AAC Device Demo

We had a demo at our house yesterday for an AAC device for Tessa (AAC= Augmentative and Alternative Communication).  The particular device was the Accent 1000 made by Prentke Romich Company - PRC.

This is the device up close: PRC Accent 1000

https://store.prentrom.com/product_info.php/cPath/11/products_id/235 

Talk about an education.  We learned a lot and are so excited about Tessa's future with an AAC device.  We trialed the Tobii Eye Gaze system in the fall of last year (everything ended up falling through on it between Medicaid and issues with the vendor), but we are really excited about how much Tessa has grown and changed and realize now that there are other options out there that will provide her with much more freedom and growth through the years!

I watched this documentary today called "Only God Could Hear Me" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r9pvtNTx4k by Bruce Baker.  It was fantastic.  I was told to prepare for tears, but didn't shed a one...I smiled from ear to ear from the very beginning.  I loved the 'sink-ball' part at the end (if you watch it and make it that far ;)  It is an amazing documentary about AAC device users and the development of the language used on these devices.  In the documentary they reference "minspeak" and here is a brief description:

http://www.minspeak.com/

Just looking at the device, it doesn't look very intuitive.  But after the education we got on it yesterday and then after watching the documentary about how the language was developed...it is rather amazing.  They use an approach at PRC called "LAMP Words for Life".  LAMP stands for Language Acquisition Through Motor Planning.    http://aacapps.com/lamp/what-is-lamp

But just as usual...Miss Tessa's excitement throughout this entire new experience was enough to make us excited too!  They gave her lots of time to just explore the device...and explore she did.  She knew that device was full of some very fabulous things...and that it has the potential to change her life!

It will take lots of practice, and we are so ready to get practicing!

Her movements around the device in these videos show just how excited and ready she was to interact and engage.

She couldn't have been more focused!  

She worked (and played) so hard the entire time and it was such a joy to see!

At one point she requested her drink, so we followed through on her request and gave her a drink.  Whether she found the button by accident or not, doesn't matter.  What matters is that we encourage, teach, help, respond and celebrate as she navigates her new voice :)

~Whitney