My last blog post was about Josiah not being able to communicate with us. It was about him needing a voice, some type of equipment to help him express his wants and needs. Josiah has a Voice Output Device right now. He’s had it for 4 years. It’s big and bulky. It’s heavy and very expensive. The school district provided it for him, free of charge. It goes with him in his backpack to school every morning. It comes home with him in his backpack every afternoon.
Ideally, Josiah would use it to let us know what he wants. He doesn’t though. He knows how to use it a little. He knows how to tell us what he wants to eat. He uses it at school during calendar time as well. The problem is we have not let Josiah use it all the time. He broke it once. Shortly after he got it, Josiah hurled it across the room. The screen shattered. We were mortified. It is a $7,000 piece of equipment.
I made a ‘homemade’ band-aid and taped it to the front of the machine with a note attached apologizing for the damage. Fortunately, it was insured. Josiah’s VOD was repaired and returned to us a few weeks later. Since that time, we have been very hesitant to let Josiah have access to it as often as he needs to. I really think that is part of the reason he has not figured out the VOD is his voice. He hasn’t learned using it will give him more power.
So, we’ve been on the look out for something better. Something less cumbersome. Something more familiar and easier to navigate through. Something that looks a little more socially acceptable. Something he can carry with him and use when he wants to.
Last week a friend in PA. emailed about the iPad her son recently started using. He has difficulty using a computer, but is really enjoying the iPad. There are quite a few amazing applications for the iPad to help children communicate.
Saturday we needed a babysitter for Josiah so we could attend Chandler’s dance recital. Our usual babysitters were not available. We were fortunate to find a sitter who has special education certification and 10 years experience working with kids with disabilities. Josiah loved her. She was wonderful.
She was an answer to prayer. She told me about a contest for families of children with disabilities. For each family that participates and is able to successfully meet the qualifications, a FREE iPad is shipped to the child with disabilities. I was thrilled. Having recently resigned my teaching position, there is not excess money for us to use to purchase an iPad for Josiah.
This may just be the way we can get one for him. This may just be the way we can help him learn to communicate using a light weight, readily available, socially acceptable piece of technology that will empower him. This may just be the way to help my little boy be less frustrated. Who knows, this may help to even cut down on some of the screaming.
Josiah may eventually be able to navigate through a communication app on an iPad to tell us exactly what is troubling him. Who knows? Someday, my little boy may even be able to tell me he loves me.
So here’s where you come in. To ‘win’ this FREE iPad, Rick and I need to sell
Autism puzzle piece ‘jewelry’. Each piece is $20. $20 will buy you either a puzzle piece necklace or a puzzle piece key chain. Each is high quality and all the rage this season.
IF we sell 60 necklaces or key chains, Josiah receives a FREE iPad in the mail. It’s that simple. So, I am asking from the bottom of my heart for you to please consider purchasing a necklace or keychain. Please contribute to our ‘contest’ so we can help Josiah have a voice.
The web-site is www.Thepuzzlingpiece.com Click on Products, then scroll down towards the bottom and click on NECKLACE (item # abc123) – Price $20
OR KEY CHAIN (item # def456) – Price $20
For Josiah to receive credit for each purchase, it is VERY IMPORTANT to include the name Josiah Deppisch right under the words CHALLENGERS NAME. If you neglect to include his name, your purchase will not help Josiah receive a FREE iPad. Ordering on line is easy and quick. You can pay with a debit card, a credit card or PayPal. I just ordered one of each, a key chain and a necklace. Now, we only need to sell 58 more. Thank you for reading this.
Please excuse this plea. I apologize for asking for a handout. I do not ever intend to use this blog for profit. My intent is solely to inspire and encourage others who may be walking a similar path. However, when it comes to Josiah having a way to share his thoughts, I am all over it. I will do whatever it takes to help him. If you wouldn’t mind, please forward this on to others who may be interested/willing to help Josiah earn an iPad.
And if you know a family with a non-verbal child who needs to find his voice, please share this contest with them. This contest is open to anyone who has a child with a disability. Thank you. Maybe someday, Josiah will be able to speak to you through this blog using his iPad.
A mother can only hope.