Hello.
Please take a moment to watch this video
and learn about the technologies I use that help me communicate.
I promise I will only take a few minutes of your time.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I communicate using a high tech voice output communication
device called the ECO-14, manufactured
by the Prentke Romich Company.
This is my primary means of communication.
I also use a low tech lap tray communication board
as a backup to ensure I always have a way to communicate.
In high school I learn how to use
a voice helpful communication device called
The Liberator, also manufactured by the Prentke Romich Company.
But after graduation, I did not have
the support I needed to keep using my Liberator.
I was unable to use my communication device,
and that meant I had to rely on other people
to ask me yes and no questions.
I can answer yes and no questions
by opening my eyes to answer yes and closing
my eyes to answer no.
The only other way I could communicate
was to use my low tech communication
board on my lap tray.
Because I cannot point to the pictures myself,
I must rely on other people to help me using an access method
called partner assisted scanning.
I will now demonstrate partner assisted scanning.
You.
Me.
Finished.
Bathroom.
You need to use the bathroom?
No?
Am I finished going to the bathroom?
Am I finished with the bathroom?
In my house?
Oh, you're asking, am I finished with the bathrooms in my house?
Oh, my gosh, yes.
We're finished.
It's a story.
It was-- it was a story.
But yes, we are finished with them.
Partner assisted scanning is very
difficult for people who don't know
how to use the board with me.
It can be frustrating for me and the people who
are trying to use my board to communicate with me.
After about five years of being dependent on other people
to help me communicate, I began to receive speech therapy.
Through speech therapy, I learned to use the ECO-14,
and now I have the support I need to keep
using my communication device.
I am now able to communicate independently using my ECO-14.
I cannot use my hands to point to the device,
so I must use a switch positioned at my head to access
my ECO-14.
I use my switch to make choices through a method of selection
called "scanning."
Another obstacle I face that affects my ability
to communicate is not being able to read and spell.
I was not taught to read as a child so now I am trying
to learn to read as an adult because I cannot spell out
my messages.
I choose pictures of my ECO-14 that
represent words and put them together to make sentences.
I will show you how I do this now.
Want to hear a knock-knock joke?
Yes, I would love to hear a knock-knock joke.
Knock-knock.
Who's there?
Nose.
Nose who?
I knows plenty more knock-knock jokes.
Oh, good.
You know knows plenty more knock-knock jokes.
Tell me one more.
Knock-knock.
Who's there?
Pencil.
Pencil who?
Your pants will fall down when you wear them so low.
[LAUGHING]
That's great.
All right, that was awesome.
That was a good one.
Good, good.
OK.
That was a good example of scanning.
Is there anything else you wanted to say?
I love my ECO-14.
As you can see, it takes some time for me
to write a sentence.
I need people to be patient and wait for me to select
the words I want to say.
I understand everything that is said to me,
but it takes time for me to respond.
The ECO-14 has made a big change in my life
because I am no longer dependent on others
to be able to communicate.
People can see I am intelligent and I have important things
to say.
Thank you for taking the time to watch this video.
[MUSIC PLAYING]