sing "cold spaghetti". I finally figured it out - he was saying spaghetti for the chow mien noodles. For cryin' out loud - give the kids a way to communicate!!! I don't know about other people's kids, but I know Ryan WANTS to communicate, and jumps through all kinds of hoops so that I will understand him (bless his heart!!!!!).

Okay - off my soapbox now

Jodi

[momofrussell]

Connie.. that's what TOTAL COMMUNICATION is all about You might want to address your school district THAT way... Sounds like Collin might be an auditory learning and needs that input that way for learning.

A.

[cindylou]

They had a tech expert come to the school the last two weeks of school to see what technology programs would benefit Kaylee the most--they showed me her journal writing unassisted and then with this writing program and it was amazing how much she could communicate clearly with teh writing assistance program. I will look for the papers and write it out for you because you will be shocked.

Kaylee is 12 and loves to type on the computer and to play games. I haven't had her try email much. I will find the program info and post back up but it is a writing program that assists you--it's fabulous-
cindy

[steffipoo]

Hey Jodi. If you call the parent resource room at the westside regional center you should ask for a friend of mine named Liz Spencer. Her son used the computer to communicate in school and such and she knows all the ups and downs and how to write into the iep for these things. Also there is a place by my house called the computer access center which can help you all find the right adaptive equiptment for your son. Their the best type in computer access center and they have their own website. HUGS Steff