And then came Proloquo2go. . .

Communicating with any child can be challenging. Communicating with a child with autism can be daunting at times.  My Andy is 10 years old with autism.  He has about 50-100 spoken words. About 80% of those is unintelligible. He uses words, pictures, writing, iPad and gestures to communicate. Andy loves to communicate. Sometimes determining what he is saying is like playing a game of charades. Heartbreaking for me because I really want to understand him when he talks so I can encourage talking.  His spoken communication began to flourish once he turned 9 years old. He talks but it is limited. Imagine how frustrated it would be to be talking and pulling out any method of communication and your mom does not understand. Sometimes I catch on in a moment other times it has taken minutes.


Though he can pronounce iPad, iPod and iPhone as clear as can be.

This morning he came up to me and tried to tell me what he wanted. He tapped me and said I wan ehaoua.  And so began the guessing game.  I know you want Whole Foods. He screams. McDonalds? He screams. Target? He says I want ehaoua.  I say spell it. He says Eoblr.  I say Carnival?

Okay get your iPad and tell me what you want. He finds his iPad navigates to the Las Vegas page that I hid from him and requests. I want Excalibur. Oh!

 For the next ten minutes we work on accepting No. I am so proud he tried talk and then used his iPad,
Two years ago this would not have been possible.

Before the iPad or proloquo Andy was locked in his world.  Communication was so daunting with no words and guessing games would only end up in tantrums.

Then I saw an article about the iPad and proloquo2go.  I bought an iPad and proloquo2go. Here is a link to proloquo2go.  I promptly bought and did not use it for six months.  I was so determined Andy was going to talk that I didn't need or want it.

Something changed last year at this time. Determined to give Andy a voice to decrease frustration I programmed proloquo2go.  My son was using proloqo2go within a week and fluently.  My work as a teacher has shown sometimes it is a magic bullet and sometimes there are students who not ready for it. But as teacher you work toward this goal day in and day out.

The iPad and Proloquo2go opened up a world to my son in many different ways.  For the first time in his life he was understood the first time he requested it not after many times of trying. We could do things that I thought would never happen such as argue. He can be persistent.  Most of all he can tell me how he feels. He has asthma so that is important.

Here is what a few of our pages looks like;

This is our home page. What I love about proloquo2go is that it is easier to program after only a few days of practicing.  Andy can read some words so you can use pictures or not use pictures. I can make pages on the go. My son can now order his food at his favorite restaurants.

 It takes a matter of minutes to make new pages.  This can done on a moments notice.  The last year of using the proloquo2go app has brought out my child. He can share his opinions. Most of all his personality is shining through.

Since Andy recently started writing we are working on typing in proloquo2go.  It is taking some practice but he is learning.
In closing there are lots of communications apps out there but in my opinion Proloquo2go for my son has been the answer to a lot of prayers.  It is worth checking out and there is a great deal of support on facebook. There is a Proloquo2go page, a professional proloquo2go group and a parent proloquo2go with excellent support.

Thank you Steve Jobs and Proloquo2go for developing two things that has changed my child's life and everyone who comes in contact with him. Thank you from this mom's heart.

The story of Obsessed with Letters

I will write post all about boy very soon. My son is 10 years old and on the severe side of autism but is very affectionate and is obsessed with letters. He has some words but is very very limited verbally. He communicates in many other ways.

 I just discovered a few months ago he can write.  We would go out and he would sit on the floor and trace any letter he can fine. Open signs, keep out signs and any letters anywhere.  He also loves youtube video's and he just discovered he loves when I write the titles to videos. He loves School House Rock.  Here is a small sampling of the titles I wrote for him over and over today.

Here is a sampling of his writing

A huge influence on his learning to write was the app Letters School. Is the reason he has learned to write at 10 years old when the "professionals" discounted it. Here is the link to letter school.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/letterschool/id435476174?mt=8

I recommend this app highly!

My boy is pulling me away from the computer so I can write some more for him. Till next time but this is the story of Obsessed with Letters.

A chance encounter. . .

Many times throughout this journey with my boy there have been moments of feelings of despair.  These are usually the times when I am in the middle of the store and my boy is having meltdown. More than likely over buying a DVD or a DVD player(I will delve into this in a later post). My precious lovely giant is attempting to push me out of the way to get what ever his eyes are focused on.  It is still these occasional moments that get me down. It during these times where you think everyone is looking at you. Some look in amazement others just walk back as I stand there wondering if we will ever be leaving the store in one piece.  Some kind folks will offer assistance and others tell you what a precious boy you have.

Yesterday, I was in wholefoods with my boy and he was having a good day.  He had his iPhone in his hand and was quietly by my side as we were checking out. As I turned around I saw mom holding her precious son's hands that look upon her face was like "please god let us get through this checkout line in one piece." My heart sank because I have had  that look one to many times. She mumbled to her son please don't bite that boy looking at my son. Our eyes met and it was a look of understanding in knowing our boys both had autism. We briefly talked and I exited the line all I can say was he was precious and god bless. My son and I walked to our same seat in the cafe section as I looked out the widow and saw that mom walking through parking lot holding on to her son for dear life.  This moment changed me as I walked out of the store knowing that in my heart there is something more I need to be doing for children and parents of children with autism.

I am not sure what it is but I believe this blog and my work as a special education teacher is a step in the right direction. 

To start again

Introduction;

Welcome to Obsessed with Letters a blog regarding life with autism and just life. I am single mother to Andy (my boy) with autism.  He communicates in many different ways.  I also teach students with autism.

Growing up I knew I was a writer and a procrastinator. I use to say I was a writer that did not write. I have a started blog many time and many times I have stopped.  So once again I start this journey on blogging. Please join us in the long bumpy curvy journey. Welcome once again to Obsessed with Letters.