It has been a long two weeks, waiting for the software. I first wanted to use a coupon code to get it a little discount. Wouldn't you know it but there wasn't a sale or code anywhere online that included the PODD this month. After patiently waiting (only a week), I called and asked the phone representative if she knew of any codes. She was able to find a discount code for 20% off. Wahoo! Then I waited for the software to fly across America.
During that long wait, I started recopying my notes from the workshop- the parts I really needed to review & that apply to Grace. Kinda boring work for you to know about but it's all part of the process to get this up and going for Grace. And really the long wait was only two weeks but when you are as excited about giving your daughter language as I am, it's a long time.
Oh, I also started working harder on helping Grace develop a definite "Yes" and "No."
Grace has a good "yes" by patting her chest.I'm trying to convince her to add a head nod with it.
The "no" has been much harder for Grace. I think it is hard for her to shake her head left to right and vice-versa.. There might be a sensory thing there. But, when we are reading her favorite Biscuit books, I can get Grace to reach up and touch the side of her nose. I'm trying to get her to push her nose a little so that she turns her head as she touches her nose- creating a turn of the head. It would really help if she could do this consistently and in more settings then with her books.
Now, I need to print out a draft copy of the generic communication book so that we can start practicing and give Grace access to language. The people who help navigate the communication book are called "Smart Partners." They are anyone who is willing to learn how to use the communication book for Grace. To teach Grace how to use the book, her Smart Partners need to learn how to use the book and get comfortable carrying it around. I'll provide a picture of her draft communication book as soon as it's ready.
We begin with a draft quality communication book because we need to feel out how Grace will use the book. Will she be more auditory- listening to her SMP (Smart Partner) saying the vocabulary? Will she want to look for the word, herself? Or will she want to touch the symbols? Will she have enough vocabulary with the book I have chosen for her? There are several options of which type of book to print out. I will explain why I am starting with the communication book that I am, in another post.
