New Members Please Introduce Yourselves Here!

Replies:

• 
• by
  • suzaq
  on Jul. 31, 2007 at 10:05 PM
• Hi-
  
  My name is Susan Weller. I homeschool my 2 children. My 4 year old son is a chatterbox and I have an 8 year old daughter with a diagnosis of CP. She walks independently. My biggest concern is with communication. She is non-verbal, but often can say the first sound of word that she is trying to say. We do some signing, but because of her motor ability it is more guessing for us. We own a Vantage communication device, but she HATES it! Also, since she is so mobile it is hard to drag from room to room.
  
  We recently moved to Houston and are waiting for the evaluations to come through so she can start therapy, especially speech. But they recommend letting her use any means to get her point across.
  
  It is so sad and frustrating. We have been going through so much for so many years and she still doesn't have a means to communicate.
  
  I hope to find some ideas from the other members of this group and offer what I can.
  
  Susan

• 
• by
  • goodasitgets
  on Aug. 7, 2007 at 12:07 PM
• 
  

  Quoting suzaq:
  
  Hi-
  
  My name is Susan Weller. I homeschool my 2 children. My 4 year old son is a chatterbox and I have an 8 year old daughter with a diagnosis of CP. She walks independently. My biggest concern is with communication. She is non-verbal, but often can say the first sound of word that she is trying to say. We do some signing, but because of her motor ability it is more guessing for us. We own a Vantage communication device, but she HATES it! Also, since she is so mobile it is hard to drag from room to room.
  
  We recently moved to Houston and are waiting for the evaluations to come through so she can start therapy, especially speech. But they recommend letting her use any means to get her point across.
  
  It is so sad and frustrating. We have been going through so much for so many years and she still doesn't have a means to communicate.
  
  I hope to find some ideas from the other members of this group and offer what I can.
  
  Susan

  I completely understand the problem of an augmentative device needing to be hauled around.  The Dynavox MT4 we tried was one of the lightest around and it still weighed around 5 lbs.  My son was supposed to wear it all day with a strap hung across his shoulder.  We have postponed the purchase of a device at this time  partially because of the weight but also because although he could use the device well to answer questions he was not inclined to use it spontaneously for communication in any greater way than he has used signs.  We are going to revisit the idea of a device one year from now.  My son primarily uses signs, though many are not as accurate as we would like, and is pairing them with vocalizations.  He has about 15 spoken word approximations and beyond that needs signs, or ot her  helps to get his message across.  I do agree with using any  means possible to get a message across and we use a total communication approach because of this.  My son uses a variety of things for school like a wireless keyboard called an Alphasmart 3000 and we have a Dana Wireless at home which is like the Alphasmart 3000 but with the addition of a voice card and Write Out Loud  softward has speech output.  The motor skills necessary for this device would be the same as needed for a standard computer keyboard.  We also have a Touch WIndow by Edmark for our computer at home and the one in his classroom at school. His motor skills have gotten better though where his mouse skills are concerned.
  
  Do you know what your daughter dislikes about the Vantage?  Are you opposed to supplementing the sign and device with pictures?  At home you could especially  make pictures for communication that stayed in the room that they related to...food pics in the kitchen (maybe on the fridge) etc.  Velcro up  pictures on the walls or anywhere else it is convenient for your daughter and the needs she might have in a given area of the house.  Increasing communication by any means is a blessing even though I always hope for increase speech and we are taking baby steps toward that goal. 
  
  

• 
• by
  • katie-w4kids
  on Aug. 26, 2007 at 9:58 PM
• HI MY NAME IS KATIE I HAVE 4 KIDS. 3 BOYS ONE GIRL AND OUR SON THAT IS FOUR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM AND HE IS NONVERBLE AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET HIM SOMTHING WHERE HE CAN TELL US WHAT HE NEEDS OR WONTS. WE ARE TRYING TO TEACH HIM SIGH LANGUAGE BUT IT IS NO TGOING SO WELL. IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME TO GET HIM ONE OF THOSE COMMUNACATION DEVISES TO HELP HIM TELL US WHAT HE NEEDS OR WONTS. I U WOULD A ANSWER TO MY PRAYERS. THANK YOU KATIE

• 
• by
  • Alliosonsmom511
  on Aug. 27, 2007 at 5:21 PM
• Hello all,
  
  My name is Lacey, I have a legally deaf 4 year old with Williams Syndrome which comes along with a lot of health issues with a slight form of autism. We do use sign language in the house and right now she has a speech pathologist come out from The Oklahoma School For the Deaf.... She has been picking up rather quickly and I must say even thought she is behind in her speech areas she is smarter than a lot of other 4 year olds that I have come across....
  
  I am wanting to write a book based on Williams Syndrome and other disabilities, if you want to know more check out my journal post titled Attn: All mommies please Read...
  
  

  * Life is only what you make of it, if you don't like it, Change it. You have to change from the inside then work your way out. How can you like what you see on the outside if you don't like what you know is on the inside?*

   

  EROTIC ROMANCE & PARANORMAL ROMANCE (Come join in on the fun!)

• 
• by
  • mary3021
  on Aug. 29, 2007 at 12:18 PM
• 
   Thanks for this great group! 
  and hi to everyone!
  
  I am doing this backwards - I've already read  the posts and asked some questions -   too excited I guess.    Now let me introduce us - my family.
  
  My son is Andrew. He is Autistic and is non-verbal. He is very social though!!
  Has not always been. He used to cry and become scared in just about any situation outside of his daily routine - restaurant, programs, stores, church, even going out at night!!!    I used to think he didn't like going out at night because of his low vision - being able to see even less in the dark. I quess I'll never no for sure - but he is ok now.  He is also much more comfortable in multiple new environments.     He still like to stick to his routine but does not become upset to the point that we have to avoid new places.  He basically just expresses his despleasure and it is over --- that's ok!!!!
  
  He loves to make noises - he is expressive with his voice - but he doesnot form words.
  
  Andrew has used about five words so far, but does not consistently use them and is at present not saying any words. I am frustrated with the school system --- they are not encouraging his REuse of words when he does say something.  I am aking anyone for advice as to where I should relocate to --- in Ohio or Florida- as I have family there. Any suggestions please forward to me. It is pertinent I move to a better school system and soon!!!!!
  
  Andrew is a beuatiful, loving young boy. He has an older brother who loves to help Andrew along. They are both my joy!!

• 
• by
  • goodasitgets
  on Aug. 29, 2007 at 7:45 PM
• 
  

  Quoting mary3021:
  
  
   Thanks for this great group! 
  and hi to everyone!
  
  I am doing this backwards - I've already read  the posts and asked some questions -   too excited I guess.    Now let me introduce us - my family.
  
  My son is Andrew. He is Autistic and is non-verbal. He is very social though!!
  Has not always been. He used to cry and become scared in just about any situation outside of his daily routine - restaurant, programs, stores, church, even going out at night!!!    I used to think he didn't like going out at night because of his low vision - being able to see even less in the dark. I quess I'll never no for sure - but he is ok now.  He is also much more comfortable in multiple new environments.     He still like to stick to his routine but does not become upset to the point that we have to avoid new places.  He basically just expresses his despleasure and it is over --- that's ok!!!!
  
  He loves to make noises - he is expressive with his voice - but he doesnot form words.
  
  Andrew has used about five words so far, but does not consistently use them and is at present not saying any words. I am frustrated with the school system --- they are not encouraging his REuse of words when he does say something.  I am aking anyone for advice as to where I should relocate to --- in Ohio or Florida- as I have family there. Any suggestions please forward to me. It is pertinent I move to a better school system and soon!!!!!
  
  Andrew is a beuatiful, loving young boy. He has an older brother who loves to help Andrew along. They are both my joy!!

  Welcome!  Has your son been evaluated for Apraxia and Auditory Processing Issues as well as Autism? Can I ask what words your son has used?  I have my son's limited verbal words in a folder with pictures and the word. This is his core Speech Vocabulary and utilizes the sounds that he produces most easily.  We work on these daily so that they become simpler for  him to recall.  He has Apraxia as well as Autism and Auditory Processing deficits. My son still primarily relies on Signed Exact English, or these signs paired with a word or approximate vocalization.  He gets though that communication will help him get his wants and needs met.  For some kids it is a  huge hurdle just to get them to know that t hey can communicate something spontaneously because they want to without a prompt form someone else. 
  
  

• 
• by
  • goodasitgets
  on Aug. 29, 2007 at 7:55 PM
• 
  

  Quoting katie-w4kids:
  
  HI MY NAME IS KATIE I HAVE 4 KIDS. 3 BOYS ONE GIRL AND OUR SON THAT IS FOUR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM AND HE IS NONVERBLE AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET HIM SOMTHING WHERE HE CAN TELL US WHAT HE NEEDS OR WONTS. WE ARE TRYING TO TEACH HIM SIGH LANGUAGE BUT IT IS NO TGOING SO WELL. IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME TO GET HIM ONE OF THOSE COMMUNACATION DEVISES TO HELP HIM TELL US WHAT HE NEEDS OR WONTS. I U WOULD A ANSWER TO MY PRAYERS. THANK YOU KATIE

  Hi  Katie,
  Are you showing him an actual object or a picture paired with the sign, and are you standing/sitting facing him or beside him when teaching the sign? Is he able to pay attention to the direction?  You can give him the verbal direction wtih object or picture and then help him hand over hand make the signs and immediately provide positive reinforcement for even that aided attempt.  My son's earliest signs were "milk" "thirsty" "more" and "cookie".  Has your son learned to use even a single sign?  After the first few they get easier as your child learns that they get something for thier effort.  Pick signs that will be most functional; and I would encourage the child to also make some sound (other than screaming) with  the sign even if it doesn't remotely resemble the word. They will associate using their voice with obtaining the desired object/result.  Pick something your child really likes and will be motivated to request as early signs. 
  
  

• 
• by
  • goodasitgets
  on Aug. 29, 2007 at 7:57 PM
• 
  

  Quoting Alliosonsmom511:
  
  
  My name is Lacey, I have a legally deaf 4 year old with Williams Syndrome which comes along with a lot of health issues with a slight form of autism. We do use sign language in the house and right now she has a speech pathologist come out from The Oklahoma School For the Deaf.... She has been picking up rather quickly and I must say even thought she is behind in her speech areas she is smarter than a lot of other 4 year olds that I have come across....
  

  There is a family in our local support group with a First grade age son with William's Syndrome, but until I met her I had never heard of William's Syndrome.  Welcome to Voices. 
  

• 
• by
  • Alliosonsmom511
  on Aug. 29, 2007 at 8:10 PM
• 
  

  Quoting goodasitgets:
  
  
  

  Quoting Alliosonsmom511:
  
  
  My name is Lacey, I have a legally deaf 4 year old with Williams Syndrome which comes along with a lot of health issues with a slight form of autism. We do use sign language in the house and right now she has a speech pathologist come out from The Oklahoma School For the Deaf.... She has been picking up rather quickly and I must say even thought she is behind in her speech areas she is smarter than a lot of other 4 year olds that I have come across....
  

  There is a family in our local support group with a First grade age son with William's Syndrome, but until I met her I had never heard of William's Syndrome.  Welcome to Voices. 
  

  Thank you... IT is a very rare syndrome, If I am quoting right its 1 out of 20,000 children are born with it...
  
  
  

  * Life is only what you make of it, if you don't like it, Change it. You have to change from the inside then work your way out. How can you like what you see on the outside if you don't like what you know is on the inside?*

   

  EROTIC ROMANCE & PARANORMAL ROMANCE (Come join in on the fun!)

• 
• by
  • autismfamily
  on Sep. 1, 2007 at 7:36 PM
• I just joined CafeMom this past week.  I learned of a k12 group and that is how I learned of the site.
  
  I already belong to 90+ groups on yahoo and several other listserves.  I run a yahoo goup called MakingPECSCards.  I implemented Round Robins of sharing pecs cards, schedules and software.  Two pacakges are trekking around the country, one is in OHIO, the other Maine.  We have three members in Canada that take part as well.
  
  I have two boys on the spectrum.  Nick is 12, HFA and sixth grade through CAVA that we are starting next week.  He loves cats and warriors books.
  
  Matthew is 11, nonverbal, not toilet trained, drinks a bottle of soymilk for his meds (geodon), has had feeding therapy for five years and floortime from same clinic the past year.  Both are serviced at home - I got tired of driving all over Los Angeles.
  
  Matt gets speech, ot, and Adaptive PE at school.  Entering fifth grade with the same class for the past four years, same aide for way too many years, same teacher and classmates.  This year all three therapists at schol will be new, too bad all at the same time after all three for three years!
  
  He uses a cheap talk device at school that they have out on loan and it is home daily too and on summer, etc.  At summer daycamp they use a Go talk 9+ that I would prefer and might buy myself.  He also has AAC at school, she comes to IEP and helps them implement, and also OT brought in AT for the Intellikeys so he uses that for the keyboard with computer.
  
  I write at a site for two years now and have posted pics of schedules, etc in articles and written on resources for pecs and AAC.  If you have a website feel free to let me know about it so I can check it out and see about listing it in an article as a resource.
  
  I am also the home health care worker for Matt through the state of CA - IHSS, means in home support services.
  
  

  Bonnie Sayers

  http://autismspectrumdisorders.bellaonline.com

  
  

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