Hi. My name is Trecia Benefield and I'm here with my friend.
And we're here to talk about assisted technology.
My friend here would like to introduce herself
and show you how she's able to use
her communications device.
[Sissy] My name is Glenda Reed. You can call me Sissy.
I am president of Disabilities Unlimited
in Jasper, Alabama.
[Trecia] I noticed that you are using your
communications device. What are some of the
things you would like people to know
about using assisted technology?
[Sissy] This is my voice. This is not a toy.
Wait for me to answer your question. Just
because you know me doesn't mean you know
what I'm going to say. Don't put
words in my mouth.
[Trecia] Isn't that the truth! [both laughing!]
[Trecia] What assisted technology you currently use?
[Sissy] I use a wheelchair pointer,
computer and phone.
To communicate I use a communication
device made by Dinaovox. This also allows me
to operate my T.V. and phone which makes
me more independent.
[Trecia] That is wonderful! And you can use
it to operate your phone and T.V.
That is marvelous!
Um, how is using assisted technology
increased your ability to be independent?
[Sissy] I am able to communicate with my
doctors, participate in Disabilities Unlimited
meetings, make my own appointments,
schedule activities for myself. I can also
express what I like and what I don't like.
[Trecia] That is wonderful. A lot of times
people don't realize that the communications
and conversation is just as important
as being able to tell people facts.
Um, Sissy, I noticed before you had another
communications device and the voice
was very computerized. Do you like the
female voice over this one? Better or . . .
[Sissy] Yes.
[Teresa] I do too. It sounds real. Do you like that?
[Sissy] Yes.
[Trecia] Um, I wanted to talk about kinda the
story about getting your communication device.
So, uh, we had a little problem with your
case manager knowing how to bill insurance.
[Sissy] Yes.
[Trecia] Yes. Um, a lot of people aren't aware
that Medicare will also pay for communication devices.
And Medicare actually pays for the speech
evaluation. A lot of people aren't aware that
Medicaid doesn't pay for the speech evaluation
but Medicare does. And there's a lot
of people who have disabilities that have
Medicare and Medicaid. Is that right?
[Sissy] Yes.
[Trecia] And how. . . it took about almost a year
for you to get your device.
[Sissy] Yes.
[Trecia] So, can I talk about you?
Can I tell some good things about you?
[Sissy] Yes.
[Trecia] Sissy is a great self advocate.
Actually, when there was a problem with case
management and being a great self advocate,
Sissy requested another case manager [cough noise]
who needed to do what needed to be done.
Is that true?
[Sissy] Yes.
[Trecia] Do you think, when you look back
on it, do you think that, um, yourself, if you hadn't
been a self advocate, would you have
your communications device? If you
hadn't been a self advocate, would you have it?
[Sissy] No.
[Trecia] I'm very impressed. A lot of people
take "no" and don't push. Right?
[Sissy] Yes.
[Trecia] And another thing that was asked,
who do you like to communicate with?
[Sissy] [punching key sounds, long pause] Becky.
[Trecia] Becky. Can we talk about who Becky is?
[Sissy] [punching key sounds] Yes.
[Trecia] Becky is the speech therapist who
provided the speech evaluation which
Medicare needs to be able to purchase
the communication device. So Becky
is a very important person.
But she also is
[Sissy] [her own voice] Yes.
[Trecia] we found out later, Sissy's cousin.
So not only was there a family reunion
but there was another great piece of advocacy. And
when families are involved, great things happen.
Now, I only have one other question for you.
I know that since we've gotten the
communications device, and I say we
because I get to talk to you now and
you get to answer, and I love it. But
do you think, do you prefer one words or so you
prefer one word on your communications device?
[Sissy] No.
[Trecia] Do you prefer sentences?
[Sissy] Yes.
[Trecia] And another thing I wanted to ask,
do you feel that your need to add more
information grows daily?
[Sissy] Yes.
[Trecia] And I think that's a really
important piece of people using
augmentative communication, is we have to
be open to allow communication to grow
and not just feel that we put the informaton
in the device and expect it to last and continue
to be what that person needs every day
because as we begin to communicate
our vocabulary grows, our opportunity to
participate in community expands
so the need for more words and more sentences
is growing daily. And I think that's
something that we both said [Sissy coughing]
was very important to get the word
out to people. Is that true?
[Sissy] Yes.
[Trecia] Thank you my friend.