Docent for a Day

F really, really wanted to volunteer as a docent at our local zoo.  The unfortunate thing is they require so much that he cannot do and are unwilling to really work with him.  So his educational team, who I cannot sing enough praises about, came up with an alternate solution.  His supervising teacher had her special ed class scheduled for a field trip to the zoo.  F could volunteer to be their docent for the day.  So he and his two paraeducators got to work planning the animals he wanted to provide facts for.

Then his AT/AAC team came and prepared the Dynavox for the trip. They added the facts he wanted for each of his chosen animals.  They had great comments for him to use.  It was really created to use the least amount of energy and pack the most informative docent punch possible.  Then it was up to F to learn the pages, practice, and prepare himself. He had about two weeks to do this after the pages were created. 

The day finally came for the trip to the zoo.  F did amazing.  He communicated appropriately with his switches the entire session.  Was a great role model and was well liked by his teacher's students. He appropriately said he was finished when the visit was complete.  He managed all of his respiratory needs well and had few seizures.  This was a huge success for him and quite an ego boost.  He was so proud and so was his team.  We all believe in F and know that he has the drive and will to succeed with his limitations and it takes the right motivation.

I never thought I'd ever see this day that F would have the tools he needed to be a role model for others.  It was always a dream but in his early years he lacked the support of his school district and teaching staff.  Today he's in charge of his education and it's all about being as independent as possible.  

F Investigates the Maestro

His view.  I notice from
this photo the glare.
Glare really hurts his eyes.
Adjustment immediately made.

F up in his chair
ready tostart learning the new
 format of the Maestro. 

Just to give you an idea of what it looks like for F when he is in his wheelchair using his Meastro.  He has been using a laptop with VS communicator.  He was stuck in his room with it.  He couldn't go out into the real world and use it. Finally, all the years of waiting he has a device. I set it up for him in his room.  I told him he should try to turn the TV's off.  I had programed the remotes into the Maestro back in November when we had the trial device (we just saved the file and transferred it to the new one).  He didn't do it yesterday, he just investigated each button.  He also has to practice timing.  He uses a right switch to scan the boxes or columns and then the left for select.  He has an audio prompt in a specific voice with a shortened "label" in a different volume.  That way he knows that's his prompt.  When he selects the voice is in a different tone, it's louder, and the message prints at the top in the area under the toolbar.  So far in a nutshell that his progress. 

This isn't his main screen.  It's a page he went to.
It's just to give you an idea of how it's set up for him.

Part of his technology set up.
I had hoped he'd be able to
turn one of these off
with his device yesterday.
I will need to confirm
remote settings.

F has Technology Will Send Email

F's AT/AAC team came today.  They got his wheelchair mount appropriately attached to the chair.  They set up his Maestro for him.  He was so excited.  The newest thing he learned was how to draft and send an email.  He was very happy to be able to have the ability to do this task independently from me.

I was at the store getting some tea bags to attempt to treat his abscessed cyst on his cheek (that's another story). I opened my email to see that he had sent me a message.  Although, it wasn't the most well thought out email, it was an independent email sent by him.  I was so excited.

Today was a really great day for F. He has waited many years to have this type of device.  I can remember reading about children who used them and thinking "I wish F could do the same."  I no longer have to wish.  He has one.  He has had the ability to use a switch with his head for years.  He can hear.  He can follow dialogue.  He can follow directions.  All of these things the district staff refused to believe he could do.

F's Maestro has been ordered! We can't wait!

If you've read about F, you know that he is unable to speak.  He can communicate with yes and no head turns and eye gaze.  He's been using a laptop loaded with Tobii VS Communicator 4 Software with proximity switches on his wheelchair's head rest.  It's an okay system, but I think he's bored with it. He's unable to use that system in real world situations which frustrates him.

Today  I received authorization to move forward with the purchase of a  Dynavox Maestro dedicated communication system for him.  He did trial with a device in November.  It worked pretty seamlessly with his switches.  We also managed to give him the ability to turn the TV off and on with the IR commands.  That was HUGE!!! Not only does this device have communication, but it will assist him with environmental controls.  We are so excited for this device to arrive.  

Forrest has waited a VERY long time to have the support of some type of dedicated communication device.  He was denied the opportunity throughout the early years of his education even though he could use switches with his head.  In fact I tried and tried to get the educators on board with a communication system that would lead to independence, but... they talk a good talk.  That is also a topic for another blog. Right now we are all celebrating a future in independent communication for Forrest.

Here is a link to Dynavox and the device F has chosen. Dynavox Maestro

I will try to get pictures up and give examples of the device, but right now I just had to post how excited we all are!!!