New Year’s Day, 2015
Where does Jess go with her AAC, everywhere! To the market, to work to church and even to her room when she wants a private conversation. New Year’s Day, we went to the barn. Jess was layered for warmth, put her boots on and then grabbed her iPad before heading out the door. For Jess, having her iPad is like my wearing glasses. Sure, I can get around without, but there would be so much I’d miss out on if I didn’t use them. She can gesture her needs, but the world doesn’t speak “Jessie”. This is why she needs and wants to use the app SFY on her iPad.
Typically we go to the barn early in the morning, but at 25 degrees, we both lacked motivation. By the middle of the day, it warmed up another five degrees. Apparently everyone else had the same idea to ride because as we were walking George in, a few more people arrived.
While tacking up in the barn, one of the girls who’s on college break commented that the app Jess was using to talk with is really cool! This is the first time she had seen an AAC device. Of course, she knows Jess and has heard about it, but they are rarely at the barn at the same time. It seems every where we go, others take notice of Jess’s iPad. People do want to know more and they aren’t afraid to ask questions. I’ve also notice that people talk less “at” Jessie and speak directly to her when she has her computer.
These days, no one thinks twice about having a phone, camera or access to the internet in the palm of their hand. It’s kind of ironic that we are all using devices of one form or another to communicate with. Who knew that when we text, we are using AAC!
This is pretty awesome!
[…] come to the barn with me. One horse let her lead him on the long walk from the pasture to the barn. George tended to pull when it was feeding time, but he sensed Jess needed him to slow his steps, often […]