[tri-med] Re: Communication Devices

Hi Penny, I've been introducing Kaiya to the idea of pictures representing 
objects. I took a couple of pictures of very familiar items and try to show her 
the picture of the item whenever it is used. We also try to get her to make 
choices from a couple different pictures and then give her the item. I don't 
think she gets it yet, but we will keep doing it. I know they used PECS with 
several of the kiddos in Kaiya's old class. She's moving to kindergarten this 
year and the teacher uses the TEACCH method www.teacch.com with all of the 
kids. Hopefully more of an emphasis on communication will help Kaiya along. 
Kaiya is very vocal (no words, just LOUD noises) and I often forget that not 
everyone understands "Kaiya Talk". I'm hoping that once she realizes there is a 
more effective way to communicate she will quiet down a bit... 
Did they start Devon out with 8 selections or did he start with the smaller one 
and work up?
Kelly - mom to Akaiya T18 - 4 yrs

-----Original Message-----
From: plugginalongpv <plugginalongpv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tri-med@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sat, 30 Jun 2007 7:00 am
Subject: [tri-med] Re: Communication Devices



Hi Kelly :o)
I'm Devon's mom, Penny :o) Devon does not have T18...he has T13...but I'm
butting in anyway :o) It is NEVER too early to start using communication
devices OR PECS. PECS can even be used with typical babies who can't talk
yet. They are Devon's favorite way to communicate although he uses a little
sign that he started learning when he was 2 yrs old. We had never heard of
PECS but if memory serves, PECS were introduced when he was 4 at school :o)
He understands several signs but only does about 4 of them if you count
waving "hi" or "goodbye"...and we do :o) Most recently Devon got a Tech Talk
thanks to Noah's Never Ending Rainbow...it combines Picture Exchange
Communication System with real voice recordings. He looks at the pictures
and selects which thing he wants to request and pushes the picture. This
morning he pushed the picture of my sister hugging him. When he pushes that
picture my recorded voice says "Is Aunt Donna coming today?" :o) He gets
pretty persistent too believe me :o) He has also asked to watch tv. Pretty
soon when there's nothing good on he'll ask to watch a movie. At that point
I'll put a different overlay on of 8 different pictures...and I'll switch to
the corresponding level so he can pick which character/movie (please Lord
let it not be Teletubbies) he wants to watch. It's been a little (sometimes
a lot) tougher for him lately because of his medication induced vision loss
:o( But he's managing. He also uses a voice switch to ask to use the
toilet...we have a "potty" PEC velcroed to the top of the button so that
when he needs to go to the bathroom he just gets the PEC off the switch and
sets off the recording and brings us the PEC :o) He will also resort to
using objects if we miss his other ques. Like if he thinks we don't
understand he's hungry...he'll find a spoon and bring it to us.
You're right...Akaiya may not be able to do it all...but just keep
encouraging her and trying...don't give up because it may take lots of
repetition...at least that's how Devon learns. I'd be willing to bet she'll
pick up on at least one mode of communication :o) OH! And it's important to
be consistent and whatever she is using at school...you need to be using at
home the same way. And of course if you get something started at home that's
working...you should tell them at school and ask them to be doing whatever
it is that you're doing at home :o)

Love,
Penny...loving & devoted wife to Joe, the best husband in the world...mom to
Nick (16 yrs old...lover of Fishing, Dragons, Turtles, Blue Collar Comedy
Tour, RollerCoasters, Chocolate Icecream w/ Ovaltine sprinkles, Devon (12
yrs...lover of Barney, Blue, Nappy ol' Bear w/dreadlocks, Elmo, & food in
general. Full trisomy 13 w/balanced translocation 5 and 13) , and Trooper
the Wonder Dog...our 10? year old yellow lab adopted from FL Lab Rescue
12/13/02 :o) Please visit the webpage my wonderful friend Karen made for me
on our trisomy listserv at:
http://www.trisomyonline.org/victor.html      
AND...Devon's moment of glory in Exceptional Parent Magazine...
http://www.eparent.com/familiarfaces/ffaces_4_01.htm
AND...see our Trooper on FL Lab Rescue's website at:
http://www.labradorrescue.net/success/index.html (Look for the name Trooper)
AND :o) http://livingwithtrisomy13.org/album9.htm
AND http://web.coehs.siu.edu/Grants/TRIS/
"Faith sees the invisible, believes  the incredible & receives the
impossible"
 

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line


________________________________________________________________________
AOL now offers free email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free from 
AOL at AOL.com.


                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

Other related posts: