When exploring AAC and three words that would describe it, I believe the three words most used would be difficult, frustrating, and too slow.
AAC is difficult on two fronts. There is a perception that learning an AAC device is difficult. Yes, it isn't the easiest thing to do, but I don't believe it is the hardest thing to do either. I believe we need to understand there will be bumps in the road when we begin to work on learning an AAC device, but there are bumps in the road when we learn anything new.
The second front in which AAC is difficult is people's perceptions about the people who are using AAC. I have written about this perception throughout this blog. People believe when a person can't communicate, they must be mentally challenged. The reality is they are probably smarter than you. It is difficult to want to use AAC, when people talk to you like you can't understand anything. They don't want to have a conversation with you really, so why would you want to use the device to communicate with. Your friends and family probably understand you without your device, so why should you want to use it.
I understand how you feel because it happens to me every day still. I know what it is like to be talked down to. I know the frustration when people do that to me, but I also know the feeling when they realize I'm not what they thought I was. When I begin talking to them and they start to see I'm smarter than they are. They walk away shaking their head.
AAC can be frustrating. It is frustrating when the device doesn't work. It is frustrating when people don't always understand the voice. It is frustrating when people don't give you enough time to respond. It is frustrating when people think the device can think for itself, and believe it is talking for you, not saying what you want to say. These things are very frustrating. Yet, I believe the advantages out weigh the frustrations. AAC gives a person to have a chance at independence. AAC develops a person's communication skills. AAC enhances a person's education. AAC gives a person a whole new life.
"AAC is too slow. I can use shortcuts faster, so I don't want to use my device. People walk away from me, before I have a chance to say something."
People who communicate with AAC are slow communicators. Well, yes we are slower, yet I believe we are slower because speed hasn't been a big emphasis when developing devices. There won't be a device that will replace the speed of normal communication, but I do believe there are devices out there that enhance the speed of communication because of the vocabulary program. I want to urge speech language pathologist to say about speed of communication when they are helping someone pick out a device. We want to say what we want to say, and we want to say it quickly, so we can involved in the conversation. Speed matters, and although we do need patient and willing communication partners, we need devices that speed up communication.
Over the next few blogs, I am going to compare the devices I have communicated with over the past 29 years.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Writer's block
I have really enjoyed my Christmas and New Year's, yet I have been frustrated with myself because I have had some writer's block lately. December was a busy month for me. I went to Pittsburgh for a week. I went to visit my family over Christmas, and when I returned home here, I came down with a nasty cold. It laid me up on the couch for a couple of days. When you get away from writing for as long as I have been away, sometimes you don't know what to write about. For me, it was where do I start this conversation again.
I believe we need to start this conversation by taking time to think of three words that would describe AAC as it is right now. I'm not going to tell you my three words because that would create a bias opinion for yourself. I want you to think up three words of your own, which would sum up your own experience in AAC.
Yes, this is going to be a short blog post, but starting tomorrow, or maybe tonight, I will lay out the three words I believe we need. These three words aren't what you think of when you think about AAC, but I believe they should be. I'm ready to start another conversation, so come back and join in on the fun.
I believe we need to start this conversation by taking time to think of three words that would describe AAC as it is right now. I'm not going to tell you my three words because that would create a bias opinion for yourself. I want you to think up three words of your own, which would sum up your own experience in AAC.
Yes, this is going to be a short blog post, but starting tomorrow, or maybe tonight, I will lay out the three words I believe we need. These three words aren't what you think of when you think about AAC, but I believe they should be. I'm ready to start another conversation, so come back and join in on the fun.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Vocabulary, Speed, and Social Impact
Well, I can't believe it has been over two weeks, and I haven't been able to post something on here. Yes, it is the holiday season and my life is a little busy right now, but I think it is time to blog again.
For Twenty years, I was introduced to other devices, and I wasn't impressed with any of them. I was stubborn enough that I didn't get another device until 1990. Yes, the device helped me communicate, but it was slower, so while I used the new device at school, I kept using my old device at home. I was quicker on it. I could answer questions faster, and speed really matters to me.
The next few devices I have had, had limited vocabulary. I chose to use the spelling pages and the word prediction pages. This slowed down my communication a lot, which had no effect on the friends I had, but it made meeting people more difficult. When you are approaching the age I am, you are losing some of those connections with your friends, and you need to develop some new friendships. It has been difficult for me to develop these friendships because my communication speed has been slower. It has made a social impact in the reverse way.
I know AAC technology has gone away from the goal of the AAC user. They have developed systems with great features, that have a lot of bells and whistles, yet performance of communication has taken a back seat. I want to tell these developers that speed of communication matters to the user. We want to be able to say what we want in a timely matter.
I believe this has a social impact as well. We are living in a culture that doesn't like waiting. People are moving at a fast rate and they don't like to slow down. The AAC communicator communicates at a slower rate and I know some people haven't had the patience to wait for me to communicate with them. We need AAC companies to develop systems that will enhance a person's rate of communication, and forget about the add-ons.
In my next few blogs, I will be discussing how rate of communication has effected my social impact. I would value your input on this topic, and we can hopefully have a conversation.
I have been thinking about vocabulary, speed, and the social impact they can have on the AAC communicator. Communication rate was once important to the AAC world, but now it isn't. They are more interested in developing AAC systems that have more computer type functions, then they are in developing devices that will enhance speed of communication.
My first communication device was a Phonic Ear 110. I loved this device because it had four levels of words programmed into it and I knew where every word was located. I was able to say what I wanted to say, and I was very quick saying things on that device. I was six when I received this device and it had an impact right away on my social interactions. I was able to say what I wanted to say, and I could say it in a timely fashion. I could answer questions in class quickly, and I made friends because I participated. The speed of communication helped me to develop friendships.
For Twenty years, I was introduced to other devices, and I wasn't impressed with any of them. I was stubborn enough that I didn't get another device until 1990. Yes, the device helped me communicate, but it was slower, so while I used the new device at school, I kept using my old device at home. I was quicker on it. I could answer questions faster, and speed really matters to me.
The next few devices I have had, had limited vocabulary. I chose to use the spelling pages and the word prediction pages. This slowed down my communication a lot, which had no effect on the friends I had, but it made meeting people more difficult. When you are approaching the age I am, you are losing some of those connections with your friends, and you need to develop some new friendships. It has been difficult for me to develop these friendships because my communication speed has been slower. It has made a social impact in the reverse way.
I know when you have a disability, sometimes you feel like you are all alone at times. This is especially true for the people with disabilities that use AAC to communicate. I know this feeling because I have been there. People wouldn't give me the opportunity to communicate with them because they didn't understand how I could communicate with a computer. I get very frustrated, when someone would turn to my friend and ask him or her if I could understand them. They didn't want to wait for me to program my answer, and would walk away before I could say anything. This has led me to give a wave, or a head nod when I meet somebody I don't know. Thus, they don't get to meet the real me, and see that I am intellectual.
I know AAC technology has gone away from the goal of the AAC user. They have developed systems with great features, that have a lot of bells and whistles, yet performance of communication has taken a back seat. I want to tell these developers that speed of communication matters to the user. We want to be able to say what we want in a timely matter.
I believe this has a social impact as well. We are living in a culture that doesn't like waiting. People are moving at a fast rate and they don't like to slow down. The AAC communicator communicates at a slower rate and I know some people haven't had the patience to wait for me to communicate with them. We need AAC companies to develop systems that will enhance a person's rate of communication, and forget about the add-ons.
In my next few blogs, I will be discussing how rate of communication has effected my social impact. I would value your input on this topic, and we can hopefully have a conversation.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Being a willing communication partner
It has been a long time since I have met somebody that was not scared of my disability. It is the first thing you notice about me. I ride in a wheelchair. My body is constantly in motion. I am unable to talk and communication with me seems to be impossible. I know when I walk or ride into a new situation it is going to feel awkward and I have to fight the urge to withdraw myself.
It isn't a good feeling and these days I think sometimes it is just easier not to stick your neck out there. I am the first one to admit I really don't like meeting new people. I don't like how they make assumptions about me. I don't like how they communicate with me. Really, I could easily do without meeting new people. I am satisfied sometimes to sit at home and just relax. Yet, I know that if I did that I would be missing out on developing friendships.
This past week something happened to me that I haven't experienced in a very long time. I have met someone, who didn't see my disability first, but this person looked at the person first. She communicated with me like she didn't even noticed I communicated differently. It was like we had known each other for years and it lifted a heavy weight off my shoulders. I felt like a new person because someone has recognized there is a lot more to me.
I know this is not going to happen every time that I meet someone, but it encouraged me. I will speak for myself here. I know I am getting tired of people always assuming things about me. It gets old and it causes me to assume things. I think they won't accept me for who I am, or that they won't try to get to know me. Thus, I don't try as hard to get to know who they are as well. It is easy for me to give someone new a wave or a nod of the head, and go on my way.
What I am suggesting here is that we have to be accountable too. We need to be willing to meet new people without assuming anything about them. We have to be willing to try to communicate with them. We have to be willing to show them the person we really are, so that they are amazed at the things we can do.
Yet, I am hoping those of you who are meeting a person with a disability, are able to look past the disability and see the person. We are living in a culture that does not do this very well because we are so concerned about the external. We are missing caring for people's hearts, and loving them just as they are. We are living life for ourselves, and it is time to start living life to love others.
I am thankful for my new friendship. She has given me hope that we will be able to look at people differently, and maybe one day we will no longer see the disabilities at all. We need willing partners to accomplish this goal. Are you one of them?
It isn't a good feeling and these days I think sometimes it is just easier not to stick your neck out there. I am the first one to admit I really don't like meeting new people. I don't like how they make assumptions about me. I don't like how they communicate with me. Really, I could easily do without meeting new people. I am satisfied sometimes to sit at home and just relax. Yet, I know that if I did that I would be missing out on developing friendships.
This past week something happened to me that I haven't experienced in a very long time. I have met someone, who didn't see my disability first, but this person looked at the person first. She communicated with me like she didn't even noticed I communicated differently. It was like we had known each other for years and it lifted a heavy weight off my shoulders. I felt like a new person because someone has recognized there is a lot more to me.
I know this is not going to happen every time that I meet someone, but it encouraged me. I will speak for myself here. I know I am getting tired of people always assuming things about me. It gets old and it causes me to assume things. I think they won't accept me for who I am, or that they won't try to get to know me. Thus, I don't try as hard to get to know who they are as well. It is easy for me to give someone new a wave or a nod of the head, and go on my way.
What I am suggesting here is that we have to be accountable too. We need to be willing to meet new people without assuming anything about them. We have to be willing to try to communicate with them. We have to be willing to show them the person we really are, so that they are amazed at the things we can do.
Yet, I am hoping those of you who are meeting a person with a disability, are able to look past the disability and see the person. We are living in a culture that does not do this very well because we are so concerned about the external. We are missing caring for people's hearts, and loving them just as they are. We are living life for ourselves, and it is time to start living life to love others.
I am thankful for my new friendship. She has given me hope that we will be able to look at people differently, and maybe one day we will no longer see the disabilities at all. We need willing partners to accomplish this goal. Are you one of them?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Reflections of the past few days
I can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving. It seems like yesterday I was wearing shorts, riding outside, and enjoying the last few days of summer. Now I am preparing for the long winter that is ahead of me. We have had over a foot of snow here already, and I am expecting it to be another long, cold, snowy winter here. Yet, as I took a few days to reflect upon what I have to be thankful for, I found many things.
I've been talking about how people with disabilities need a good support system. I have a great support system. I am thankful for my friends. They are my support system and without them I know I wouldn't be able to do what I do. They come over whenever I need them, even if it is four thirty in the morning. They are there for me celebrating my successes, but also talking about the frustrations I have had.
This is what community is all about. This is what I know everybody needs because you can't live life on your own. Sometimes I think we think it would be easier to be alone at times, but we aren't meant to live alone. God created you and I in his image, and we need to be in a community, just as God lives in community.
I know some people with disabilities have a difficult time finding community. I have been there and it isn't a good feeling. I have ridden into places, where I felt the stares of people on the back of my neck. I have gone into churches, and nobody would engage me in conversation. I have been apart of small groups, and still felt I was on the outside looking in, looking for someone to accept me. Yet, I was told last week that accessibility is the main problem people with disabilities face.
I know accessibility is still a problem, but I believe we have made progress in that area, yet I don't think we have made much progress on changing people's mentality. This is the major problem because people with disabilities are struggling to be accepted still. We have the ADA, which has helped, yet if we still are seen as different, we are going to have a hard time finding acceptance.
We are living in a culture that is so focused on the external. Actually, we are so focused on ourselves that sometimes we don't see anything else around us. We believe if we can fix the accessibility problem, that is all we need to do. Are we satisfied with doing the very minimum?
It isn't just about making a public building accessible. It is about being seen as a person. It's having a chance to communicate with people, and knowing they are interested in what you have to say. It is about developing friendships that will be there for a lifetime. It is about supporting one another and loving one another. It's about going the extra distance, so that the person feels he or she is apart of the community.
It's time to start touching people's lives and developing community. Are we willing to go the extra distance?
I've been talking about how people with disabilities need a good support system. I have a great support system. I am thankful for my friends. They are my support system and without them I know I wouldn't be able to do what I do. They come over whenever I need them, even if it is four thirty in the morning. They are there for me celebrating my successes, but also talking about the frustrations I have had.
This is what community is all about. This is what I know everybody needs because you can't live life on your own. Sometimes I think we think it would be easier to be alone at times, but we aren't meant to live alone. God created you and I in his image, and we need to be in a community, just as God lives in community.
I know some people with disabilities have a difficult time finding community. I have been there and it isn't a good feeling. I have ridden into places, where I felt the stares of people on the back of my neck. I have gone into churches, and nobody would engage me in conversation. I have been apart of small groups, and still felt I was on the outside looking in, looking for someone to accept me. Yet, I was told last week that accessibility is the main problem people with disabilities face.
I know accessibility is still a problem, but I believe we have made progress in that area, yet I don't think we have made much progress on changing people's mentality. This is the major problem because people with disabilities are struggling to be accepted still. We have the ADA, which has helped, yet if we still are seen as different, we are going to have a hard time finding acceptance.
We are living in a culture that is so focused on the external. Actually, we are so focused on ourselves that sometimes we don't see anything else around us. We believe if we can fix the accessibility problem, that is all we need to do. Are we satisfied with doing the very minimum?
It isn't just about making a public building accessible. It is about being seen as a person. It's having a chance to communicate with people, and knowing they are interested in what you have to say. It is about developing friendships that will be there for a lifetime. It is about supporting one another and loving one another. It's about going the extra distance, so that the person feels he or she is apart of the community.
It's time to start touching people's lives and developing community. Are we willing to go the extra distance?
Friday, November 21, 2008
Dreaming Big
It was Wednesday night and I was sitting here reflecting on the events of a day. I had an interview earlier in the day, and I began to realize again how small people dreams are. It's an issue I don't know exactly how to handle, but I know if we continue to dream small and limit ourselves, we won't be able to accomplish much.
Most of you know I have a disability and when you have a disability, you are put into a category right away. I was put into a category that said I would never walk. I would never go to college. I would never be bright to do this, that, and whatever. Really, the thing that bothered me the most was the fact that nobody thought I would be able to play sports.
I grew up in a sports family and I began loving sports just naturally. I dreamt to play sports and I was going to be the best player that I could be. My brothers and sisters helped my dream along by adapting sports, so that I could be apart of a game. I had fun playing in the backyard with them and it did quench my thirst for awhile. Yet, I wanted to be on a real team. I wanted to compete and be apart of a team, so I began thinking about how I could make this happen.
My initial thought was playing on an indoor soccer team with my classmates at school. I have a scooter I can ride around quickly on and we felt and knew I could play soccer. Well, the park district wouldn't allow it, so I was left being happy with watching the game from the sideline. I wasn't really happy with that so I began thinking of developing a wheelchair soccer league. Now being a thirteen year old, I didn't find too many people willing to listen to me. They pointed to special Olympics and said I should look into that. These answers didn't satisfy me because I already knew I didn't qualify for those events, and felt that there needed to be something done.
The Easter Seals that I went for therapy happened to move into a vacant school with a gym. I met with the social worker and another person that felt the same way I did, and the soccer program was started. After I was successful in helping develop that, I developed a wheelchair football team and floor hockey team for my high school.
This is a story about me having a big dream and working at it until it happened. I don't believe this is happening enough now because I don't believe we are encouraged to dream. I think people put people with disabilities into a category, and they limit them from accomplishing bigger goals and dreams. It is frustrating to see this happening because I know you can accomplish anything you want to accomplish with a little hard work.
I don't want you to stop believing in yourself. People might not always believe you can accomplish your dream, but if you believe it and work hard, you will accomplish it. If we stop dreaming big, we are going to limit our gifts and abilities, and then it will be more difficult to change people's minds. We need to continue thinking creatively, so that we can develop our dream.
We need to show leaders that we can accomplish anything, and become anything we want to become, so that they begin to look past our disabilities. I believe in order to develop more leaders, we need to start thinking as leaders. Leaders dream big and then make plans to accomplish that dream.
Most of you know I have a disability and when you have a disability, you are put into a category right away. I was put into a category that said I would never walk. I would never go to college. I would never be bright to do this, that, and whatever. Really, the thing that bothered me the most was the fact that nobody thought I would be able to play sports.
I grew up in a sports family and I began loving sports just naturally. I dreamt to play sports and I was going to be the best player that I could be. My brothers and sisters helped my dream along by adapting sports, so that I could be apart of a game. I had fun playing in the backyard with them and it did quench my thirst for awhile. Yet, I wanted to be on a real team. I wanted to compete and be apart of a team, so I began thinking about how I could make this happen.
My initial thought was playing on an indoor soccer team with my classmates at school. I have a scooter I can ride around quickly on and we felt and knew I could play soccer. Well, the park district wouldn't allow it, so I was left being happy with watching the game from the sideline. I wasn't really happy with that so I began thinking of developing a wheelchair soccer league. Now being a thirteen year old, I didn't find too many people willing to listen to me. They pointed to special Olympics and said I should look into that. These answers didn't satisfy me because I already knew I didn't qualify for those events, and felt that there needed to be something done.
The Easter Seals that I went for therapy happened to move into a vacant school with a gym. I met with the social worker and another person that felt the same way I did, and the soccer program was started. After I was successful in helping develop that, I developed a wheelchair football team and floor hockey team for my high school.
This is a story about me having a big dream and working at it until it happened. I don't believe this is happening enough now because I don't believe we are encouraged to dream. I think people put people with disabilities into a category, and they limit them from accomplishing bigger goals and dreams. It is frustrating to see this happening because I know you can accomplish anything you want to accomplish with a little hard work.
I don't want you to stop believing in yourself. People might not always believe you can accomplish your dream, but if you believe it and work hard, you will accomplish it. If we stop dreaming big, we are going to limit our gifts and abilities, and then it will be more difficult to change people's minds. We need to continue thinking creatively, so that we can develop our dream.
We need to show leaders that we can accomplish anything, and become anything we want to become, so that they begin to look past our disabilities. I believe in order to develop more leaders, we need to start thinking as leaders. Leaders dream big and then make plans to accomplish that dream.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Leadership
Here I am sitting on a Thursday morning thinking about what I need to address or blog about. It has been a couple of days since I wrote about the need to feel wanted, and coming off of an interview yesterday, I know I am ready to be a leader. Yet, as I think about why I feel so strongly about my abilities to lead, I know I am going to have to prove myself once again. Am I ready to do that? Am I ready for the scrutiny once again? What will I do if they don't believe I can do this job?
I know there are discussions that are on going about developing more leaders from the AAC community. I believe we need more, yet how do we get more leaders when our opportunities are so limited. I know when applied for this position they were looking for somebody who had been a leader for three years. Well, I know I have been a leader in this field for over three years, but I can't reflect that on my resume because it hasn't been in a job type of setting. I have led my own organization for eight years now. I have been involved in business planning and developing strategies, but when you are doing it yourself, it is hard to get a foot into the door.
How can we change this experience problem? This is a question I have thought about alot and I believe I have some insight. I believe we have to start in the education system. We need teachers to start making students, who use AAC, believe they can be anything they want to be. I believe that is not happening right now and we need more people believing in their abilities that they have. I know I have said this several times here, but I feel so passionate about this. I don't think children are told this. I believe we feel there are limits to the abilities of a person who uses AAC. I'm telling you there is no limits.
Okay, yes I wanted to be the athlete that was going to play for my favorite teams, but nobody told me I couldn't achieve it. They knew it wasn't a realistic goal, but by letting me believe I could, they showed me I could do anything I wanted to do. I wouldn't have thought I would be able to give speeches in front of crowds, and I wouldn't have found the gift of speaking that I have. I wouldn't have started my own organization and I wouldn't be writing this blog right now.
Second, I believe colleges and universities have made great strides in educating people with disabilities, by making their college or university accessible and aware of people who have disabilities. Yet, I don't believe they have prepared them enough for life after college. I believe colleges and universities need to develop a transition program. Every student should have the opportunity to find an internship. I feel people who use AAC don't have that opportunity.
I believe there are many qualified people who use AAC that aren't given a chance to lead because people won't give them that chance. We need advocates who are willing to step up. I know there are many who are working on this problem, yet I believe we need colleges and universities to help us. I believe they can find businesses to join with them and develop a program that will help transition people with disabilities into the world.
I had a great college experience, yet I wasn't able to find one internship while I was in college. I wasn't able to work during the summers, and I believe it put me behind. I know not everybody does an internship every summer, yet I believe most gain valuable experience by working somewhere. I couldn't even find a job, and I wish my world college would have had some type of a transition program for me to develop my gifts and skills.
Everybody wants to contribute and use their abilities. We need to let everybody have a chance to show their unique abilities and leadership skills. I know it isn't happening right now. I don't want our next great leader to fall through the cracks because he or she didn't have the opportunities to show those skills.
I know there are discussions that are on going about developing more leaders from the AAC community. I believe we need more, yet how do we get more leaders when our opportunities are so limited. I know when applied for this position they were looking for somebody who had been a leader for three years. Well, I know I have been a leader in this field for over three years, but I can't reflect that on my resume because it hasn't been in a job type of setting. I have led my own organization for eight years now. I have been involved in business planning and developing strategies, but when you are doing it yourself, it is hard to get a foot into the door.
How can we change this experience problem? This is a question I have thought about alot and I believe I have some insight. I believe we have to start in the education system. We need teachers to start making students, who use AAC, believe they can be anything they want to be. I believe that is not happening right now and we need more people believing in their abilities that they have. I know I have said this several times here, but I feel so passionate about this. I don't think children are told this. I believe we feel there are limits to the abilities of a person who uses AAC. I'm telling you there is no limits.
Okay, yes I wanted to be the athlete that was going to play for my favorite teams, but nobody told me I couldn't achieve it. They knew it wasn't a realistic goal, but by letting me believe I could, they showed me I could do anything I wanted to do. I wouldn't have thought I would be able to give speeches in front of crowds, and I wouldn't have found the gift of speaking that I have. I wouldn't have started my own organization and I wouldn't be writing this blog right now.
Second, I believe colleges and universities have made great strides in educating people with disabilities, by making their college or university accessible and aware of people who have disabilities. Yet, I don't believe they have prepared them enough for life after college. I believe colleges and universities need to develop a transition program. Every student should have the opportunity to find an internship. I feel people who use AAC don't have that opportunity.
I believe there are many qualified people who use AAC that aren't given a chance to lead because people won't give them that chance. We need advocates who are willing to step up. I know there are many who are working on this problem, yet I believe we need colleges and universities to help us. I believe they can find businesses to join with them and develop a program that will help transition people with disabilities into the world.
I had a great college experience, yet I wasn't able to find one internship while I was in college. I wasn't able to work during the summers, and I believe it put me behind. I know not everybody does an internship every summer, yet I believe most gain valuable experience by working somewhere. I couldn't even find a job, and I wish my world college would have had some type of a transition program for me to develop my gifts and skills.
Everybody wants to contribute and use their abilities. We need to let everybody have a chance to show their unique abilities and leadership skills. I know it isn't happening right now. I don't want our next great leader to fall through the cracks because he or she didn't have the opportunities to show those skills.
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