Augmentative Communication and Assistive Technology
Commentary
When I read important documents like our Constitution or the UN's famous declaration on human rights, it seems obvious that the concepts of free speech and thought are created on the foundation of the more basic right to communicate. I am not the first to note this connection. Multiple organizations, including UNESCO, have been debating whether or not the right to communicate should be listed as a basic human right. Others have argued that the right to communicate underlies all other rights, and no expression of speech, religion, assembly, or press can exist without the right to communicate.
These ideas, while remaining primarily in the political sphere for most individuals and organizations, have profound implications for people with disabilities. If anyone has lacked a voice--both physically and figuratively--over the years, it is people with disabilities.
This Month's Focus: Augmentative Communication and Assistive Technology
She
pulls my hand and I willingly follow. I don't hesitate, I go. That is
her question and going is my answer. We both know what she expects and
that she will indeed get it. When we arrive in the room where she wants
me to be, she lets go and rushes to her dad, grabbing his hand in the
same way, leading him towards me. With gentle direction, she shortly
has us facing each other. As soon as we are properly arranged, she
steps back, tilts her head and waits for delivery. My husband and I
step toward each other and wrap our arms around each other, cheek to
cheek, watching as our girl enjoys the fruits of her labor. When she
feels that enough love has been demonstrated between the two of us, she
steps in to collect her own. If her sister is there, she may invite
her as well, depending on the moment's sibling rivalry status.
This is a pretty regular conversation for us at home. My five-year-old functionally non-verbal and cognitively different daughter is the instigator while the rest of us do our parts. This conversation can mean many things: mom needs a hug, dad needs a hug, she herself needs a hug, or that we've been too busy to appreciate each other. We always know the difference, though the flow of steps is identical each time.
This is a pretty regular conversation for us at home. My five-year-old functionally non-verbal and cognitively different daughter is the instigator while the rest of us do our parts. This conversation can mean many things: mom needs a hug, dad needs a hug, she herself needs a hug, or that we've been too busy to appreciate each other. We always know the difference, though the flow of steps is identical each time.
Adapting Your World for Play
by Erin
All children learn through play. Play provides opportunities for children to understand environments and relationships. Playing alone with an object through experimentation helps a child learn what the physical qualities of that object are through his senses (the block is red, smooth and tasteless) and physical skills (if the block is dropped or thrown it makes a loud noise). Playing with an object with another person helps a child learn the potential uses of the object (the block can be used to build a tower) and how it relates to other objects in the world (the block is a toy). The child also learns about her relationship with the other person by observing what happens when she is unable to master a particular use of the object on her own (my parent will help me build a tower with the blocks or become upset when I throw blocks).
Children with disabilities learn through play, but the means by which they have access to objects in their environment and the assistance they need while exploring those objects may vary depending on their functioning. In some cases, a child may have difficulty seeing, hearing, reaching and holding an object without a specific degree of help from another. For this reason, assistance from others often serves a more important purpose for the child with disabilities.Communication Aids that Help Answer "What Did You Do at School Today?"
by Randi Sargent
It's back to school for most of our kids and with it comes the uneasiness of not knowing what our special child did or accomplished during the day. Even the most verbal of kids has trouble with reliable answers to our relentless questioning! Using some low tech visual aids, even our children with limited verbal abilities can now answer the proverbial question, "what did you do at school today, honey?" Here's how:
Pancakes and Lemonade
by Janee
"Oh, he's a boy and boys sometimes take longer to talk." The words reverberated every week or so as a family member, friend, or acquaintance would meet my son Kohner. More of these comments began to occur around the ages of two and three. I thought maybe they were right, but the lack of mama's, dada's, down, and many other expected words at a young age were beginning to bother me. I knew he wasn't hitting the milestone check boxes on the handouts provided to parents.
Specialty Articles
Urology and Nephrology
A Cathing Primer: Everything the Doctor Forgot to Mention
My daughter was sent to the urologist for urological testing after several Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). When her testing showed she retained urine, urinated with high pressure, and was at very high risk for kidney damage, we were told to begin cathing.
The only problem was that no one ever showed me how to cath.
A Cathing Primer: Everything the Doctor Forgot to Mention
My daughter was sent to the urologist for urological testing after several Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). When her testing showed she retained urine, urinated with high pressure, and was at very high risk for kidney damage, we were told to begin cathing.
The only problem was that no one ever showed me how to cath.
Feature
Insurance and Medicaid
How to Get a Communication Device for Your Child
In an ideal world, a child with a significant communication impairment would be given a communication device and begin talking on it the very next day. Unfortunately, obtaining a communication device in the real world is often very difficult, to say the least. This article will guide parents through the basic steps in acquiring a communication device.