My nephew has his eye gaze computer and while there are limited images for him to use, it is configured for him to say a few basic things. Since he doesn’t have his powered wheel chair yet where it will be permanently mounted, it has to be calibrated every time he uses it.
After a few attempts at calibration he was getting frustrated. His sister (13 years old) had taken over the process and was telling him what to say so as to try to figure out if it was tracking him right. After he had said, “stop slow slow slow” for the second time and began reaching for me, I asked him if he was trying to say that she needs to slow down. He knows a little sign language, enough to say yes, no, and toilet. He shook his fist yes. I told her to back off and that I wanted to hear what he had to say.
“I want to read.”
I looked at him and then at everybody else in the room. I was very excited. My nephew, almost four years old, had talked to me for the first time and I was able to understand him.
Once I calmed down, I ran out to my truck and grabbed the children’s books I had brought with me, unstrapped him from his chair, and we sat on the couch and I read to him.
This is so huge. He has so much difficulty trying to just move, let alone communicate. With this he has just a little greater ability to control his world. As more images are loaded and he becomes familiar with them he will be able to say so much more and have even more control.
I was more than happy to provide the positive feedback of doing what he asked.
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What an exciting occasion! I know you've been keenly looking forward to when he was able to communicate with the world. I can't even imagine what the feeling must have been like.
Read a library to the little guy, love him as best you can. He's lucky to have an uncle like you.
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