Post by Jodi on Jul 17, 2007 11:25:54 GMT -5
We have an IEP addendum meeting today at 1, but I couldn't wait to share the great news ;D
I have posted about Ryan's speech issues a lot. The latest was he got an AAC device in April of '06 (Springboard). It is a touchscreen device. I went crazy and programmed all kinds of things and nested the screens (if he touched school, then he had options like "teachers" "friends" "abc's" "numbers" "colors" "calendar" etc etc. If he touched one of those, then he would have new options related to that icon).
Each time he touches an icon, it is called a "hit". One day driving home with Ryan, he had over 72 "hits" to say fewer than 15 words. It was wonderful, and yet sad how he used the device. For example, he ruined a shirt and I told him he had to throw it in the trash. He used his springboard to say "shirt" "take out the trash". The word trash wasn't programmed, but the phrase "take out the trash" was programmed under chores, so he had no alternative - but at least he figured out he could relate the speech KWIM
Another example, someone asked him if Allie (our dog) was a boy or a girl. He doesn't have "boy" "girl" programmed in his device, but he has pronouns - so he used "she" ;D A couple of days ago, I told him we were having pizza at home. He said "pizza" "H" "E" "R" "E". He used his alphabet to spell "here". The trouble is the device says the letters - not the word (it doesn't have text to voice synthesis).
So, knowing he was capable of so much more, I requested another eval. I know the district was like "WHAT???" because they just invested $3,000 in this device in less than a year. I had him evaluated, and the district was, for some reason, unhappy now with the evaluator. They wanted a second opinion. I was really worried that they were trying to find someone to shoot down the idea...
So the call I got yesterday - it was the second evaluator saying how great Ryan is on his device and he is sooooooo ready for the next level. YAY!!! We meet today at 1 to talk about his assessment, but she wanted to touch base with me and let me know what she thought. I'm so very excited, because now there are two opinions that say the exact same thing and my kiddo should be getting a new device by the end of the year ;D ;D
Thanks for letting me share
Jodi
I have posted about Ryan's speech issues a lot. The latest was he got an AAC device in April of '06 (Springboard). It is a touchscreen device. I went crazy and programmed all kinds of things and nested the screens (if he touched school, then he had options like "teachers" "friends" "abc's" "numbers" "colors" "calendar" etc etc. If he touched one of those, then he would have new options related to that icon).
Each time he touches an icon, it is called a "hit". One day driving home with Ryan, he had over 72 "hits" to say fewer than 15 words. It was wonderful, and yet sad how he used the device. For example, he ruined a shirt and I told him he had to throw it in the trash. He used his springboard to say "shirt" "take out the trash". The word trash wasn't programmed, but the phrase "take out the trash" was programmed under chores, so he had no alternative - but at least he figured out he could relate the speech KWIM
Another example, someone asked him if Allie (our dog) was a boy or a girl. He doesn't have "boy" "girl" programmed in his device, but he has pronouns - so he used "she" ;D A couple of days ago, I told him we were having pizza at home. He said "pizza" "H" "E" "R" "E". He used his alphabet to spell "here". The trouble is the device says the letters - not the word (it doesn't have text to voice synthesis).So, knowing he was capable of so much more, I requested another eval. I know the district was like "WHAT???" because they just invested $3,000 in this device in less than a year. I had him evaluated, and the district was, for some reason, unhappy now with the evaluator. They wanted a second opinion. I was really worried that they were trying to find someone to shoot down the idea...
So the call I got yesterday - it was the second evaluator saying how great Ryan is on his device and he is sooooooo ready for the next level. YAY!!! We meet today at 1 to talk about his assessment, but she wanted to touch base with me and let me know what she thought. I'm so very excited, because now there are two opinions that say the exact same thing and my kiddo should be getting a new device by the end of the year ;D ;D
Thanks for letting me share
Jodi
&&Mommy to Griffin (96), Gray (97) Collin (00) enhanced and Lauren (02) the little princess.
&
Susan, Proud mom of Michael (32), Justin (25) Emily (22ds), and Jordan (20).
)! WTG Ryan!! And WTG Jodi!! Good work. I'm anxious to see the story unfold this fall!!
