We're working on getting an assessment for an Assistive Technology Device for Wyatt. There are a couple of different ways to go about this.
One is to go through your local school district. You can request an assessment through the school district. Then you may borrow a device until you leave that district. You probably won't end up with a very fancy piece of equipment.
Another way to get an assessment is through United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). They work with government funded medical programs to help all children with disabilities. I called up my local branch recently and asked what I needed to get an assessment. They need the following:
1) A completed background information packet (they'll send you one)
2) Copies of all insurance cards, front and back (especially government insurance like Medi-Cal or whatever it is called in your state)
3) A denial letter from your private insurance company, if applicable
4) A prescription from your child's doctor for an Assistive Technology Assessment
Then, after your child's assessment appointment, you will need to get a prescription from your child's doctor for whatever Assistive Technology Device is recommended. The law is that you must complete a trial period of 30 days with any device. The vendors of these devices will loan you a trial device.
Because of funding shortages, it may take six weeks or longer to schedule your initial assessment appointment. Be patient. Something to bear in mind when looking for an appropriate communication device is that it should be with your child for about five years. So it is important to choose something that will grow with your child.
I'm really excited to explore some of these things that our local UCP offers, like their software labs (they also offer a subsidized refurbished computers for $75 or free if you you qualify for a grant), toy lending library, and respitality (a free donated hotel night and overnight childcare stipend for parents).
If anyone has any links to add to this blog post, please feel free. Also, you can add these links to the links section of our website here. Here is a link to the San Diego UCP Assistive Technology webpage:
http://www.ucp.org/ucp_localsrv.cfm/45/15975/15979/1229
I thought these things
I thought these things sounded great but what a cost!
What would be better is a less expensive machine like the Nintendo DS and have a clever person out there write some software for it.
Yes but it would be even
Yes but it would be even more difficult to try to convince the government and/or health insurance to pay for a Nintendo.
I have so much to learn! I
I have so much to learn! I have no idea if the govt or health insurance covers these things here (in Australia).
*mental note- ring health insurance*
We are getting a DynaVox.
We are getting a DynaVox. http://www.dynavoxtech.com/ My daughter was a natural with it in the first minute of the evaluation. It looks like insurance is paying something, not sure how much yet. I can't wait to get it. She was also saying the words as she pushed the buttons when doing the evaluation tests. That's kind of the point too, which is good. It's supposed to increase verbal, not substitute for it. It's like PECS on steroids and customizable by computer dad. I'm going to put all of her movies and stuff in it.
Fielding J. Hurst
http://autismretort.com
http://autismparents.net
Wow, maybe I should just cut
Wow, maybe I should just cut to the chase and ask the evaluator to recommend a DynaVox. It sounds versatile. Do you think it would work with a Mac? I guess I'll find out!
You dont have to have a
You dont have to have a computer to use it. Wyatt is higher functioning that Marcel so it might really help him.
Oh yes I'd ask about a Dynavox for sure...., keeping my fingers crossed for you that you get it, like I said its
a price piece of equipment.
I am currently take a grad
I am currently take a grad class about Autism and learning so much. One thing that I have found so interesting was the assistive technology that they have today. We are reading several books and have watch a few videos were these techonologies are used. To see the advances that they have is so incredible. One of the videos shows a child with Autism typing because he is unable to speak. His language and vocabulary is at such a high level. It is so awesome that these technologies are out there to allow students that have trouble speaking to communicate with the rest of the world. Having these aides is just another stepping stone I believe to help bring our society to better understand Autism and hopefully one day find ways to help these individuals even more! I am very interested in Autism and want to learn more and more so any information that anyone has is great!
So what is this device
So what is this device exactly?
There are lots and lots of
There are lots and lots of different communication devices. Some of them have touch screens that are basically PECS (picture-word icons) menus. For example, say your child can't verbally tell you that he wants nachos. He can get out his communication device and maybe he'll have a screen of six directories. Maybe one is toys, and some other ones, and then food. So he touches "food" and the machine says "food." Then maybe another screen pops up that says "breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, snacks" and he touches "snacks" and then another menu comes up and it shows "sweet" and "salty" and so on until he gets to "nachos."
I think a lot of the devices look like lap top computers and others look more like iPod Touches and those smaller type devices. But don't quote me on that because I'm a newbie when it comes to these things.
Wow. They need to make small
Wow. They need to make small ones cheaper that you can load, like a touch screen iPod for the average mother of a kid like Michael who cannot get a diagnosis. Granted Michael has come a long way with his communication, but it would have erased so many head butts from days ago...
I know there are some that
I know there are some that are simple that are around $200, but then there is the software that is extra, the most $$$ part. You could go the school district route and get one on loan.
Bonnie is the lady to ask
Bonnie is the lady to ask about that kinda thing and by the way thats a great idea Holly. They'll probably get to that
point sooner or later.
http://www.spectronicsinoz.co
http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/images/product/dynavox_mt4.jpg
its a communication device. And it would be alot more helpful if
my son didnt have retardation too ugh =(
We have a dynavox machine
We have a dynavox machine for Marcel that runs seven grand (thank you medicaid) only we dont use
it often enough because he throws thing ugh. In any case this must be something like that?
Yes, it probably will be
Yes, it probably will be something like that. We know another 8 yr old (I know Marcel is also 8) who has a $10k device and his parents had to get it insured through their homeowners insurance.
WOW. By the way I didnt have
WOW. By the way I didnt have time to read everything you wrote so I just scanned it lol..., sorry busy mommy,
hyper child ugh.
Yeah, I know, it was a long
Yeah, I know, it was a long windy boring ed-juu-ma-cational post.