Giving my child a voice

[Sonicfif]

My DD has cerebral palsy and with great support and technology she's a very confident 10 year old. Thought I would share some of her recent communication achievements:

DD talks about visiting new high school:
www.enquire.org.uk/youngpeople/wordpress/?p=2194

DD explains her communication device on radio:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b02x9fvq

Thankyou. I really enjoyed reading that and hearing about the communication device.

Your dd sounds great, and it is lovely hearing her expressing her thoughts in such a fluent way.

My ds is 3, and has a rare genetic condition, he is completely non verbal, and has just been issued with a communication device - a GoTalk9 communicator. It is very clunky, and at the moment we use it for things like choosing colours, or food, and simple games. One of the things I found peculiar about it, is that I record the words, so it feels strange to hear my own voice come back at me, it is lovely to hear your dd speaking with the voice of a little girl!

The hope with ds is to start teaching him to use an ipad app with picture symbols, but that feels a long way off!

That was awesome sonic, thanks for sharing! The confidence you've given her to communicate is lovely to hear...

How do you get round the problem of Heather having a fixed tone of voice? Is it hard for Eilidh to use Heather to communicate playfully, sarcastically, angrily with a fixed tone of voice, or does she find a way?

You're definitely right to say that Heather could use some diction lessons...

Wow! Just wow!!!!!

Thanks for the feedback, Eilidh will also be pleased you liked it.

Hazeyjane we started with big mac switches that you record yourself and then moved on from there. It takes time to practise and learn each step and a good communication team will push it on at the right pace, or so we have found. It's interesting as I have discovered that Eilidh and others don't think of the computer voice as there own, just the one they choose. Some specialists have told me that it's not uncommon in their teenage years to swap voices.

upper. Although Heather does not change tone, usually when Eilidh is talking to someone she is face to face so she uses facial expressions and body language to add the emotion to what she is saying. As Eilidh has used communication aids all her life she does not question it, she sees whatever device or method as a translator, if that makes sense.

sonic what a star, very impressive and she has a beautiful smile!

That was 2 really great pieces, Eilidh. Thank you for sharing them. My dd is 2 years old and has cerebral palsy too. She cannot form words but we don't yet know if she'll develop this as she gets older. I am encouraged by your use of your communication device - you are an inspirational young woman. Thank you :)