AAC Clinic – Parent Testimonials

The following comments are from parents of children who’ve benefited from the use of various augmentative and alternative communication devices.

Lori Thompson, Chatham

“At a very young age, my son, Josh, could recognize pictures and remember their meaning, but he could not talk. Having apraixia/dyspraxia (the absence of or very limited speech), Josh could make very few sounds and even fewer words which were recognizable to the listener. This was well into his fifth year. The Picture Exchange Communication System allowed us, his family, his grandparents, his therapists, his daycare providers and his school teacher to communicate with Josh. He was instructed to place pictures or sign language images of nouns and verbs onto a Velcro strip which allowed us to understand what he was trying to say. For example, “I want (to) eat (an) apple.” This has allowed Josh not only to communicate in full sentence structure, as well as reading and spelling of words, as the words are written on the individual pictures. I would recommend a system like this one for any child learning to speak.”

Guyanne Smoke, Pain Court

“My 16-year-old daughter started using augmentative communication when she was about 5 years old. The technology increased her quality of life dramatically. Throughout the years, it has enabled her to express her needs and make her own decisions by answering yes or no to our questions with her head switches. Augmentative communication not only makes day to day conversations possible but also it has allowed her to participate independently in things that many people take for granted such as telling a joke, saying ‘Trick or Treat’, ‘Happy Birthday Sis’ or ‘Happy Mother’s Day, Mom, I love you.’ When you have a child that cannot communicate with words, you understand how truly precious communication is. Having access to AAC is a true gift”

Janet Lindsay, Blenheim

“Augmentative communication for Jordan has absolutely 100% opened up her world and she has done so amazing with her springboard. I don’t think there is any non-verbal person in North America that should be without augmentative communication, especially in this day and era.”

Claudette Meriano, Chatham

“Our daughter has a physical disability and is non-verbal. Augmentative communication services have always provided us with the knowledge, training and professional guidance we have needed to determine the most effective communication strategy or system best suited for our daughter. It has taught us several alternative ways to communicate with her. From using facial expressions, yes or no head switches, auditory scanning and assistive technology communication devices, she is able to express her needs, wants and ideas. Augmentative communication has given her the ability to make choices and have some control over her environment. The services have improved her quality of life by connecting her to the world.”

Darlene Crow, Thamesville

“My daughter Candace and I have been working with the Children’s Treatment
Centre for many years. Diagnosed with Mild Mental Disability, Severe Speech Delay and Co-ordination Disorder, we began treatment in the Speech and Language Department, Physio and Music Therapy. At an early age Candace was introduced to using an assistive speech device for a short term. This past year, Candace was given a full speech and language assessment and it was determined due to her significant difficulty with language and her strong desire to communicate and express herself within social situations that she would greatly benefit trying a variety of assistive speech devices to suit her needs.

Currently we have been using Tech Speak along with the Board Maker program to set up grid sheets that assist Candace in communicating her needs, likes, dislikes, playing games and promoting social conversations with others. Candace is enjoying using the device and we have noticed a much lower level of frustration when trying to connect with others. I look forward to working with the Centre to find the device and options which will work best for Candace’s needs. The professional on-going care we’ve received from the therapists has been phenomenal.“

Mike & Becky Timmermans, Chatham

“Our four-year-old daughter Ella will be attending Junior Kindergarten in September 2009. She is in need of a speedy assessment to determine the most appropriate augmentative communication system that can be utilized in the wider setting of a school, classroom and playground. This will be imperative to ensure that Ella has an equal footing with the rest of the school population and make her experience more rewarding. Ella is on a waiting list for the communications assessment through the Thames Valley Children’s Centre in London. Unfortunately, there is a wait period of 18 to 24 months for this assessment. The exceptionally long waiting period will further delay Ella’s communication within the educational context as the teacher, educational assistants and her peers will not have a clear, uniform system to employ in the classroom and playground.

There is an acute need for funding for the augmentative communication clinic at the Chatham-Kent Children’s Treatment Centre. A local clinic would serve the population of Chatham-Kent and definitely cut down on the extremely long waiting times at the out-of-town clinics. Additionally, it would decrease the number of out-of-town trips on families who are already trying to cope with multiple trips to specialists outside the area.

Communication is perhaps one of the most important tools that a person can have. It is important that children such as our daughter Ella, who face difficulty in this area, be given every opportunity to fully express themselves and to fully interact with their peers. Having a clinic here in Chatham would expedite the assessment process and give Ella the tools she currently needs to communicate with her teachers and friends in the classroom.”

Derek McGivern, Wallaceburg

“It has been established that Kiara’s intelligence is peer level and her verbal communication skills are normal, her ability, however, to independently communicate through written medium, is severely impaired due to her athetosis and other manifestations of Cerebral Palsy. Her disability also creates significant challenges in accessing our increasingly digital world; internet references, games, learning tools that require input are all currently outside of her capability. With an able-bodied twin brother and younger brother who are regularly at the computer, this is a source of non-stop frustration for Kiara.

Enter the Augmentative Communication program into Kiara’s life and suddenly this previously inaccessible world is opened up to her. A wide variety of devices were auditioned for her use to determine the individualized supports that best suit her specific needs until the best option was found. Kiara is now able to manipulate a keyboard for text or command entry and direct a pointing device to her intended target. The change is nothing short of miraculous. We know that accessing the able-bodied world will always be a challenge for Kiara, but programs like the augmentative communication program make possible a bridge between her disability and the world.

The only improvement that I could suggest would be an increase in the local availability of this valuable program. The time disconnects between referral and program services ended up at near 18 months and I believe that Kiara’s proficiency in written communication suffered due to the delay. In closing, we are extremely thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this program and we are solid believers, and beneficiaries, of its results.”

Carlo and Lise Corsini, Chatham

“For the past 11 years, Thames Valley Children’s Centre has been involved with Cristina’s augmentative communication. The staff has been such an influence and boost to Cristina’s self-esteem by giving her a voice. Having cerebral palsy and being unable to communicate was such a challenge to Cristina’s will to converse with others. We were so grateful when the TVCC team was able to come up with new and innovative ways to help with her disability. Their goal is to be always up-to-date with new technology in a way to facilitate our child’s form of communication with others. They have been an asset not only to Cristina but also for her classmates. They have put a greater smile on Cristina’s face! Having that same kind of support here in Chatham-Kent will be invaluable.”