Learning to Learn: Work Box System

This adorable little guy came to us 4 months ago, a bundle of energy and eager to let us know what he wanted. Little Alex wasn't quite sure he wanted to do what we had in mind though so we began a very simple work task system to  help him understand our expectations. This very visual system help him understand the duration and content of his therapy activities.  Alex has taken to his system beautifully and participates readily in all three of his "work" activities before he hops down to run the show learning functional communication through play with toys and interaction. Now that he's "learned to learn,"  Alex's "work" will gradually become more focused on increasing language development and speech.  Way to go, Alex!

Understanding Speech Generating Devices

Another video in the series developed by HealthGrades, www.healthgrades.com,  this video is a basic introduction to speech generating devices.  A quick discussion of how devices work, who they're for and why we may find ourselves needing one. Of course we were all sentimental talking about our wonderful kiddos so get out your tissues! :)

Learning How to Find Words in my Dictionary (Word List)

This video was taken a year ago when Zachary first began working with the Dynavox Xpress.  He is learning how the vocabulary is organized, how to navigate to his favorite subjects and how to speak a message.  Instruction includes verbal explanation of category with models for navigation.  Cueing shifts from direct point cues to direct verbal cues and  finally indirect cues as Zachary begins to figure it out!

How Speech Generating Devices Impact Families

A few month ago, HealthGrades, www.healthgrades.com, sent a video crew out to our office to meet our patients and their families and begin a video project to help people understand speech generating devices. The result is a series of 4 wonderful videos sharing our fabulous patients, their outstanding families and a wide variety of speech generating devices from all of our favorite companies. In this video, families discuss the impact of speech generating devices on their lives.

Watching YouTube & Talking with my Tango

Nicholas uses his Tango communication device to request favorite videos, use action requests and do a weekly movie review. He's getting good at selecting among his favorites, Scooby Doo and Blues Clues, giving them a big THUMBS UP!

Speech Therapy with George & the Balloonimals

We found this hysterical iPad/iPhone app that lets kids blow up virtual balloons, tie them into animated balloonimals and POP! them when they're done. We are having fun and working on our language skills at the same time. In this video George is having a blast and working on speaking in sentences.

Miracle & Gwendolyn Chat with their V's

Miracle and Gwendolyn sat down for a chat last week in our office. Both little girls are using Dynavox Series 5 software with pragmatically organized messages. This is a fun little snippet of our chatterbox girls learning about conversation.