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It’s been a busy start to 2024 and I finally have time to post some updates. Spoiler alert ~ it’s all really good news.
Finally! A Replacement Device for a Very Deserving Client :)!
Yesterday, I got the news that one of my clients will be getting his replacement speech generating device (SGD) early next week.
Before I get to the updates with my client, I want to say thank you to the folks at AbleNet, Inc. If you’re a special education teacher, speech-language pathologist, parent or family member of someone who uses AT/AAC, or work in the AT/AAC field, I want to make you aware of their QuickTalker Freestyle program. You can find more information about the program here.
I’ve used The QuickTalker Freestyle program to get SGDs for four of my clients who needed their own device. Only once has the process gone completely smoothly and my client received his SGD in about three weeks. Yes, that’s right. I said weeks, not years or months. In the other cases, there have been bumps in the road. The bumps have been different for each family. But, the folks at AbleNet have been there every step of the way, working through all of the behind the scenes things to get the SGDs funded.
And, yesterday, we got word that the replacement SGD I requested in September, 2023 was approved and shipped out. The family should receive it early next week.
If you or your client is in need of a direct access SGD and you/they can use a 10.1″ iPad based device, then I highly recommend checking with AbleNet’s QuickTalker Freestyle program to see if they can help. Any communication app can be requested (e.g., TD Snap, GoTalk, Proloquo2Go) and you can change apps for free if the app you requested isn’t working out for the person. AbleNet also makes keyguards available if needed. At this time, they don’t provide eye gaze systems or have larger screen sizes available – just as an FYI. The SGDs arrive in a very rugged case with a built-in handle, folding stand, mounting capability, and attachment points for the included cross-body strap. The devices also come with a very durable screen protector. Each SGD is covered for 5 years with unlimited replacements (making it ideal for pediatric clients!)
I’ve written before about the client who will get his new SGD next week. For those who don’t want to click through, I’ll briefly summarize. My client is an 8 1/2 year old boy with a rare genetic disorder. He’s non-verbal, but can vocalize above his trach. He takes his primary nutrition and hydration via G-tube. Because of his genetic disorder, he’s very medically fragile and can’t have much exposure to the rest of the germ-ridden masses of humanity. He’s bright and inquisitive as most kids are. He has a lot of world knowledge even given how limited his world has to be sometimes. He’s funny. He’s most definitely his own person!
I’m so glad he’s getting a new SGD. He’s had the same one – a Windows-based device – since he was around the age of three years old. When it was new, it was state of the art. But now, it’s heavy. It’s clunky. It’s glitchy. It can’t hold a charge for more than an hour. It wasn’t set up correctly initially, so he’s had to use an adult woman’s voice as the text-to-speech voice all this time. Because it wasn’t set up correctly initially, it’s been a headache to work around that so it could be backed up.
Think about how many new cell phones you’ve had in the last 5-6 years. Think about how much the technology has changed in that time.
Now, imagine if you had to use your cellphone from 5-6 years ago as your primary means of communication. You’d want access to something newer, too, wouldn’t you?
Finally, next week, he’ll have his own new SGD that’s small and light enough for him to carry on his own. That’s important when you’re a busy 8 1/2 year old boy with mischief to find! He’ll have an SGD that has a voice that sounds more like him. And – from my perspective – an SGD we can set up at a level that much, much more appropriate for an 8 1/2 year old boy who would like to be able to say more than just a single word at a time!
I’m so excited for my client and his family!
Thank you so much to the folks at the QuickTalker Freestyle program. It wouldn’t have been possible without you!
On a Personal Note…
In late December, I posted about my growth and change in my personal and professional lives. You can read that post here.
One of the reasons I decided to post my intentions was to make sure I followed through on them. And, I did. I applied to an online, accredited law school program in early January, 2024 and was accepted about two weeks later. It took about a week to get all of the enrollment documentation together (e.g., transcripts and actual, paper checks from my bank) and back to the program. The program is located in a neighboring state, but they needed everything returned back to them by snail mail (US Postal Service).
I got word this week that I officially start the program next Saturday.
Some notes on my journey thus far…
I’ve already started reading some of the required materials. For the last 25-30 years, I have worked exclusively in the social behavior research space. In this space, we are very careful about not extrapolating beyond the data we are immediately presenting and discussing (on paper anyway; discussions at conferences and/or brainstorming sessions are another matter entirely). In lay terms, we researchers are very careful not to get in front of our skis as far as our arguments.
My impression of legal arguments is that they are much, much more philosophical in nature than my previous training and professional life have allowed. You can say things like, “It’s commonly known…” or “Most reasonable people would/would not…”
I can only imagine the comments from peer reviewers if I tried to use some of this argument framing in a research article.
It’s going to be a fun challenge to learn to think differently. I’m looking forward to it!
Secondly, as a professor, I actively worked as hard as possible to keep the cost of books and materials as low as possible for the students in my classes. I adopted e-textbooks early on because they were cheaper than their print counterparts. I tried to use one edition older when I could so students could find used copies. I made sure to post articles and other required readings on the learning management system course websites so students could access them without physical access to the library.
Law school isn’t like that. Even used, some of the textbooks I’ve needed to purchase have been $300 each. I still have $400 worth of e-textbooks to purchase through VitalSource at the student pricing. That price is for two books, by the way. And, the e-textbooks are much cheaper than their used print versions. Yikes! But, now I know. And, forewarned is forearmed for the next term!
As always, thanks for reading!
Outside The Box 