Communication Update

For the past two years I have been working on getting a communication device so I can tell everyone what I think! We have tried out two different systems and I have been working really hard to do my best. Now my teachers have to do lots of paperwork and send it off so it can be improved by insurance. Hopefully they will make a decision soon. They already said no twice, so we had to do more work to make them say yes. I really hope we worked hard enough this time! 

So this is what it looks like...

This is the PRC Communicator

 It has eight core words that I am working on: More, Stop, Go, Hello, Mine, Play, On, and Turn. I use a switch to start the scan of these words- that means the computer says each word out loud and then waits 10 seconds before going onto the next word. When it gets to the word I want to choose, I hit my switch and a different voice says the word out loud.

Here is me with the switch above my head

Right now I access the switch with my head. You can see the yellow switch attached to the back of my chair. I can use my feet to push up and hit the switch with my head.

Yellow Switch

 Here is another view of the switch I hit with my head. When I make a choice of one of the words we get to do fun things. Here are some of the activities we might do.

Minion with a swtich

 I might choose "Play" and we will use my switch toys to play with. Once I get used to my system I will be able to make more specific choices, and have more words to choose from.

Books

 Sometimes we read books, and I can choose them by picking More or Mine. We also play with stuffed animals sometimes, or "Go" for walks. We play music too sometimes, or play with the iPad.

I am really looking forward to working on this device so I can "talk" to my friends, family and teachers. One day everyone will hear all that I know and think!