Fw: Autism Workshop on Augmentative Communication

[Guest guest]

: Autism Workshop on Augmentative Communication

>

>

> > We have been blessed to witness Brett's emerging ability to

> > communicate. He is now 11 years old and still non-verbal, but is

> expressing

> > wants, needs, desires, and thoughts to us by using a keyboard

> independently.

> >

> > We, Brett's family and tutor feel compelled to share with other

> > parents who are searching for help.

> >

> > Dee Dee Short, Brett's tutor, will be present to demonstrate,

> > answer questions, and discuss how she taught Brett to type.

> >

> > We will have videos of Soma Mukhopadhyay working with Brett as

well

> > as excerpts from tapes from Syracuse University, showing autistic

children

> > of varying abilities using similar communication tools.

> >

> > Resource information will also be available.

> >

> > If your child is working with a tutor or therapist, please

> > consider inviting them to come learn about this exciting technique.

> >

> > Learn about different augmentative communication devices,

about

> > the experiences of several autistic individuals who have been pioneers

in

> > this technique, and where more information can be obtained.

> >

> >

> > DARE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.....AND BEYOND!!!

> >

> >

> > Tuesday, May 25, 2004 Take I-45 N. Exit at FM 2920.

Go

> > left (West) approximately 1 mile to church. (on right side of the

street)

> > 7-9 pm

> > New Life Church

> > 2050 FM 2920

> > Spring, Texas Sorry, childcare not available

> > 281-353-5935 church

> > 281-376-7308 Gena Shaw

> > FREE ADMISSION PARENTS, THERAPISTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL

> PERSONNEL...PLEASE

> > COME!!!!

> >

> >

> > AUTISM

> >

> > I AM AUTISTIC.

> > I CAN'T SPEAK.

> > I CAN'T WRITE WITH A PENCIL.

> > I CAN'T ASK FOR THINGS I NEED

> > OR WANT.

> > PEOPLE LOOK AT ME FUNNY.

> > I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DO

> > THAT.

> > I AM A BOY WHO WANTS TO

> > BE OKAY.

> > I AM SMART AND FUNNY.

> > WILL I GET TO LEARN THINGS

> > LIKE OTHER BOYS?

> > I WANT TO LEARN EVERYTHING.

> > WHEN WILL MY TEACHERS LET

> > ME LEARN?

> > I CAN TYPE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

> > I CAN WRITE BY TYPING.

> > I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT TO

> > DO.

> > I CAN LEARN ANYTHING I WANT

> > TO LEARN.

> > I AM BRETT SHAW

>

> WRITTEN BY BRETT SHAW

>

> >

> > Note:

> > Dee Dee also works with our son Ben. Ben and I will also be at the

> > workshop to demonstrate his typing skills and share information. Our

> > experience with augmentative communication has changed my entire outlook

> on

> > autism. We must dispel these assumptions that we make regarding our

> > nonverbal kids! For those who have any further questions regarding the

> > workshop and/or our own personal experiences with augmentative

> communication,

> > please feel free to email me privately at jzsell@....

> >

> > HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!

> >

> >a Sell

>

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Where can I get more information on this approach?

[Guest guest]

> : Autism Workshop on Augmentative Communication

> >

> >

> > > We have been blessed to witness Brett's emerging ability to

> > > communicate. He is now 11 years old and still non-verbal, but is

> > expressing

> > > wants, needs, desires, and thoughts to us by using a keyboard

> > independently.

> > >

> > > We, Brett's family and tutor feel compelled to share with other

> > > parents who are searching for help.

> > >

> > > Dee Dee Short, Brett's tutor, will be present to demonstrate,

> > > answer questions, and discuss how she taught Brett to type.

> > >

> > > We will have videos of Soma Mukhopadhyay working with Brett as

> well

> > > as excerpts from tapes from Syracuse University, showing autistic

> children

> > > of varying abilities using similar communication tools.

> > >

> > > Resource information will also be available.

> > >

> > > If your child is working with a tutor or therapist, please

> > > consider inviting them to come learn about this exciting technique.

> > >

> > > Learn about different augmentative communication devices,

> about

> > > the experiences of several autistic individuals who have been pioneers

> in

> > > this technique, and where more information can be obtained.

> > >

> > >

> > > DARE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.....AND BEYOND!!!

> > >

> > >

> > > Tuesday, May 25, 2004 Take I-45 N. Exit at FM 2920.

> Go

> > > left (West) approximately 1 mile to church. (on right side of the

> street)

> > > 7-9 pm

> > > New Life Church

> > > 2050 FM 2920

> > > Spring, Texas Sorry, childcare not available

> > > 281-353-5935 church

> > > 281-376-7308 Gena Shaw

> > > FREE ADMISSION PARENTS, THERAPISTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL

> > PERSONNEL...PLEASE

> > > COME!!!!

> > >

> > >

> > > AUTISM

> > >

> > > I AM AUTISTIC.

> > > I CAN'T SPEAK.

> > > I CAN'T WRITE WITH A PENCIL.

> > > I CAN'T ASK FOR THINGS I NEED

> > > OR WANT.

> > > PEOPLE LOOK AT ME FUNNY.

> > > I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DO

> > > THAT.

> > > I AM A BOY WHO WANTS TO

> > > BE OKAY.

> > > I AM SMART AND FUNNY.

> > > WILL I GET TO LEARN THINGS

> > > LIKE OTHER BOYS?

> > > I WANT TO LEARN EVERYTHING.

> > > WHEN WILL MY TEACHERS LET

> > > ME LEARN?

> > > I CAN TYPE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

> > > I CAN WRITE BY TYPING.

> > > I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT TO

> > > DO.

> > > I CAN LEARN ANYTHING I WANT

> > > TO LEARN.

> > > I AM BRETT SHAW

> >

> > WRITTEN BY BRETT SHAW

> >

> > >

> > > Note:

> > > Dee Dee also works with our son Ben. Ben and I will also be at

the

> > > workshop to demonstrate his typing skills and share information. Our

> > > experience with augmentative communication has changed my entire

outlook

> > on

> > > autism. We must dispel these assumptions that we make regarding our

> > > nonverbal kids! For those who have any further questions regarding

the

> > > workshop and/or our own personal experiences with augmentative

> > communication,

> > > please feel free to email me privately at jzsell@....

> > >

> > > HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!

> > >

> > >a Sell

> >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>

> --

>

>

> > Rather than respond in private to many people, I thought I would

> email

> > everyone a little more information regarding the stuff we're doing with

> Ben.

> > Different people have asked if the typing is facilitated

communication(FC)

> > or something else. It is indeed FC but was hesitant about calling

> it that

> > because of the controversy surrounding that term! I will tell you that

> our

> > " technique " was simply to first give Brett and Ben support under their

> hand

> > for typing, and we are continually working to fade that physical prompt.

> > For Ben, we lightly touch him under the arm near his elbow, and for

Brett,

> > who is virtually independent, he likes a light touch on the shoulder.

As

> I

> > said, in past years, there has been such controversy surrounding FC and

> its

> > validity, which, in my opinion is baffling since our whole objective is

to

> > FADE the prompt until they are ready to type independently....so why the

> > controversy? For more information regarding FC, a wonderful website to

> > visit is the Syrucuse University website at

http://soeweb.syr.edu/thefci/.

> There are tapes that may be purchased from this website but purchased

> the whole set last year and she plans to show some of these(they're very

> short) at the workshop.

>

> Some have asked me if we " taught " Ben to spell words....absolutely

> NOT. He

> > innately was able to do this from the start. He also is working on 4th

> > grade level material with Dee Dee at home. The stuff he knows on his

own

> was evidentally stuff he picked up over the years on his own. There is a

> woman named Rubin who is autistic and nonverbal...she did a

> presentation last year at the National ASA conference where she shared her

> life story with us. Actually, her facilitator read a speech aloud that Sue

> had typed prior to the conference. Then Sue answered questions afterward

by

> using a lightwriter(keyboard device with vocal output) Anyway, she

> explained that all the knowledge that she acquired throughout her early

> years was in large part by listening to her brother doing his homework.

> There was something that she said that really made an impression with me;

> that is, that her story is not so INCREDIBLE. This is the experience of

> most nonverbal people who are autistic. It was great for me to see her at

> that time in my life because Ben had only started typing a month or so

> before that conference.

> > What we basically have done is found a way to " tap into " what

> Ben(and Brett) already knew. I think this is the area where we've failed

> miserably in the past--we didn't know HOW to do that.

> > It only took us 10 years to figure this out! What I want to

> > reiterate to you is that many of us don't EXPECT that our kids are

capable

> > of doing these things and that is simply a wrong assumption. This is

> > something we wanted to share with others since this is not information

> that the schools(at least in our area) will provide. Although, I must add

> that I'm very pleased with Ben's

> > teacher this year. I was lucky that she was open minded enough to

believe

> > what I told her about Ben and his typing. He has typed for her,

however,

> when he's not " in

> > the mood " to type, she has him answer questions and give information by

> > pointing to pictures, words, etc. His teachers and Speech and OT

> therapists have all said that it's amazing the amount of information that

> they can get from Ben by simply having him point. They give him a light

> touch under the arm and he will point. He's not doing the same level work

> at school that he's doing at home but I'm just SO pleased that he's doing

> some

> > academics for the first time since he started school! I did have to

> " stand my ground " on this issue with the schools, but thankfully, they

did

> agree to offer him a lightwriter to use in the classroom. For this I am

> SOOOO grateful.

> I hope this gives a better explanation of our experiences. I

believe

> that although the typing is a very important part of this

workshop--another

> just as important theme is to dispel all the old assumptions that you and

I

> both have had concerning our nonverbal kids. We want to share this idea

not

> only with other parents but also with the schools and the community as a

> whole. Our kids deserve a life of dignity and respect--what better way

for

> them to achieve this than through a means of communication that allows

them

> to make choices for themselves and express their own thoughts and ideas.

> For those of you who are thinking, " I just don't think my child is capable

> of doing this... " I urge you to please come and check it out first. I

felt

> the same way at one time...not anymore.

> Hope to see you on May 25!

>

> a Sell

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> a Sell

>

>

>

> > Fw: Autism Workshop on Augmentative Communication

> >

> >

> > > : Autism Workshop on Augmentative Communication

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > > We have been blessed to witness Brett's emerging ability to

> > > > > communicate. He is now 11 years old and still non-verbal, but is

> > > > expressing

> > > > > wants, needs, desires, and thoughts to us by using a keyboard

> > > > independently.

> > > > >

> > > > > We, Brett's family and tutor feel compelled to share with

> other

> > > > > parents who are searching for help.

> > > > >

> > > > > Dee Dee Short, Brett's tutor, will be present to

> demonstrate,

> > > > > answer questions, and discuss how she taught Brett to type.

> > > > >

> > > > > We will have videos of Soma Mukhopadhyay working with Brett

> as

> > > well

> > > > > as excerpts from tapes from Syracuse University, showing autistic

> > > children

> > > > > of varying abilities using similar communication tools.

> > > > >

> > > > > Resource information will also be available.

> > > > >

> > > > > If your child is working with a tutor or therapist,

please

> > > > > consider inviting them to come learn about this exciting

technique.

> > > > >

> > > > > Learn about different augmentative communication

devices,

> > > about

> > > > > the experiences of several autistic individuals who have been

> pioneers

> > > in

> > > > > this technique, and where more information can be obtained.

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > DARE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.....AND BEYOND!!!

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > Tuesday, May 25, 2004 Take I-45 N. Exit at FM

> 2920.

> > > Go

> > > > > left (West) approximately 1 mile to church. (on right side of the

> > > street)

> > > > > 7-9 pm

> > > > > New Life Church

> > > > > 2050 FM 2920

> > > > > Spring, Texas Sorry, childcare not available

> > > > > 281-353-5935 church

> > > > > 281-376-7308 Gena Shaw

> > > > > FREE ADMISSION PARENTS, THERAPISTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL

> > > > PERSONNEL...PLEASE

> > > > > COME!!!!

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > AUTISM

> > > > >

> > > > > I AM AUTISTIC.

> > > > > I CAN'T SPEAK.

> > > > > I CAN'T WRITE WITH A PENCIL.

> > > > > I CAN'T ASK FOR THINGS I NEED

> > > > > OR WANT.

> > > > > PEOPLE LOOK AT ME FUNNY.

> > > > > I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DO

> > > > > THAT.

> > > > > I AM A BOY WHO WANTS TO

> > > > > BE OKAY.

> > > > > I AM SMART AND FUNNY.

> > > > > WILL I GET TO LEARN THINGS

> > > > > LIKE OTHER BOYS?

> > > > > I WANT TO LEARN EVERYTHING.

> > > > > WHEN WILL MY TEACHERS LET

> > > > > ME LEARN?

> > > > > I CAN TYPE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

> > > > > I CAN WRITE BY TYPING.

> > > > > I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT TO

> > > > > DO.

> > > > > I CAN LEARN ANYTHING I WANT

> > > > > TO LEARN.

> > > > > I AM BRETT SHAW

> > > >

> > > > WRITTEN BY BRETT SHAW

> > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > Note:

> > > > > Dee Dee also works with our son Ben. Ben and I will also be

at

> > the

> > > > > workshop to demonstrate his typing skills and share information.

> Our

> > > > > experience with augmentative communication has changed my entire

> > outlook

> > > > on

> > > > > autism. We must dispel these assumptions that we make regarding

our

> > > > > nonverbal kids! For those who have any further questions

regarding

> > the

> > > > > workshop and/or our own personal experiences with augmentative

> > > > communication,

> > > > > please feel free to email me privately at jzsell@....

> > > > >

> > > > > HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!

> > > > >

> > > > >a Sell

> > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Where can I get more information on this approach?

Augmentative Communication is powerful and its potential impact is

underestimated in many settings. The " approach " of the matter is

evident in the philosophy that each and everyone communicates and

should be able to do so to the maximum extent possible. The

techniques utilize a very wide variety of systems from low tech

(such as slant boards)to high tech voice output devices, etc. The

techniques are those the teachers and people around the individual

employ to make whatever tool (Augmen. Device) is being used

functional and relevant.

The school districts and Education Service Centers provide training

for a variety of comm.devices. It is often up to the classroom

teachers to keep eyes and ears open and attend the various training

in order to assist the Speech Therapists in the implementation. The

motivation to use Augmentative Comm is only present with a

percentage of the teachers however.

If a family wants to explore Aug. Comm possibilities they can start

with the school. If the school isn't able to satisfy, then perhaps

a Life Tech. consultant could step in and make recommendations.

Speech Therapists should be able to assist.

The assistive technology assessment, requested at ARD, was designed

to make sure options are explored. How things turn out depends on

the network of interested individuals you have working with you who

want to bring about results. These results should be always

priority and sooner than later. Teaching learners to talk and/or

express themselves should always be Goal #1.

Dianne