? For CC and anyone else re: communication

[Jodi]

Hey CC!!

You've mentioned about your character using a device. I was wondering about his speech output. Can you give me some examples of what he communicates with his device? What I am looking for is whether or not he communicates in complete sentences, phrases, or one-word at a time. I'm guessing all three, but was just curious.

Anyone else using a device, please feel free to comment!

Thanks!

Jodi

[Connie]

CC...

If/When you answer Jodi's question can you also tell me how you know when/if a child needs a communication device.

While Collin is verbal he is very TECHY and sometime I think it would help him relay information or knowledge he has locked up in his brain....

Connie

[momofrussell]

Connie, I think it all depends on the child and what his/her needs would be. For years I asked about a device for Russell and our one EC teacher said they used them more for kids that would NEVER talk.. like the ones that medically couldn't. Well, fast forward to my boy, he still can't talk and we use one now at school as well as the other forms we use.

Does Collins class have access to one? Maybe you could ask to even get a crash course and some training with one and bring it home. Alot of the basic ones you put pictures in them and they choose things.... then there are the ones like that have the abc's on them that are more to type sentences...ect.. then there are one button switches you can record on for kids that need it simple. There are ones you can upload real pictures and boardmaker pecs and touch a screen....

You have something in mind that he might like to use? I say why not ask! And another short answer would be, if Collin is not getting frusterated communicating his needs and can also understand what is being taught to him, then maybe he doesn't need a device.... but you know him best!!!

A.

[lespring]

I was often asked to work the extended school year with students who had apraxia or similar speech/language disorders. One little guy used a....hhmmm..I think he had a dynovox. Part of the reason I was working with him was to hopefully increase his sign vocabulary as well. Nobody was sure yet if the device was the right fit for him, as he was having some behavioral issues that were clearly communication based.

So in the first week working with him, the biggest problem I noted was that with his device he had no way of expressing AGE APPROPRIATE frustration. Like, when asked if he wanted grape juice, he could say, "yes please" or "no thankyou" but he had no way to say, "I don't LIKE grape juice."

When another boy asked if he could sit by him, he had a way to say, "yes" or "no", but no way to say, "No, I want Joey" or some other age appropriate thing broken down to his 2nd grade level. (I hope that made sense)

He had no way to say, "I don't like you." or any other form of negative anything. It was like everything that came from that box should have only been positive or a choice of "no". But never an age appropriate way to express dislike at something.

I hope that makes sense. It's kind of hard to explain, but I think it's important to include stuff like that when the systems are programmed or you're kind of setting the kids up for frustration. JMHO of course.

[CC]

Hey Jodi ~

Christopher uses the "Say It Sam". If you want to see it check it out ...

www.words-plus.com/website/products/syst/say_it_sam.htm

He use to have a "Dynamo".

Yes we do all three but mostly try and have complete sentences.

Chris is big on using his verbal with one or two words. So we are trying now to really work on stringing more words together hence why we are pushing the sentences

Honestly Chris is not a real fan of it as he seems to think we should all understand him as he understands himself, KWIM But we continue to work with it as he will need the extra help especially as he is getting older and going to work one day and just being in the "outside" world without someone like myself, Colin or Kodi right there to help out with what he is trying to say.

He knows how to work it very well, if you ask him a question he knows what icons to push to get where he needs to be BUT again, at this point it is not his favorite way to communicate Which is quite confusing to us, as everyone has said once he realized the good things the communication bring him he will go with it. Honestly that hasn't happened yet. Although Chris is a bit of a complex case. He is quite OC and as we are getting this more under control I do see him being a little more into using it

One thing from our experience is most of the augmentatives are quite easy to use, its all in how one program its and having them use it over and over, KWIM.

Connie ~ all I know back when Chris was in preschool we were concerned as Chris was so far along with receptive but was unable to get it out. So I wrote my district and requested an evaluation be done for him to see if an Augmentative would be helpful for him. They agreed, we had the evaluation done and it was agreed it was something that would help him. They still all agree and because Chris is now 14 and although we always push for the verbal first, he needs help getting things out for all to understand.

One very cool thing about the Say It Sam which most are probably the same, is you can program your own photos into it if you want. You can make it say what ever you really want really. LOL I could even have it say "Hey Mom BUG off" But he already tells me to "chill" so I think I will leave that one off LOLOL

For some kids/adults it can be their only way of communication and others like Chris it can be one aspect of the communication.

Another cool aspect is if the child can learn to use the keyboard they can actually type out their own answer BUT that is if ever down the road for Chris.

Anywho didn't mean to go on and on but is a subject very dear to my heart when it comes to my guy

CC~

[Monique]

i posted this on the other post about non talkers but check out www.mayer-johnson.com and that shows you every type of device and software, etc out there.

[Jodi]

Thanks CC - and everyone else too.

We had Ryan evaluated last year, and were fortunate to get a device. I've spent countless hours programming the thing, and it has been a great bridge. He still isn't able to just freely communicate all things, but again it goes a long way when you consider how limited he was before he had it.

I would absolutely encourage any of you to consider at least getting an evaluation. And just FYI - I specifically requested an outside specialist to do the evaluation because the SPL at the district always had absurd suggestions about devices (a 5.00 talking album was the craziest idea). I used pecs for a while, but I started thinking that Ryan was jumping through a lot of hoops and didn't think that was fair when he was capable of manipulating an electronic device much faster and easier.

Anyhow... thanks again!!