We have been thinking about getting an iPad for several months now after attending a training workshop in Orlando Florida at the national convention for The Arc in November. It was really exciting to see all the possibilities on that unit for people with special needs. Vision impairments, hearing impairments, speech aides, there were alot of really cool things the iPad could do.
The price of the iPad is minimal compared to say a DynaVox but they are still rather expensive when your talking about getting them for five year old identical twin boys who can be very naughty and end up throwing things for no apparent reason on a daily basis. My husband Tom has been researching the Archos 70, 250GB Tablet Computer. The price of that is even better yet at about $350.
We have been told recently that they (speech therapist and behavioral specialist) think that my boys are good candidates for an iPad. For those that are just reading this doing a search from google on comparing iPad and Archos, I have 5 year old identical twin boys BOTH with PDD Autism and Down Syndrome and who also both happen to be non-verbal. We have been communicating with them via sign language for the past 4 years. We are very proud of that. From the mouth of an educator who works with my boys we were informed that "this is another disability in itself". When I asked what she meant by that she said, "Well nobody knows what they are saying when they sign." That truly cut me to the heart. She was right. We can only teach so many people sign language... and let me say I have truly done my part by bringing Sign Language Workshops to The Arc of Jefferson County.. But really when the boys goto school the kids will not know how to sign to them and everywhere we go now a days, everyone can tell they are signing, but they ask us what they are saying. It makes me sad that we have come so far and its still not enough.
Not only are my boys signing as well as they do, they are also reading more than 150 words thanks to the Your Baby Can Read program. So after some discussion we have decided that since the boys are reading and starting to understand words.. they can identify all of their letters.. we may try to get them to begin communicating with pictures and words on an iPad or Archos. There is software out there that will "speak" the words for you, I think this is probably becoming very socially acceptable to carry around a computer gadget with you wherever you go.
Looking for feedback from those that have used one or the other.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Arc of Jefferson County and Camp Friendship
Its time again for the Annual Run/Walk for Someone Special event to occur for the 32nd year in a row. Last year was a record year with 365 participants and $40,000 raised. ALL money raised at this event stays local and helps The Arc of Jefferson County puts on 2 summer camps for children with special needs (a total of 3 weeks of fun) and a camp for children with Autism (1 week long). We are a very rural area and to be able to fund something like this ourselves with NO GRANTS or loans is really an exciting thing for us. On average it costs us $100 per camper per week to do all we do. We provide a nutritional snack and meal each day for campers, counselors, teachers and Directors. We provide transportation to and from camp each day. We have a very qualified teaching staff and need to pay them for their time with us. We have been blessed to have many people in the community donate their time or provide their service at a low cost at the camps to provide fun for the kids. 4-H has brought in some horses, local fire department has brought in their trucks and gear for the kids to dress up in, karate demonstrations, service dogs, dental hygienists showing proper dental care, and much more!
Here is me finishing my 2 mile fun/run last year in 19 minutes 43 seconds!! (The one in the yellow shirt with sunglasses that looks like she's about to die...lol):
Here are my handsome twins who have brought me to know and love The Arc and Camp Friendship:
As with any non-profit, funding is harder to come by these days. People are not giving their money like they used to. Please consider donating what you can. Every Dollar does add up and EVERY Dollar is appreciated. This year my boys will be going to camp. Part of my passion as Executive Director of this great organization is to keep services going and growing....and to continue bringing new services to this area, not only for my boys, but for the many children and adults that deserve to have something to look forward to each year, and to make memories that last a lifetime.
Here is me finishing my 2 mile fun/run last year in 19 minutes 43 seconds!! (The one in the yellow shirt with sunglasses that looks like she's about to die...lol):
Here are my handsome twins who have brought me to know and love The Arc and Camp Friendship:
As with any non-profit, funding is harder to come by these days. People are not giving their money like they used to. Please consider donating what you can. Every Dollar does add up and EVERY Dollar is appreciated. This year my boys will be going to camp. Part of my passion as Executive Director of this great organization is to keep services going and growing....and to continue bringing new services to this area, not only for my boys, but for the many children and adults that deserve to have something to look forward to each year, and to make memories that last a lifetime.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
No...Baby... Boy
I had the cutest interaction this morning with my Isaac. I am in no way officially potty training the boys yet, but I am practicing the sign with them and talking about going to the potty on a daily basis. They are understanding what I am asking them to do and I view that as progress. My hopes are to have them trained by the end of summer.
This morning as I'm changing Caleb, I ask him if he would like to try and go sit on the potty, he signs "yes potty". I take him into the bathroom singing and dancing and making a big deal of the fact that he said YES. I place him on his potty where he sits approximately 2 seconds. He gets up, I clap and cheer and make him proud of doing that few seconds, put on his diaper and move onto the next boy.
I lay Isaac down on my bed. I begin undressing him and telling him how big of a boy he is and that I know he's going to have fun using the big boy potty like brother did. After I remove his diaper I say "Isaac you ready to use the big boy potty", to which he looks at me and shakes his head NO and signs "baby boy"... Oh My Goodness, that was one of the best conversations we've had to date!!! He gets to stay mommy's baby boy another day :)
They both sign daily, for that matter we all sign daily. They ask specifically for what they want but they never really use it as a conversation.. Today, I felt Isaac communicating with me.. I gently smiled, kissed him and told him that Yes he is mommy's baby boy and put his diaper back on him.
That's my BOY!!
This morning as I'm changing Caleb, I ask him if he would like to try and go sit on the potty, he signs "yes potty". I take him into the bathroom singing and dancing and making a big deal of the fact that he said YES. I place him on his potty where he sits approximately 2 seconds. He gets up, I clap and cheer and make him proud of doing that few seconds, put on his diaper and move onto the next boy.
I lay Isaac down on my bed. I begin undressing him and telling him how big of a boy he is and that I know he's going to have fun using the big boy potty like brother did. After I remove his diaper I say "Isaac you ready to use the big boy potty", to which he looks at me and shakes his head NO and signs "baby boy"... Oh My Goodness, that was one of the best conversations we've had to date!!! He gets to stay mommy's baby boy another day :)
They both sign daily, for that matter we all sign daily. They ask specifically for what they want but they never really use it as a conversation.. Today, I felt Isaac communicating with me.. I gently smiled, kissed him and told him that Yes he is mommy's baby boy and put his diaper back on him.
That's my BOY!!
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