Just makes me so sad....
Weeru...@aol.com
Always remember......the mighty oak is just one little crazy nut that stood its ground! - unknown
"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." ~ Francis of Assisi
Melanie Spranger
Awwwwwwww that makes me so angry and mad too.
Ebunny59
2 blank squares. Ask him a question like is your name John, and see
if he indicates with an eye gaze, a pointing, or even touching the
correct button. If he has been watching the world go by, he probably
has noticed Jessie using her device.
Maybe the parents don't know these devices are out there. To an
observer, they seem complicated for anyone to use. And before Kendra
had a Vantage, I never knew they existed. I sat for years, heard that
Kendra doesn't know this or that, when i knew she did. They just
didn't know how to test her. To give her an alphabet test in
kindergarten, with no alphabet board to point to, was kind of stupid.
To ask her what does an S look like, when she couldn't write, was kind
of stupid. Or what does the word SNOW start with, when she couldn't
even begin to make an S sound until 3rd grade, was kind of stupid. I
told them, hand her a paper, with the alphabet all scrambled up, and
ask her, where is the Capital S, where is the lowercase r, point to
what letter starts the word CAT, gee, THEN they started realizing she
probably knew most of the answers, all along. But yet all the reports
had been can not correctly identify or indicate the letter S, or can
not write the following letters................,
It drove me crazy, even up until the IEP meeting 2 years ago. fpr her
MFE, the school psychologist sat there and told me she couldn't tell
her the story in a logical order that it happened, when she did not
have the Vantage or even her aide to translate what she was saying, so
it was assumed she couldn't do it. Even now, if her current teachers
knew how easy it is, to use the Eco as a keyboard, they would probably
be blown away by Kendra's speed and useage of it. I just don't know
how to approach them about it. Every time I try to show someone how
to do something on technology at school, it picks that day to NOT
work. \
Maybe this boy's parents have never even been introudced to the
miracle of Boardmaker and communication boards! Good luck!
Amy
Valerie Maples
Please take what I am saying as purely constructive criticism. I would not
do the two things you mentioned, Amy, and for very strong reasons. I would
try to borrow a device, unless Jessie wants to use it interactively with
this young man. Too often the school does not consider a voice proprietary
and personal, and a shared device is not a voice at all. Karen Erickson went
into great lengths as to why a big Mac switch should not be passed around
and why each student needs a voice of their own. Occasionally two people
will share something, but never, never plan to use someone else's device
because that person may become frustrated when they can't use it at another
time.
Another common mistake is to always be testing our kids. The most important
opportunities come through play and choice making, and I usually structure
my first presentations with all possible, all pleasurable choices. For
example, it might be on a simple four choice selection that I would offer
Nichole read a book page, paint a nail, do my hair, sing a song. I would
present the device and when the person has made the choice, immediately give
them what they asked for with the device away from them so that they cannot
perseverate or make multiple choices. I would simply reinforce the
cause-and-effect of communication. Another option would be to have two big
Mac switches with two choices and pursue whichever one they selected. A
device introduction, in my personal experience, should NEVER be used to test
what the child knows, like their name. You could, however, use a phrase,
"My name is John" and then have others reply with their introduction.
Communication must be meaningful and engaging.
It is very important to take careful consideration as to how communication
is presented and reinforced. Too often our kids are tested and tested and
tested instead of simply being given opportunities to explore language. I've
probably done a terrible job explaining this, but hopefully it makes sense.
Take care!
Valerie
Check out my kids at:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/nicholemaples <new>
http://www.caringbridge.org/ms/nicholemaples
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http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jorgemaples
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