PERSONAL INSIGHTS INTO AAC

Rick Hohn,
AAC Consultant
1125 Cottontail Road
Vista, CA 92083
Telephone and Fax Number 619-598-8336
E-Mail: rickstalk@juno.com

Sentient Systems Technology, Inc.
Beth Sinteff, MS CCC-SLP
Director of Customer Support
2100 Wharton Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Telephone: 1-800-344-1778
E-Mail: beths@sentient-sys.com

Web Posted on: December 2, 1997

In growing up, I was the student who teachers gave up on. It was too difficult to get inside me because I was born with cerebral palsy that effected all four limbs and speech. Although educators gave up on me by passing me through grades at elementary school, my parents joined my frustration of knowing that I had lots in my mind that needed to come out.

The first breakthrough in coming out of my trapped body happened at 15 years old when I tried typing with a head stylus. Against the advice of an occupational therapist that favored traditional therapy, my father had his co-worker at Hughes Aircraft Company make me the head stylus. It was my idea after a high school principal said that he didn't care if I used my nose to type -- just as long as I could communicate. I told my mother, who was one of the few people to understand my speech, about the idea for my father to invent. It worked! Although just through typing letters, I loved expressing myself for the first time, making people laugh and cry. Friends and relatives knew that I had plenty inside of me, but they were shocked at the extent.

The ability to communicate was thrilling. Besides telling others about how to meet my common, everyday needs, it broke the brick wall that was crushing me academically-- placing me on the second- grade reading level. But seeing words that I typed with my head stylus caused me to jump 10 grades in three years and graduate from high school with honors. Since I could write and do my homework a college education wasn't just a dream but a reality-- taking classes in psychology, sociology, journalism and art history. Now, my typewriter is replaced by a computer, and I still love to write.

Historically, all my life I had new equipment that later proved to be personally worthless, so I was still skeptical about this new device. It used to make me feel guilty when my parents bought countless things, that therapists would recommend, but were unsuccessful after the purchase. For example, in the 1980's, my church got me two speech synthesizers that were new on the market, but people had trouble understanding them. So I preferred to use my communication board that I designed myself. When they broke and got old, I didn't seek to replace them, except for a speech synthesizer for my PC computer that allowed me to speak on the telephone.

The second breakthrough in communication came when I received my first DynaVox three years ago. At that time, an executive director for an agency asked me to teach art to its consumers with developmental disabilities. Coincidentally, I found out that the phone company was loaning out augmentative devices. I gave the teaching job a try. What did I have to lose? I gave an augmentative device, that was hard to understand, a try also. Its poor speech quality made it difficult to control my class-- compounded by my students' inability to read its ticker-tape or my low-tech communication board. I liked teaching art, except for my students having difficulty understanding the synthesizer, so I needed something better.

In desperation to gain control of my class, I went to my speech therapist who suggested that we look at all the augmentative devices at CSUN. We narrowed the selection down to two systems that both had word prediction and good speech output. The decision to pick the DynaVox came because it also had the ability to say quick phrases with just a press of a button. I was still skeptical about this new device.

But to my amazement after receiving my DynaVox Original, the voice output far surpassed all of the equipment I had, and my students understood the instructions that I was giving them. Now that my students weren't walking all over me, I could teach them. I just pressed a few preprogrammed buttons, describing how to spread paint on a canvas to make a pretty landscape or seascape. Since my speech therapist was new to the DynaVox also, we learned how to use the device together. If I needed help, I was surprised to discover that Sentient Systems technical support offered assistance at a slow pace and in a simple language that I could easily understand.

Since teaching my art class was now made easier, I pursued a dream of public speaking. For my DynaVox not only allowed me to store inspirational messages that were 45 minutes or longer but it gave me the ability to have natural pauses when speaking. So, I became successful at what was an impossible dream 30 years ago.

My device has certainly enhanced living independently in my community also. Calling the pharmacy to ask for a refill on my medicine or ordering a dinner at a local pizza parlor is simple and fun with a press of a button. In my spare time, I think of things that I want to say. Then, I divide them into categories that I make communication pages for. Dividing my thoughts into categories makes it easier to remember phrases and sentences that I wanted to say before. Some of my custom pages include social, personal, banking and working needs. Sometimes, I call 411 for the heck of it and ask the operator for a number. It feels so good to be understood.

Developing good communication skills with the use of my Dynavox has contributed to an excellent second marriage in contrast to my first rocky one. In my first marriage, it was awful in not getting my points across to my former wife. But now I type a message to my spouse and save it like one of my inspirational messages. At an appropriate time, I play back my thoughts to her. In some ways, we have an advantage over a married couple that is able-bodied because I can save what is on my heart-- choosing the right words-- and play it back when I feel she is ready to receive it. This isn't like most people who don't think before they talk.

Because a man in technical support at Sentient Systems Technology was always so impressed at how I used my DynaVox Original, I asked if I could demonstrate my device at The Ability Expo and CSUN last year. My teaching job was fading out because of the agency's down sizing, but I thought that I would be a natural in working with this company. Whenever I got a chance after giving an assignment to my art class for instance, I went to the most forgotten person to try to get him or her to communicate better. I loved doing this-- more than writing and painting. After giving it my best shot, Sentient Systems Technology, Inc. offered me consultant work opportunities.

In being a consultant, I recognize I can paint a picture of my needs and share technological suggestions with manufacturers. At this time, I am exploring DynaVox 2c capabilities including: on- board environmental control, and infra-red file transfer technology. I can operate my television, CD player and PC computer from the DynaVox 2c. I am also learning to be more efficient in preparing church sermons by taking advantage of the features which allow me to download the scriptures from my PC to the DynaVox 2c.

In doing contract work with Sentient Systems, I love showing how I use my DynaVox 2c to both students and professionals at conferences and schools. I want other augmentative communicators and professionals and parents working and living with these individuals to recognize that they can also benefit from microcomputer technology. When I see hope in a person's eyes- I am doing what I like the most. I remember being that student who was "most impaired" or "given-up-on".

Now, I am honored to give this presentation entitled, "Personal Insight Into AAC" that will go further in depth and show videotape illustrations of how my DynaVox 2c has enriched my life. I am also enjoying exhibiting at National Shows and increasing my presentation opportunities. This is besides working as an artist and a motivational speaker-- telling audiences everywhere, "Believe in your hopes, and live your dreams!"