Sissy Reed talks about Augmentative Communication

Sissy Reed talks with Trecia Benefield about her augmentative communication device.

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.