Another Great Way a Girl with Special Needs Uses Her TapToTalk

The last time we heard from Joanne O'Leary, she told us about the little girl in her class with severe apraxia, who loves her TapToTalk so much she wants to take it to the bathroom with her. Joanne has been using TapToTalk in all sorts of innovative ways. Here is one of them:

I have been having fun coming up with ideas for my little friend. The one I am working on now is having her make a choice of activities at center time and then make choices and comments.

For example, she selects puzzles, then she has different requests and comments about the activity:

• "This puzzle is easy!"
• "This puzzle is too hard, can you help me?"
• "Watch me!"
• "Uh oh, there's a piece missing!"
• "Let's do another one!"

Using TapToTalk Designer, Joanne picks pictures and records sounds for each of the above sentences. Then her student can chat about the activity.

We salute Joanne O'Leary of Ft. Collins, Colorado, and all of those who work with special needs kids!

If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.

The TapToTalk Team
www.taptotalk.com
blog@taptotalk.com

Quick Checklist for Traveling with Your Special Needs Child

Traveling with a special needs child may not always be easy. Starting out with a packing check-list before taking off on your trip could be helpful. Christy Cross from the TravelingMom website points out the following:

It doesn’t matter if you are leaving for a few hours or a few days, if you have a special needs child preparation is key to a successful, enjoyable trip.

She also goes on to provide a nice checklist of items:

Phone numbers of doctors/pharmacy – an absolute necessity. Be sure you have accurate working numbers for your child’s medical team on hand in case a question or problem arises while you are traveling.

Medications – Bring enough quantity of your child’s daily medications to last the duration of your trip as well as a few extra doses just in case you drop, spill or lose a dose or your trip goes longer than expected. Give special consideration to including supplies needed to dispense and store the medications. My son takes a daily growth hormone injection that requires me to bring along alcohol swabs, syringes, and a cooler and ice to properly store the medication.

Specialized Medical Equipment - Especially important for those trips that are overnight or longer. As you prepare for your trip, think about the things you do daily to keep your child well. Do you take blood pressure readings once or twice a day? Test blood sugar levels? Weigh? If so bring all of the necessary equipment to do these things while on the road just as you would if you were at home. Because my son requires daily dialysis we carry a dialysis machine, fluid, tubing, dressing supplies, blood pressure machines, scales…you get the point!

Emergency Equipment – This could include anything from an inhaler, Epipen or a good thermometer and fever reducer–just in case!

Extras – This is of utmost importance if you are using supplies that are sterile and are difficult (or impossible to find at your local drug store). Bring extras! To err is human; to be prepared is a relief!

This could be helpful for your travels and of course it wouldn't hurt to include a reminder to bring your child's TapToTalk and the Nintendo DS charger on your trip. The portabilty of the TapToTalk is ideal for traveling. Let us know where you have traveled with your child's TapToTalk.


If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.

The TapToTalk Team
http://www.taptotalk.com/
blog@taptotalk.com

Special Needs Brother Inspires a Gold Medal Winner

Alex Bilodeau, an American skier in the 2010 Winter Olympics (men's moguls event) has won a gold medal, but he may not have pulled it off had he not been so motivated by his brother Frederick who has Cerebral Palsey. The inspiration is very aptly described by Julie Riera Matsushima in her blog post:

When the camera spanned the audience and the commentator focused on Alex's older brother, Frederic (age 28) who has Cerebral Palsy, I was glued to the TV and I soon realized there was more than one winner in this story. This came to light once again when I watched a short documentary before the award ceremony which featured Alex and his brother. It showcased their loving bond and tears filled my eyes as Alex himself, was quick to respond (once again) that his older brother was the inspiration behind his gold medal performance.

Alex's own soft-spoken words deeply touched me when he said, "When he wakes up he's got that big smile, and when he goes to bed he's got that big smile." Does that sound like anyone you might know? It definitely sounds like a special girl in our family who inspires us all with her courage, her determination to succeed, and; of course, her beautiful smile!

If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.

The TapToTalk Team
http://www.taptotalk.com/
blog@taptotalk.com

Product Tips and Tricks: Print Your TapToTalk Pictures

You can easily print all the pictures in a TapToTalk Album using the TapToTalk Web App. Just click the printer icon on the left side of the Web App screen.

If you have not used the Web App, go into TapToTalk Designer and publish your TapToTalk to the Web App. This is the same step you use to publish a TapToTalk to the Nintendo.This takes just a few seconds. For step-by-step instructions, see Publishing Albums.

Once you have published your TapToTalk to the Web App, you can run it using the instructions in the TapToTalk Web App Guide.

These pictures can be used in all sorts of ways. You can cut them out and use them individually, or put them up on the wall. They can be used for play, learning, communication and speech therapy. And it just takes a few mouse clicks to print them.

If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.

The TapToTalk Team
www.taptotalk.com
blog@taptotalk.com

Behavior Change, The "Jacob" Way

Once in a while we come across a story that shows us how important visuals are to a child who is autistic and non-verbal. The story is about a boy named "Jacob" who is non-verbal and had just joined an elementary school classroom that focused on helping autistic children communicate. The challenge was that he could not stay in the classroom until his negative behavior was controlled. He had behavior issues at home and at school. The parents asked the teacher to help him. Pamela G. Downing, the author of the Communication for autism spectrum disorders story goes on to write:

While at home, "Janie" and the teacher sat with "Jacob" on the floor. The teacher showed "Jacob" three pictures: a happy face, a sad face and a face that was uncertain with the mouth forming an "O." Each of the pictures was used for behavior modification in the classroom: The happy face was to reinforce good behavior, which brought immediate rewards specific to "Jacob’s" own wants.

The story goes on to talk about how Jacob one day surprised everyone:

His mother, "Janie" was watching "Jacob" pick up each of the icons slowly. Then, he surprised his mother. The boy mimicked exactly what he saw in front of him. He copied the smile and the sad look and then made a big oval "O" with his mouth every time he looked at the yellow warning icon. The teacher explained to the mother that the children with autism are very visual. They do not understand what all our facial expressions mean and must be taught what they signify. Used correctly, they (images) can help a child be able to function in his daily life."

We thought that this story really provided a good example of how images can help children with special needs.

If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.

The TapToTalk Team
http://www.taptotalk.com/
blog@taptotalk.com

A San Antonio Park for Special Needs Kids

The worlds first (according to the folks at Morgan's Wonderland) Family Fun Park for special needs kids will be a reality in about two months. It was the vision of Gordon and Maggie Hartman, parents of a daughter (Morgan) with special needs to create this 25 acre park in San Antonio, Texas. They have called it Morgan's Wonderland and will have its grand opening on April 10th. Morgan's Wonderland's mission is "to provide a park that will nurture the minds and bodies of individuals with special needs and their families".

"We believe that there is a real need for a special place for special people, one that provides an oasis for people with disabilities, their families and caregivers who need facilities specifically designed to assist them in enjoying outdoor activities."

The park has been dubbed by Gordon as a kind of mini-Disney for special needs kids and some of the activities and amenities include:

•Train Rides
•Ultra Accessible Carousel
•Catch-and-Release Fishing
•Water Canons and Remote-Controlled Boats
•Music Garden
•Sand Circle™
•Gymnasium (basketball, volleyball and tennis)
•Water Works - Water Play Area
•Sensory Village™
•Several Rest Stops, Picnic areas.

The full list can be found on their website: http://www.morganswonderland.com/











If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.

The TapToTalk Team
http://www.taptotalk.com/
blog@taptotalk.com

How TapToTalk is Helping a Non-Verbal 17 Year Old Girl

We are always happy to hear when the TapToTalk is helping a non-verbal child communicate. We wanted to share the following feedback we recieved about a girl who loves her TapToTalk.

"I work for an agency that provides support to people with Autism in residential settings. I purchased this product for a 17 year old non-verbal girl who has severe tantrums due to the lack of expressive communication. She is still learning how to use it proficiently but she picked up on the basics very quickly. She loves it!

It took me a little bit to navigate the set up program but once I figured it out I was able to build a personalized and effective library for her. I love that I was able to incorporate pictures of her family and program my voice (because she's a girl and she needs a girl voice).

The instructional videos online where very helpful. This program is VERY inexpensive compared to the other bulky hard to use augmentative devices that can run from $1500 to $3000. Not to mention the Nintendo DS systems are socially acceptable because every kid I know (and some adults too) carry these around everywhere.

Our company is excited about this and we will be getting more for other participants that we support."

Kimberly Lehuanani Andrus

If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.

The TapToTalk Team
http://www.taptotalk.com/
blog@taptotalk.com

Why a Little Girl with Apraxia Loves Her TapToTalk

One of our users sent this story for us to share with all of you. It sure made us all smile:

TapToTalk has been great for a little girl in my class who has severe apraxia. She is very smart but the words just can't come out.

We got the TapToTalk set up and she carried it around very proudly. With no prompting, she took the TapToTalk over to an adult in the room carrying the valentine heart she just cut and pasted and colored, and she went through the pictures on the TapToTalk and selected all the things she used for the heart she made. The scissors the glue and yes the marker, but not any marker; she tapped the picture of the marker and eight colors came up and she picked the blue one. And guess what? She did use a blue marker. She was so proud to share.

She loves the TapToTalk so much that she even took it with her in the bathroom! We had to explain that it would be safer in her cubby.

Joanne O'Leary, Fort Collins CO

Joanne has done a great job using TapToTalk Designer to meet her student's unique needs. Her story shows what we have heard over and over: kids know what to do with TapToTalk. And we love nothing more than sharing these stories with you.

If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.

The TapToTalk Team
http://www.taptotalk.com/
blog@taptotalk.com

A TapToTalk Christmas

We sometimes get comments from customers that really make us smile. This is one we received in January 2010 and it really felt good to know that TapToTalk helped make their Christmas a memorable one.

"Happy New Year. (My son) was able to say Merry Christmas to everyone this year for the first time, thanks to TapToTalk. It really made it a special Christmas."

We welcome your comments and suggestions. If you have a blog or know of a special needs blog that you think would be a good link, please let us know.

If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.

The TapToTalk Team
http://www.taptotalk.com/
blog@taptotalk.com