Re: Anyone using a Augmentative Device?

[Guest guest]

At 06:35 PM 4/9/02, Whatever It Takes wrote:

>We are looking hard to move our son (10-non-verba) onto AACD. There are so

>many out there, and at some air gasping prices.

>Anyone using a device that is durable...really durable, please e-mail me off

>list at

>kman1991@...

>Thank you,

>

>That which does not destroy me.

>Only makes me stronger

>DKW

>Experience email in so many ways

>www.incredimail.com

Hello,

We are in the process of moving in this direction. We're still working on

increasing manding and

tacting with vocal speech, and shaping articulation, but we know it is

highly unlikely that Isaac will become very conversational, and certainly,

he desires to communicate more than he is able to with spoken language.

PECS has been beneficial and we would continue to supplement his language

with this when it was more convenient, but I feel that it is also

cumbersome and trying to make, laminate or buy everything we need is a

little daunting after a while.

So we ordered/are ordering (not sure if the order has been placed yet, I

think so,) a Tuff Talker Plus.

It is put out by Words + and while it is a big larger than some would

recommend, we thought about it carefully. I figure if this works out, we

will get a smaller version, possibly a hand held like one for community jaunts.

At this point we know we'll be using it much more in the house, and

training it up, both formally and informally across the day, and expand the

topics, rooms, and then the places, but this costs a ton and is an

emotional investment too, so I am trying to do it well, but not out pace

myself, if that makes any sense. We will be on a big learning curve as well.

I've had a heck of a time trying to find goals and objectives for using aug

com stuff, or implementing goals and objectives into having the device as

part of the larger scenario. I have a new Pyramid Objectives Book from DRL

and will take some of the PECS type goals and change them slightly and this

will work for the communication, but it still only touches on what I am

wondering.

Lastly, I think if you are using it in a school, you must make sure you

have somebody responsible for helping program, and training staff and/or

parents, and making sure it's accessible and ready for the day.

We chose to do this outside the school. They only just this last week had

PECS training, and the year is practically over, and this coming week is

spring break here in New England. That means it will be the end of the

month before the majority of staff are trained and on the same page using

Isaac's system. That means that in May and part of June, if they put a lot

of time into it, Isaac would be working on it intensely and then he's done

with the class.

Jennie