Gilbert has remained a permanent resident at VALLEYLIFE. He has mental retardation and has severe motor delays with total disabilities in his lower extremities. This background information will help you better understand the strides Gilbert has made towards self empowerment.

Approximately 7 to 8 years ago VALLEYLIFE restructured its Adult Day Service Program to pilot an assistive technology setting. The community had a population of total care, non-verbal adults with little means of expressing their wants, needs and concerns. Gilbert was given the opportunity to be a participant. The premise was to empower our consumer’s by giving them voice, in many instances for the first time. This would also require the participation from the Primary Care Physician, DDD Support Coordinator, Residential and Day Service Staff. With all reaching a consensus that this would benefit Gilbert, physically, emotionally and socially. Gilberts then received assessments in Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy. These assessments were necessary to measure his cognitive abilities, receptive language skills and motor accessibility.

The Individual Service Plan members then sought out an agency that would provide an Augmentative Communication Device review. Southwest Human development was chosen. Southwest would then evaluate Gilbert using several augmentative communication devices (a dedicated computer used for voice output), as to choose the one that would serve his needs.

November 1998 a report was submitted to DDD requesting a Dynamite communication device. SWHD and VSS staff would continue to be actively involved in obtaining device information, developing complex communication strategies and discussing vocabulary to be programmed. Treatment through SWHD and facilitation from VSS included many components: modification of communication displays, staff training in device care and positioning for most efficient access, plan for regular practice of target vocabulary, discussion with Gilbert regarding customizing vocabulary and display arrangements.

Gilbert was given modeling and support to initiate the use of his DynaMyte to activate single cell selections with preprogrammed messages. As he progressed criterion and training were increased. Gilbert would learn to toggle from screen page to screen page to assemble programmed phrases. Beginning reading and spelling were introduced. This progressed into composing 3 to 4 word phrases and questions. Modeling in initiating conversation was instituted. Participation in social events that would require verbal interaction commenced. Gilbert would learn to order meals from a restaurant or compose a grocery list and solicit help from store employees to locate items.

Gilberts uses his device frequently. He likes to pick a subject and initiate conversation with others, often about the news and current events. He has used this skill to begin writing stories and journaling with the aid of VSS staff. Gilbert wants to write about personal events, foreign affairs and politics.

This opened up new avenues in which Gilbert could express himself. He participates in Essential Theatre, a venue in which he share a personal account with a local theater group who then reenacts this event on stage through improvisation and music. Gilbert and his peers have initiated a literacy program. They have written a beginning reader book and go local elementary schools to read to preschoolers, kindergarteners and first graders. “For those without disabilities assistive technology makes things easier, for those with disabilities it makes things possible.”

Ericka is a 34 year old Hispanic female with a diagnosis of insulin dependent diabetes, scoliosis, spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and a medical history of petite mal seizures. Ericka communicates with an augmentative communication device which she uses to control her environment, write letters and store files. Resultant from her cerebral palsy, she has severe motor delays with total disabilities in her extremities and uses a manual wheelchair. Ericka requires attendant care to get around.

Ericka attends a VALLEYLIFE Adult Day Center in the Thunderbirds Charities Adaptive Environment. She uses the computer lab and her device attached to her wheelchair and the computer to communicate. This is a narrative written by Ericka-

" I am only physically handicap, I am in a wheelchair, I am really bright and I use a devise to help me speak to other people that I don’t know. My Device scans up and down. I scan the fastest! I use a tongue switch to work my Device and I even know how to program stuff in my Device myself. I know how to turn my Device on and off myself by using my tongue switch. I have Cerebral palys, I have Scoliosis, I am Diabetic and I have Asthma. I really like to help the special needs people just like me! I really love to work with the children more! My Devise is called the MT4. I have a MP3 player in my Device. I could work on the computer, I could Email, I could play games and I even could move the mouse on the computer by using the device too! I could also use the phone if I want, by using my Device. I could work my camera with my tongue switch too! I am using WordPower, a prediction and I even could use gateway to in my Device! I even know how to program the other DynaVoxes. My dream is to go to College one day and be a speech therapist aid! I know a lot about communication Devices, I help my speech therapist with programming the equipment I go to a day program three days a week at VALLEYLIFE. I got a cell phone, it is voice activated and it only works if it hears my voice. I want to get a job. I’m really good at helping the special needs people, who has communication Devices. I know how to program them and work the computer."

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