RE: , AT devices

[Guest guest]

:

Are you saying you agree with this lady? Just as we were getting Tony ready

for an iTouch application his speech took off so I am a bit behind in the AT

discussions but I just read another article that said iPads were way ahead

of the Vantage or Dynovox. Is the person who did 's eval up to date?

I don't know, haven't research it beyond liking Tap to Talk but just asking

because I wasn't sure what your point was. Were you sharing your discomfort

or unease with the eval?

And as far as transferable skills, tapping and swiping is going to be it for

other devices as well.

I would love to meet your because I always think you " get " my guys

because of the Aspergerish nature of them and your two others.

Good luck!

Lori

Mom to Isaac 13 and Tony 11

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf

Of Cookson

Sent: Friday, December 31, 2010 9:24 AM

To:

Subject: Re: Re: Christmas was awesome!- Darell's Mom

(5) is having an AT eval. We have my old iPhone, which works fine

except as a phone...I downloaded " Tap to Talk " and the free proloquo2go

software. sees DH on his phone constantly (is there an iPhone version

of " crackberry " ??), playing games and whatnot. The first time we gave

a shot at the iPhone, he was swiping and tapping like a pro.

Since we will be paying for his device with our insurance, which means we'll

have a 10% out-of-pocket cost, we were thinking an iPad would be cheaper. Or

even the iPhone that we already have. However, the AT person said that the

Proloquo is nowhere near as robust and expandable as the Vantage or Dynovox.

At his eval, kept trying to swipe or tap the buttons rather than

press them. The lady blamed our trying to teach him the iPhone. All of two

sessions we gave him. I think it's more from watching DH play games with

lots of swiping.

Ugh.

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 31, 2010, at 2:10 AM, " kaprisock " <kaprisock@...

<mailto:kaprisock%40yahoo.com> > wrote:

> Hi there! You have the power of a Federal Act behind you. Request an

" addendum to the IEP " meeting. This meeting will " add " to his current IEP.

>

> At this meeting, request that your son be provided access to an ipad &

proloquo2go program in the classroom, across all school environs & at home

year round. This includes weekends, holidays & summer break.

>

> At this meeting, request that the use of the device be incorporated into

his goals/objectives.

>

> At this meeting request that you be trained (if needed) on the use of the

device.

>

> At this meeting, make sure that all of the above is documented on the IEP

along with the AT expert's recommendation for the ipad & Proloquo2go.

>

> Typically, a school system will have an agreement for the parents to sign

that outlines the rules regarding care of the device, the dates effective

(which is the school year, ie: 8/2010-8/2011) & what your liability &

responsibilities are regarding the device.

>

> This agreement & IEP documentation has to be done every year. The device

can follow your child to his next school within the school district (ie:

from Middle School to High School)

>

> The Federal Act I am referencing is a mandate which supersedes state law.

Every public school that accepts federal funding of any kind is required to

follow federal mandates or can risk losing federal funding.

>

> DO NOT let anyone tell you that your insurance or your medicaid must pay

for a device or therapies (in public school)!!!!! DO NOT agree to letting

the school access your insurance for anything!!!

>

> If you do this, you risk

> A) Being solely responsible for the device & repairs

> Not being able to purchase an updated one or have necessary therapy if

needed. Insurance/Medicaid has set rules as to how often they will pay for

certain things.

>

> I once had a student whose father came to me for help because medicaid

would not pay for a new wheelchair because it had not been 5 years. The

child's feet were dragging the flipping ground! (Thankfully I was able to

obtain other resources for them)

>

> This is just an example to highlight why one should never allow schools to

use your medicaid or insurance for anything. Aside from the factoid that I

personally think it borders on fraud.

>

> Go to this link & read up on the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as

amended (P.L. 108-364), so you will know what your rights are (click on

legislative/issues). You can also plug in your state to see what resources

are available:

>

> http://www.ataporg.org/atap/

>

> My brain has senoir moments, so I printed out this law & other laws to

reference if needed. I tabulated them in a notebook & made sure I made a

large very readable label for the notebook. Which I prominately display at

every single meeting with the school.

>

> It is sorta funny to spot eyeballs checking the label out; but so far it

has worked like magic. No one to date has challenged or questioned me about

any assistive tech that I have requested for my child. Nor have they refused

any request for one. Which goes back & forth each day & we have it during

all holidays, weekends & summer.

>

> Thankfully, I have not had to use my " laws " notebook during an IEP in 13

years. But I would in a heartbeat if I needed to. (Gulp)

>

> Hope this helps you some. Key to remember is that assistive tech also

falls under least restrictive & ADA. You will want to stress the educational

value as opposed to the speech value, just to offset any argument about

need. I doubt you will have to worry though since the school actually has

purchased the ipad.

>

> Strangely, my huge school district has a rule that prohibits Macs or Apple

products. Go figure, they would rather buy my son an almost $7,000.00 device

instead of an ipad as a result of this " rule " .

>

> Best wishes,

> Kris

>

>

> > >

> > > Had the extended family down this year, and they got to see

's

> >

> > > throwing arm in action as couch pillows and the new red firetruck

found their

> > > place in the Christmas tree. I think they understand a LITTLE better,

our

> > > situation. Overall, our boy, who is almost 11, had the best Christmas

ever.

> > > Enough to make me rejoice with a few tears.

> > >

> > > We split up the gift opening between christmas eve and throughout the

day

> >

> > > for him. 9 presents total. We have always done this to keep him from

getting

> >

> > > overstimulated, but he NEVER enjoys unwrapping. He " got it " this year.

He

> > > unwrapped his presents with the same joy a 3 or 4 year old child

would. And he

> > >

> > > insisted on NOT having any help, pushing away well-meaning sisters who

wanted

> > >to

> > >

> > > help with stubborn tape or paper.

> > >

> > >

> > > The " big surprise " was the iPad, which was an even bigger hit than I

> > > expected. He has let go of it long enough to recharge the batteries.

Favorite

> > >

> > > apps: iTunes, Photos, Vocal Zoo, Larry the Talking Bird, Five Little

Monkeys,

> >

> > > and Elmo's Monster Maker. My winter project is to install assistive

technology

> > >

> > > apps for him. I did not realize how much this device would make him

work on

> > >his

> > >

> > > fine motor skills. It's his single most favorite application. He gets

really

> >

> > > frustrated trying to " flick " the pictures in the photo album, but he

want's to

> >

> > > see them so bad, that he is willing to try. The pad won't recognize an

open

> > > hand swiping across the screen. Nor an open hand with multiple fingers

> > >touching

> > >

> > > it. It must be one pointer finger sweeping right to left to get the

reward of

> > >a

> > >

> > > new picture. It's a real pleasure to watch your child finally try and

work

> > > through something on their own without you hovering over them. Seeing

him

> > > problem solve was the greatest gift I got this Christmas.

> > >

> > > Shane Avery

> > > father of , almost 11

> > >

> > >