Just Back From ATIA!

Several of our therapists just returned from the Assistive Technology Industry Association's January conference in Orlando, Florida.  It was an exciting conference this year where we learned from Linda Burkhart, Joanne Cafeiro, Caroline Musselwhite and more.  We are charged up and ready to go with a renewed focus on Interactive Communication!  We spent time looking at wonderful learning software from Mayer-Johnson, Judy Lynne, Soft Touch,  Inclusive Technologies and Learning Magic.  We were reminded of free activity shares from AdaptedLearning.com (Boardmaker) and LearningGrids.com (Cricksoft/Clicker 5).  An excellent conference, as always!

AAC: Whose Job Is It??

Question of the Day:
At what point does it become not only our student/child's responsibility to learn, but our own responsibility to keep up with the technology that allows them to do so?  AAC technology is an amazing gateway to communication for so many of our children.  Unfortunately most of them struggle to learn the new "language," week after week in therapy, only to have partners who are not willing to simply keep up with them.  To become an effective communicator using a speech generating device, it is imperative that communication partners learn the system enough to provide at least minimal support, if not appropriate adult models of interaction.  Being the teacher, therapist or parent of a child who speaks through technology means that you have been given the gift of hearing a special child's thoughts.  Don't' throw it away because you won't take the time to learn their language.
Ideas:

• Join your child/student in therapy.  You will learn the location of messages s/he is learning.  You will have models of interaction techniques to try yourself.  You can provide key information about important goals to the therapist in order to meet your needs at home/school.
• Ask your therapist to videotape several sessions of therapy to share with his other partners.
• Participate in Intervention Planning:  a process of examining your child's day and determining priority goals for her communication.
• Spend an hour talking with someone using ONLY the child's communication device.  It's a great way to learn the location of messages, appreciate the challenges of communicating with a device and, problem solving missing messages.
• Make sure you and your child/student are being assisted by an experienced AAC therapist.  This is not an easy process and the assistance an AAC specialist can provide is invaluable.

The most important idea to keep in mind is that we never give up on communication!  The technology exists to help almost EVERY SINGLE PERSON communicate in some way.  Don't be the handicap that limits a child's potential!  If you need help, please talk to a knowledgeable AAC therapist for ideas.  There's always something that can be done to help.

Vicki

Georgia Respite Summit

SPORTS & MORE FOR SPECIAL KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

The McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA would like to invite all parents with children, 6-12 years of age, who have high-functioning Autism, Aspergers & related conditions to register for a new program that will focus on you & your kids having fun together while building strong family relationships.
All programs will be held on Sundays, 4:30 - 5:30 PM.
Pricing
Facility Members: $60.00
Program members: $75.00
Community: $85.00
What's in store for you?
Starting 1/10/2010, Meet & Greet, Basketball, Relay Games, Hockey, Kickball, Baseball and more!

McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA 1055 E. Piedmont Rd., Marietta, GA 30062 770-977-5991

Allie Explains Communicating with her EyeMax

Alli is a very smart young lady who uses eye gaze to talk with her EyeMax communication device (Dynavox). This is a short video clip showing her explaining how she communicates. Alli looks at the button for the message she wants to speak and holds her gaze while the camera on her EyeMax calculates exactly where she's looking to select and speak the message. You can see the red highlight "drain" as she holds her eye gaze on a specific button to activate the message. Pretty amazing stuff!! Check out Eye Gaze products: EyeMax by Dynavox, C-Eye on the C-12 by Tobii/ATI; Eco2 with EcoPoint by Prentke Romich


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGu61eywYOo

Our Dynavox Sales Representative, Ron Steinberg, came through in a pinch with a loaner V (Dynavox, dynamic display device) for Adina's patient, Ryan, when his V had to go for repairs right before a big vacation. Adina and Ron worked out the loan and Ryan and his family sent us this wonderful thank you note after the fact. I think it is gratifying to hear how much having a voice means to our friends!

"The most precious time was when we were in a Red Lobster in Tennessee and the wait staff was all gathered around Ryan as he told them his name, the names of his siblings and pet, where he lives and of course our home phone number!!  He then made them laugh by telling them that he wears underwear!!  They got such a kick out of talking to him and were simply amazed by the technology available today!  I felt he really impacted those 4 people at the restaurant, they were so appreciative that we allowed  him to talk to them and that we explained the device." Krista Elema, 1/5/2010

Katie Beckett/Deeming Waiver GA Workshop

WOW Outreach Proudly Presents:  A "Hands On" Katie Beckett/Deeming Waiver Application Seminar for Parents

By Debbie Dobbs & Lisa Tatum

Sunday, January 31, 2009

3:30-6:30 pm

Peachtree Road United Methodist Church Room C208

3180 Peachtree Road NW

Atlanta, GA 30305  

RSVP to WOW by calling 888-871-7157 or info@theWowAcademy.org

AAC Learning Auditory Automatic Scanning with a head switch

Our friend Bradley is just learning to use his switch to start an automatic auditory scan and interact using his Dynavox.  He presses his head switch placed to the back right of his head to start the scan and then presses it again to select when he hears the message he wants to communicate.  This is a very simple video showing basic choice-making.  Bradley is also using this method of communication to greet friends and say goodbye, make activity choices and offer his opinion!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewPzOmVEmow