150 Kilgour Road, Toronto Ontario Canada M4G 1R8
Tel: 416 425 6220 Toll Free: 800 363 2440
A teaching hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto
Copyright © Bloorview Kids Rehab. 2008. All Rights Reserved.
Real World: Finding a Voice
Who:
Marshall Hohmann, 15, computer geek, biker, soccer player, has cerebral palsy and speaks with voice technology.
What:
Helping others find their voice in Chat Club, a Bloorview program that brings together children using voice-output devices to boost their comfort and skill communicating in a wide range of situations. Older participants like Marshall (right) mentor younger ones like Keith Qualtrough, 7 (left), who was trying out a voice device for the first time. “They need to know they have a place in this world,” Marshall says.
Where:
A community-based program in Durham, in partnership with Grandview Children’s Centre.
When:
An evening every two weeks over a 12-week period.
Why:
“Voice technology makes people stop and pay attention to children who don’t speak,” says Marshall’s mother Paula. “It unlocks them as people. Chat Club gives an opportunity for mentors like Marshall to shine and for the younger children to say: ‘I want to do that.’”
How:
Chat Club includes outings such as a cooking class at Loblaws, shopping at the mall and a movie-trivia night. Experienced technology users support younger children learning to use voice devices for the first time. “Younger kids need somebody to push them,”Marshall says. “When the parents see me mentoring they realize ‘wow, maybe my kid can get there too!’”In advance of outings, a communications assistant visits the family at home to program vocabulary that fits the upcoming activity so the child can ask questions and make relevant comments.
The Team:
One speech-language pathologist, two communication assistants, one occupational therapist, one assistive technology consultant and one therapeutic recreation specialist.
Previous page – Page 5 of 15 – Next page